NBA Africa has announced the five standout startups honored in the second edition of its Triple-Double Accelerator, a growing hub for sports innovation and entrepreneurial development across the continent. Introduced last year, the accelerator is designed to fuel Africa’s expanding tech landscape and equip emerging founders with the tools needed to build transformative businesses, embodying the “triple-double” spirit of versatility, excellence, and sustained impact.
The selected companies—Reborn (Morocco), Fitclan (Egypt), Athlon Technology (Egypt), Atsur (Nigeria), and Songdis (Nigeria)—will each receive financial backing and access to Carnegie Mellon University Africa’s yearlong Business Incubation Program, worth up to $70,000.
The program supports startups as they evolve early concepts into viable, scalable products that contribute to the continent’s sports-technology and creative industries.
Chosen from a pool of more than 700 applicants across 32 African nations, the ten finalists presented their ideas during a Demo Day at CMU-Africa in Kigali, Rwanda. The panel of evaluators included CMU-Africa Director Dr. Conrad Tucker, OpenAI Africa Lead Emmanuel Lubanzadio, ServiceNow Africa Vice President Cheick Camara, and Strategy & Operations Head Nikki van Gasse.
Now in its second year, the accelerator continues to benefit from a powerful coalition of partners—CMU-Africa, ServiceNow, and OpenAI—with ALX Ventures returning as the official operating partner, collectively providing the ecosystem needed to nurture early-stage African startups.
2025 winners
1st Place – Reborn (Morocco)
Delivers sophisticated performance metrics that help athletes assess their physical condition, uncover weaknesses, and enhance overall training efficiency.
2nd Place – Fitclan (Egypt)
A dynamic digital fitness platform offering flexible subscription options for both individuals and corporate clients.
3rd Place – Athlon Technology (Egypt)
Uses AI and mobile tools to deliver affordable video analysis tailored to amateur teams and low-budget sports organizations.
4th Place – Atsur (Nigeria)
A blockchain-based platform enabling investment in African art and supporting artists and their communities.
5th Place – Songdis (Nigeria)
Provides distribution and digital services customized for Africa’s independent musicians and record labels.
Driving the future of African sports and innovation
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi commended the selected founders for their creativity and forward-thinking solutions, noting the program’s growing influence on the region’s sports and entertainment sectors.
“The 10 finalists and five prize-winning companies differentiated themselves through bold, innovative solutions that are shaping the future of sport and entertainment in Africa. The support they receive from this program will help them scale their products and make a lasting impact on the continent and globally.”
Together, this year’s winners demonstrate how athlete development technology, digital fitness, AI-powered coaching tools, creative-industry platforms, and blockchain solutions are redefining what’s possible in Africa’s basketball and technology ecosystem.
