Sudan's Displaced Startup Incubator Reemerges Amid Ongoing Conflict
- Savannah Innovation Labs resumed operations in Port Sudan and Kassala after a six-month hiatus due to the war that began in April 2023.
- The incubator is focused on fostering entrepreneurship through initiatives like the 'We-Rise' bootcamp, supported by international organizations.
- Yousif Yahya believes that the current efforts will lay the foundation for a robust startup ecosystem and attract venture capital post-war.
In Sudan, a startup incubator named Savannah Innovation Labs has resumed operations in the eastern provinces of Port Sudan and Kassala after a six-month hiatus due to the outbreak of war in April 2023. The founder, Yousif Yahya, shared that the incubator was forced to evacuate when the RSF militia threatened staff members. Despite the ongoing conflict, Savannah has continued its mission to foster entrepreneurship through initiatives like the 'We-Rise' bootcamp, supported by the European Union and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. Yahya emphasizes the importance of building a talent pool to drive the country's tech transformation, even amidst chaos. He believes that the groundwork laid during this tumultuous period will eventually lead to a thriving startup ecosystem in Sudan, which is currently in its infancy. Yahya predicts that post-war, Sudan will become an attractive market for venture capital, as many traditional family businesses have suffered significant losses, paving the way for a new generation of entrepreneurs to emerge and reshape the economy.