African Startups Invited To Join NBA Africa’s 2025 Triple-Double Accelerator Program
NBA Africa has opened applications for the 2025 Triple-Double Accelerator, an initiative aimed at providing funding, mentorship, and global exposure to early-stage African startups working in the sports and creative industries.
Now in its second year, the program launched by the NBA league is operated by ALX Ventures, a leading technology incubator that equips African entrepreneurs with the tools to launch and scale their businesses.
ServiceNow, an AI-powered business transformation platform, joins as an official partner, bringing its expertise in AI-assisted business operations to the program.
This year’s edition is set to build on its inaugural 2024 edition, which attracted more than 700 applications. Ten startups advanced to the finals and pitched their ideas at NBA headquarters in New York City. Four winners, Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), HustleSasa (Kenya), and UBR VR (Egypt), received funding and mentorship, with several going on to secure partnerships and expand their operations.
The accelerator is positioned to be a key driver of innovation in the continent’s fast-growing sports-tech and creative-tech sectors. The program will award funding, mentorship, and global exposure to early-stage African startups building tech-driven solutions for the sports and creative industries.
It targets startups headquartered in Africa that are less than two years old, operate in the sports or creative sectors, and have a tech-enabled solution with proven market value. Eligible companies must have a proof-of-concept prototype and at least two full-time co-founders.
Applicants must also have at least two full-time co-founders, and preferably be registered as a company.
Startups that are marketplaces, non-tech-enabled, without functional prototypes, late-stage with significant capital raised, or that have participated in more than two similar programs in the past 12 months will not be considered.
Shortlisted startups will participate in a 10-week mentorship program where they will be paired with mentors comprised of NBA Africa, ServiceNow, ALX leadership, and other corporate stakeholders who will provide guidance on how to sharpen their business strategies and expand their market reach.
The program offers:
- Up to USD 50 K in cash and in-kind benefits for the top five winners (Second, third, and fourth-place winners will receive 40K, 30K, and 20K, respectively.)
- Business coaching and advisory from global experts.
- Brand visibility across the NBA and ALX ecosystem.
- Masterclasses in artificial intelligence, product development, sales, fundraising, and more.
- Pitch refinement through mock rounds and expert feedback.
- Networking opportunities with alumni, investors, and potential clients.
- A personalised roadmap to achieve product, revenue, or investor goals.
- An in-person event in a major African city.
- Media and PR exposure during the December Demo Day.
Timeline and Application Process
After the application review, the top 10 startups will be selected to join the mentorship program, which will run in the lead-up to the December 2025 Demo Day. At the event, finalists will pitch their solutions to a panel of global industry leaders. The top five will be awarded funding, continued mentorship, and access to a network of industry partners.
Applications for the 2025 program close on August 29, 2025. Interested startups can apply via the official portal at tripledoubleaccelerator.nba.com by submitting their company story, traction, business model, and impact, along with a pitch deck and, if available, a product demo.
With its combination of financial resources, business expertise, and international exposure, the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator is being positioned as a launchpad for African startups to scale their solutions globally.
