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Startupbootcamp AfriTech on Scouting Tour for Cohort 3 of the Africa Startup Initiative (ASIP) Accelerator Program

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AfriTech

Over the last 5 years, 50 African startups have completed the SBC AfriTech Accelerator

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 17, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Startupbootcamp AfriTech (Startupbootcamp.org/accelerator/AfriTech), Africa’s leading tech Accelerator is scouting for the most disruptive African tech startups from critical industry verticals for the Telecel Group (https://TelecelGroup.com) Africa Startup Initiative (https://ASIProgram.com) Accelerator Program.

The fate of Africa lies in innovations designed to alleviate the continent’s toughest challenges while also building products that are compelling enough for a global market. To do that, Accelerator programs facilitate and enable the evolution of home-grown solutions into powerhouses that make an indelible mark in the world. This is one of the many reasons why forward-thinking companies and governments are collaborating more with these essential support engines.

Founded by telecoms giant, Telecel Group (https://TelecelGroup.com) powered by SBC AfriTech, and supported by partners such as DER/FJ (a Department of the Republic of Senegal) (https://DER.sn), the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) (https://www.FMO.nl), ENRICH in Africa (a European Union-funded project) (https://ENRICH-in-Africa-project.eu), AWS (https://go.AWS/3ezrigY), and Google (https://Startup.Google.com), the ASIP Accelerator aims to support the next generation of early-stage African tech startups disrupting key industry verticals that include FinTech, InsureTech, AgriTech, Climate-tech, eCommerce, Digital Health, and CleanTech, Mobility, Micro-leasing, and digitizing the informal economy.

Over the last 5 years, 50 African startups have completed the SBC AfriTech Accelerator.

“90% of our alumni are still operating and scaling,” notes Program Director Henry Ojour. “Collectively, SBC portfolio companies have raised more than $120 Million in follow-on funding and the past 2 cohorts of the Telecel Group ASIP Program are doing exceptionally well. We’re excited about what Cohort 3 will achieve, and we believe it will set new records.”

Telecel Group (https://TelecelGroup.com) has also reinforced its commitment to providing the participating startups with access to markets, with the help of other relevant corporates will enable founders to execute proof of concepts and pilots while also building sustainable businesses.

Eleanor Azar ASIP Director said: “we are excited to announce that applications are now open, and we encourage all startups to apply, the past two cohorts have been very successful and we expect cohort three to be phenomenal, especially since our partner consortium is growing and adding powerhouses such as FMO and Enrich In Africa in addition to DER, AWS, Google, Microsoft and many more”.

The Government of Senegal through DER/FJ continues to be the bridge that provides essential public sector partnerships and government support. Cohort 3 also has the full support of the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FMO (https://bit.ly/3Vzirwj) invests in inclusive business models and provides the expertise that startups need to improve their business operations while also providing broader support to facilitate a vibrant start-up environment in the regions where the program invests.

We are excited to announce that applications are now open, and we encourage all startups to apply

Speaking on this, Ventures Program Manager Marieke Roestenberg said, “As part of our entrepreneurial ecosystem building efforts, FMO was keen to support the ASIP program and SBC AfriTech in expanding their operations into more middle-tier markets. This partnership provides an opportunity to bring more world-class acceleration to entrepreneurs striving to build businesses that create jobs and better livelihoods for their families and communities.”

Once selected, participants will spend three months undergoing intensive coaching through expert-led masterclasses covering scaling fundamentals -from the business model canvas, and lean methodology, to fundraising. The program will take place in Senegal, culminating in a hybrid Demo Day where startup founders pitch their disruptive solutions to a broad audience of media, investors, corporate partners, and industry stakeholders

Telecel Group ASIP Startups will also have access to Startupbootcamp’s tailored coaching tool, the Accelerator Squared platform which has a complete library of content, group workshops, 1:1 mentoring, collaborative sessions with Entrepreneurs in Residence, and invite-only discussion forums with founders from around the globe. This is in addition to customized support from experienced mentors and dedicated Entrepreneurs-In-Residence (EIRs). The 10 startups in the ASIP program will also receive benefits valued at more than $750,000, including credits from AWS, Google Cloud Services, and many more, and a direct cash investment of $18,000. 

Telecel Group ASIP powered by SBC AfriTech has so far hosted scouting events (FastTracks) in Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa and Uganda. In the next few weeks, the team will be in Accra,Casablanca and Dakar.

“For each FastTrack, we invite the top 10 startups who apply to receive instant feedback from a panel of industry experts, network with our investment team and find out more about the program,” explains Henry Ojour. “Teams that attend a FastTrack are 20% more likely to be invited to our Final Selection Days.

Five out of the 10 startups chosen for the program will be fully funded and backed by ENRICH in Africa (https://ENRICH-in-Africa-project.eu), a project funded by the European Union and designed to support and strengthen the European and African innovation ecosystem. These startups will receive additional benefits, including access to the Euroquity (https://bit.ly/3TnSAq1) community, networking events, and follow-up support.

Reflecting on the journey, Philip Kiracofe, the Co-founder of SBC AfriTech said “When we launched Startupbootcamp AfriTech in 2017, we had an audacious vision to scout, skill, and scale African Solutions for African Challenges. Six years later, we have become one of the most highly regarded programs on the continent, and our portfolio of startups has an aggregate valuation of nearly $700 Million. We are privileged to have new partners including FMO and EnrichInAfrica (funded by the European Commission) supporting us, and looking forward to launching more Accelerators in the near future.”

To join cohort 3 apply here: bit.ly/SBC-Apply3

To attend the scouting events as a startup, register: https://bit.ly/FT-Startup

To attend as a mentor: https://bit.ly/FT-Mentor

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Startupbootcamp AfriTech.

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Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

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The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

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Beyond Stabroek: Guyana’s Offshore Basin Attracts New Wave of Exploration Investment

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As ExxonMobil advances appraisal activity in Stabroek and new operators target frontier acreage, Guyana is attracting global capital and building a diversified offshore portfolio designed to sustain long-term growth

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Guyana’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers is entering a new phase, with a growing network of IOCs expanding exploration activity across the country’s offshore basin. Beyond the landmark discoveries that first put Guyana on the global energy map, new drilling campaigns and licensing partnerships are creating a broader exploration ecosystem designed to support long-term production growth.

At the center of this momentum is ExxonMobil’s continued exploration and appraisal activity in the prolific Stabroek Block. The company has submitted a proposal for a 35-well exploration and appraisal drilling campaign, expected to run from 2028 through 2033, pending regulatory approval. The program would build on more than 30 commercial discoveries already made in the block, with drilling activity focused on evaluating new prospects and appraising existing discoveries to support future development opportunities.

Exploration activity is also extending into Guyana’s frontier acreage, with ExxonMobil advancing drilling operations at the deepwater Canje Block. The company has deployed the Noble Stena Carron drillship for exploration activity, highlighting continued industry interest in evaluating Guyana’s underexplored offshore potential beyond the established Stabroek Block.

Guyana’s strong exploration outlook comes as the country’s economy continues to benefit from rapid oil sector expansion, with hydrocarbons expected to remain a key driver of exports, government revenues and economic growth. As production scales up, attracting additional investment across exploration, services and infrastructure will be critical to supporting the next phase of development.

That momentum is being reinforced through partnerships established under Guyana’s 2023 offshore licensing round. A consortium comprising TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Petronas is advancing exploration activities in Block S4 under a five-year production sharing agreement signed with the government in late 2025. The award represents one of the first major outcomes of the licensing round and demonstrates continued international confidence in Guyana’s offshore resource potential.

Beyond the largest operators, a diverse group of companies is also expanding activity across Guyana’s offshore basin. Eco Atlantic is advancing exploration at the Orinduik Block; CGX Energy and Frontera Energy are progressing work in the Corentyne Block; Occidental is evaluating opportunities in the Roraima Block; while Ratio Guyana and Cataleya Energy hold interests in the Kaieteur Block. Together, these partnerships are broadening Guyana’s exploration landscape, increasing competition for acreage and creating opportunities for future discoveries.

As Guyana transitions from an emerging producer to a global energy hub, the next challenge will be converting exploration success into sustainable investment, local value creation and regional growth. These opportunities will be explored at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments, IOCs, investors and technology providers, the event will examine how Guyana’s expanding partnerships can accelerate offshore development, strengthen regional energy cooperation and attract the capital needed to support the Caribbean’s evolving energy landscape.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Energy Capital & Power Establishes London Entity, Expanding Global Platform for Energy and Mining Events

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The move strengthens ECP’s presence in the UK and Europe, and its ability to connect African and South American markets with global investors

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 6, 2026/APO Group/ –International events company Energy Capital & Power (ECP) (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) has officially established its UK entity in London, marking a milestone in the company’s growth strategy and reinforcing its ability to deliver world-class energy and mining events and campaigns in the UK and Europe.

By establishing a presence in a key hub like London – the pre-eminent energy and mining finance center – ECP actively shapes the global energy conversation. The expansion positions ECP to better serve clients, partners and investors seeking to develop business opportunities between Africa, Europe, the Americas and energy markets worldwide.

Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital

The milestone comes as ECP strengthens its reach through a series of investment platforms that connect global capital to energy and mining projects. These include the Venezuela Energy Week London Showcase on July 30 – with over 300 delegates registered – and the annual Invest in African Energy Forum, held in Paris as the premier event connecting global investors to Africa’s energy transformation.

ECP hosts high level summits and investor conferences in leading energy and minerals producing countries in Africa and South America, including: Venezuela Energy Week; Angola Oil & Gas; MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power; African Mining Week; Libya Energy & Economic Summit; Congo Energy & Investment Forum; South Sudan Oil & Power; and Caribbean Energy Week. The company has hosted investor forums and supported licensing round roadshows in Houston, London and Paris since 2016.

“Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital,” states CEO James Chester. “Having a permanent presence in London further cements our footprint in Europe, enabling us to fulfil our mission to bring minerals and energy investment to diverse global markets.”

With teams located across Africa, Europe and the Americas, ECP has long-facilitated strategic engagement, market intelligence and industry convening, uniting investors with leading energy and mining projects.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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