Sports

Ticketing platform wins top NBA Africa prize

Featured Image: Patrick Fore/ Unsplash

Nigerian company Festival Coins has won first prize in the prestigious NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator Demo Day for its ticketing platform Tix Africa.

The programme aims to support start-ups and entrepreneurs in Africa by promoting growth in the sports and creative industries.

It is open to early-stage operations in the continent that develop solutions in event management and ticketing, youth development, AI, and digital marketing.

As a result of its triumph at the event in New York City, Festival Coins has been awarded $50,000 (£37,700/€45,000) in cash and another $50,000 in value-in-kind.

“This win means so much to us,” said Festival Coins chief executive and co-founder Folayem Agosto, as reported by Essence.

“We wouldn’t be here without the tireless work of my team—my ‘Tixies’. With this support, we’re going to be able to do so much more… I’m so excited for what’s to come.”

Festival Coins offers a customisable, no-code event registration and ticketing platform Tix Africa for events in Nigeria and Ghana.

It prevailed over 10 finalists which were shortlisted from more than 700 businesses that applied to participate.

“Congratulations to all of the incredibly talented entrepreneurs who participated in this year’s program, with special recognition to the 10 finalists and four distinguished winners,” said NBA Africa chief executive Clare Akamanzi.

“These outstanding companies have demonstrated the creativity, drive and determination to shape the future of sport in Africa and will help the continent take its rightful place on the world stage.

“We look forward to following their successes for many years to come.”

NBA Africa vice-president and country head Gbemisola Abudu stated that Tix Africa stood out due to its ability to solve a problem that needs answering.

“With Tix Africa, it is really speaking to a problem that exists in our ecosystem, which is being able to sell tickets for live events in a unified way,” Abudu told Essence.

“I’ll also say the scalability of their startup, solving a problem that is a real issue that people need a solution to. And the viability of it, and the impact it’s going to have in transforming things.”