Techparley Africa has unveiled an ambitious new initiative, DRIVE100, designed to provide free, high-impact media visibility for 100 tech startups across the continent. With applications closing on 15 October 2025, the programme promises to showcase the ingenuity, resilience, and impact of African entrepreneurs to global audiences of investors, partners, and customers.
A Platform for Visibility and Growth
At its core, DRIVE100 is a continent-wide media campaign that recognises the critical role of storytelling in the growth of startups. For many young ventures, limited marketing budgets often mean their groundbreaking work remains under the radar. DRIVE100 aims to change this by offering curated interviews and editorial features that highlight each startup’s journey, from the challenges it faced at inception to the milestones that define its current success.
“Through DRIVE100, we want to do more than just report and share stories,” explained product manager Aderonke Ogunleti. “Our ambition is to help startups scale by putting their stories in front of investors, partners, and customers who can accelerate their growth.”
The Questions that Shape the Stories
Selected founders will be guided through an in-depth interview process designed to bring out the heart of their entrepreneurial journeys. The campaign explores critical questions such as:
- What problem does your startup solve, and who is your target audience?
- How does your product or service stand out in the market?
- What traction, team capacity, or milestones have you achieved so far?
- What goals lie ahead in the next year and in the longer five-year horizon?
- How should governments, investors, and the ecosystem better support African startups?
These reflective questions not only allow founders to showcase their strengths but also invite them to engage meaningfully with the broader challenges and opportunities within Africa’s startup ecosystem.
Why Drive100 matters
Africa’s startup landscape is one of the fastest-growing globally. Despite a slowdown in global venture capital, Partech Africa’s 2024 report revealed that African startups raised over $4.1 billion across more than 600 deals. Yet, many promising ventures continue to face barriers in visibility and access to investors.
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DRIVE100 addresses this gap by amplifying founders’ voices at no cost. According to Techparley, the initiative offers four key benefits:
- Visibility: Startups gain exposure to a growing community of readers, investors, and partners.
- Investor Attraction: Authentic storytelling helps capture the interest of venture capitalists and strategic partners.
- Inspiration: Sharing stories of resilience and innovation motivates other entrepreneurs navigating similar challenges.
- Reflection: Founders get the chance to step back, celebrate achievements, and reassess their growth journey.
“Stories inspire action,” said Farhan Nasirudeen, a tech professional based in Ilorin. “When investors and partners see the grit behind each venture, they are more likely to engage.”
Application Process
Applications for DRIVE100 are open until 15 October 2025. The process is free, ensuring that financial barriers do not exclude deserving startups. Once selected, participating founders will be profiled through editorial features and in-depth interviews crafted to highlight their impact, challenges, and aspirations.
“There is no cost to participate because we believe powerful storytelling should never be limited by budget,” noted Ogunleti.
About Techparley Africa
Techparley Africa is a pan-African media and technology platform dedicated to chronicling innovation across the continent. Through its incisive reporting and industry insights, it acts as a bridge between entrepreneurs, investors, and wider tech communities. The DRIVE100 campaign underscores Techparley’s mission to amplify African voices and accelerate digital transformation by placing authentic startup stories at the centre of the conversation.
DRIVE100 is a growth accelerator powered by storytelling. For founders eager to scale their ventures, attract investors, and inspire peers, this initiative offers a golden opportunity to step into the spotlight.
As Techparley’s campaign takes shape, it sends a clear message: Africa’s startups are ready to lead, and their stories deserve to be heard.
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