Africa is entering a new era of industrial and technological transformation. To catalyse this shift, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched Timbuktoo, a $1 billion innovation fund designed to accelerate the continent’s startup ecosystem. With the ambition to create 10 million dignified jobs and transform 100 million livelihoods, Timbuktoo is channeling catalytic capital into Africa’s most promising ventures.
Why ManuTech Matters?
At the heart of this initiative is the Manufacturing Technology Hub (ManuTech Hub), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. With its strong policy environment and industrial base, Ethiopia is an ideal launchpad for Pan-African startups in manufacturing and industrial technologies.
Through the ManuTech Accelerator Program, startups will access seed funding, mentorship, technical support, and global networks empowering them to scale solutions that address Africa’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.
The recent launch of the week-long Timbuktoo ManuTech residency in Addis Ababa brought together start-up founders alongside investors, business support organisations, policymakers, and development partners. Kevin Abuka, Manager Investment Advisory at ASIGMA conducted a masterclass for early-stage founders, navigating the themes of startup finance, valuation, and capital structuring for investor readiness. The event showcased Africa’s readiness to invest in its own innovators and highlighted UNDP’s vision of positioning Africa as a global leader in inclusive, innovation-driven growth.
ASIGMA’s Role as Fund Manager
To ensure resources are deployed efficiently and transparently, ASIGMA serves as the Fund Manager for the ManuTech Hub. Our role spans the entire fund lifecycle: supporting the selection and appraisal of startups, and providing comprehensive fund management, including grant disbursements, compliance oversight, and financial monitoring, through robust digital tools.
As fund manager, we are committed to ensuring that resources reach the right startups at the right time, driving efficiency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
“Africa’s industrial future will be shaped by its startups. The ManuTech Hub provides funding and a platform for entrepreneurs to scale transformative solutions for the continent and beyond. ASIGMA is proud to steward this fund, ensuring transparency, accountability, and measurable impact for Africa’s innovation ecosystem.”
– Kevin Abuka, Manager Investment Advisory
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Transforming Africa’s Industrial Ecosystem: What lies ahead
The ManuTech Hub is a program that signals a clear call to action for governments, investors, and private sector actors to rally behind Africa’s industrial innovators. For policymakers, this means building enabling environments for startups. For investors, it presents an opportunity to co-invest in de-risked, high-potential ventures.
For ASIGMA, this initiative underscores our role as an investment ecosystem enabler, bridging capital and innovation, and turning catalytic funding into sustainable, inclusive growth for Africa.
