Africa Web Festival

What Africa Web Festival does

Africa Web Festival (AWF) is an annual technology conference and exhibition event founded in 2014 by serial entrepreneur Mariam Sy Diawara in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and promoted by the non-profit organization Mandingo Agir pour Demain. AWF serves as the largest gathering of digital professionals in Francophone Africa, drawing 7,000+ participants annually across digital entrepreneurs, government ministries, civil society organizations, youth, and international attendees from Belgium, Canada, and France. Programming spans AI, digital inclusion, cybersecurity, e-health, mobile money, youth employability, gender inclusion in tech, and digital ecology, delivered through conferences, workshops, inspiration talks, panels, B2B networking sessions, coding marathons, and an exhibition space. The 10th edition was held November 22–23, 2023 at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan, with Senegal as the honored country.

AWF operates as an event platform rather than a software product company, with no proprietary technology stack, APIs, or SDKs disclosed. The core offering is a multi-day annual festival at the Palais de la Culture, complemented by sub-products including the AWF Conference Program, the AWF Campus pre-festival training initiative, and AWF Exhibition Space for booth rentals. Over ten consecutive editions (2014–2023), the organization has built a recognizable brand as the premier digital technology event in Francophone Africa, anchored by founder Mariam Sy Diawara's personal reputation and a coalition of institutional supporters.

AWF's business model relies on three primary revenue streams: event participation fees from attendees, corporate sponsorship and exhibition stand rentals (with Orange Côte d'Ivoire as a longstanding named sponsor since 2014), and partner and supporter contributions from government ministries and development organizations. Pricing for tickets, sponsorship packages, and exhibition stands is not publicly disclosed, with the sponsor page indicating package details as forthcoming. The organization is founder-led without external equity investment, supported by public-sector institutions, a telecom partner, and civil society organizations that lend institutional credibility and operational support.

Name

Africa Web Festival

Legal name

Mandingo Agir pour Demain

Website

https://africawebfestival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Africa Web Festival is an annual technology conference founded in 2014 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, serving 7,000+ digital entrepreneurs, professionals, government officials, and youth across Francophone Africa through multi-day conferences, workshops, B2B networking, and exhibitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Conferences

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Technology & Developer Conferences (MPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM), Training, Workshops & Certification Events (MPAGAGAJ), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Technology conference events
• Digital entrepreneurship
• ICT conference services
• Event management
• B2B networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Abidjan

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Participation Fees: Revenue is generated through participant registration fees for attendees of the annual festival. Pathways for paid participation include attendee tickets, speaker slots, volunteer roles, and press accreditation.
2. Sponsorship and Exhibition: Corporate sponsors (such as Orange Côte d'Ivoire) and institutional supporters fund the festival in exchange for visibility, brand placement, and speaking opportunities. Exhibition stand rentals are offered to companies seeking exposure to the 7,000+ annual attendees.
3. Partner and Supporter Contributions: Government ministries, chambers of commerce, regulatory bodies, and development organizations provide support — financial, logistical, or in-kind — to co-produce the festival.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Africa Web Festival operates an annual multi-day technology conference and exhibition in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, dedicated to promoting ICT innovation and digital entrepreneurship across Francophone Africa. The event features conferences, workshops, coding marathons, B2B networking sessions, and pre-festival training programs, drawing over 7,000 participants per year across its 10 editions since 2014. Supporting offerings include bookable exhibition stands, sponsorship packages, and educational workshops through AWF Campus.

Product overview

Africa Web Festival is an annual technology conference and exhibition event (created in 2014) that serves as the primary platform for promoting ICT innovation and digital entrepreneurship in Francophone Africa. The event spans three days and comprises the main festival conference program with sessions on digital topics, exhibition space for companies, and pre-festival training programs like scriptwriting workshops. The 10th edition was held in November 2023, making it the largest gathering of digital professionals in Francophone Africa with over 7,000 annual participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Africa Web Festival (AWF) Annual Conference Annual multi-day technology conference and exhibition promoting ICT innovation and digital entrepreneurship across Francophone Africa, drawing 7,000+ participants from West Africa and international attendees. Structured program of conferences, workshops, panels, inspiration talks, and B2B networking on AI, digital inclusion, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and youth employability.
• AWF Campus Pre-festival training and formation program that delivers workshops such as scriptwriting training for young filmmakers before the main AWF conference. Targeted at youth and aspiring creative professionals in Francophone Africa.
• AWF Exhibition Space Bookable exhibition booths for companies and organizations at the annual festival. Each stand includes electricity, chairs, and internet connection, providing exposure to 7,000+ digital professionals, entrepreneurs, and government stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000+ annual participants from Francophone Africa and internationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orange Côte d'IvoirecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Orange Côte d'Ivoire is a longstanding strategic partner and sponsor of Africa Web Festival, having supported the event since its founding in 2014. The telco provides both financial and logistical support and actively participates by hosting sessions and contributing speakers. Habib Bamba, Director of Digital Transformation and Media and Director of the Orange Côte d'Ivoire Foundation, is featured as a keynote speaker.
• Suzang Group SARLcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Suzang Group SARL was selected as the digital communication partner for the 6th edition of Africa Web Festival in 2019. The partnership involved managing the festival's digital communications and promotional strategy, including social media and online campaigns. The partnership was formalized at AWF's headquarters in Cocody, Abidjan.
• Fondation Jeunesse NumériqueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The Fondation Jeunesse Numérique (FJN) was a partner of the 6th edition of Africa Web Festival in 2019. AWF founder Mariam Sy Diawara visited FJN's headquarters in June 2019 to formalize the partnership, which focused on entrepreneurship and technological innovation. Linda Nanan Vallée serves as FJN's Executive Director.
• Government Ministries (Côte d'Ivoire)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica Web Festival is supported by multiple Ivorian government ministries and public institutions. The Ministry of Youth Promotion and Employment of Young People, the Ministry of Culture and Francophony, and regulatory bodies such as ARTCI are listed as institutional supporters. Ministers actively participate as keynote speakers and session hosts.
• Mandingo Agir pour DemaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMandingo Agir pour Demain is the non-profit organization (OBNL) that promotes and organizes Africa Web Festival. Founded by serial entrepreneur Mariam Sy Diawara, this organization drives the festival's mission to promote digital entrepreneurship and ICT across Francophone Africa.
• ARTCI (Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications/TIC de Côte d'Ivoire)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARTCI, the Ivorian telecommunications and ICT regulatory authority, is listed as a supporting institution of Africa Web Festival, lending regulatory authority endorsement to the festival's programming.
• Chambre de Commerce de Côte d'IvoireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ivorian Chamber of Commerce is listed among the institutional supporters of Africa Web Festival, providing trade and commerce ecosystem connections to the festival's programming.
• Smart AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmart Africa, the pan-African alliance of public and private sector actors in the digital economy, is represented at AWF through its Director General, Lacina Koné. Smart Africa and AWF share a mission of accelerating digital transformation across Africa and collaborate on sessions addressing digital policy and ecosystem development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TechCrunch Disrupt: Global flagship tech conference series featuring startup competitions, exhibition floors, and enterprise programming. Comparable in multi-format tech event design, though its audience and sponsor base are predominantly US/global.
• Web Summit: The world's largest technology conference, with global editions (Lisbon, Rio, Qatar, Toronto). Comparable as a flagship tech conference with sponsorship, exhibition, and speaker formats, but operates at a vastly larger global scale than AWF.

Direct peers

• DEMO Africa: Pan-African startup launch and technology conference that has toured multiple African cities. Comparable in its focus on digital entrepreneurship, founder storytelling, and sponsor-driven African tech ecosystem events.
• AfricArena: African tech conference and investor summit that convenes startups, corporates, and VCs across the continent. Comparable in B2B matchmaking, conference programming, and pan-African digital ecosystem positioning.
• Africa Tech Festival: Largest annual African tech and telecom event (formerly AfricaCom), held in Cape Town. Directly comparable as a multi-day African technology conference with B2B focus, exhibitor halls, and government participation, though it serves a broader pan-African and Anglophone-leaning audience than AWF's Francophone base.
• GITEX Africa: Pan-African technology and startup event held in Morocco under the GITEX Global brand. Comparable in being a multi-day digital/tech conference with exhibition zones and government backing, and a direct competitor for Francophone African attendees and sponsors.
• AfricaCom: Africa-focused telecom and digital infrastructure conference, historically colocated with Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town. Comparable as a B2B digital ecosystem event serving African operators, governments, and vendors.

Emerging players

• Social Media Week: Digital and creator-economy conference series that has historically run African editions (Lagos, Johannesburg). Comparable in focusing on digital content, creators, and web culture rather than pure enterprise tech, overlapping with AWF's content/themes.
• Africa Fintech Summit: Pan-African conference focused on fintech and digital financial services, with editions across multiple African cities. Comparable in serving a Francophone and Anglophone African digital ecosystem audience, with strong sponsor and government engagement.

Regional players

• VivaTech: Major annual technology and startup event held in Paris, with strong Francophone and African diaspora attendance. Comparable in being a digital/tech conference with policy, innovation, and ecosystem themes, and a relevant alternative for Francophone African attendees and sponsors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/africawebfestival
• Xx.com/africawebfest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/africa-web-festival-awf-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Africa Web Festival