During my internship at Open Startup (OST), I worked on creating innovation bridges between the US and Africa to facilitate knowledge sharing between African startups and US stakeholders. My primary focus was identifying strategic partnerships to strengthen the African tech entrepreneurship ecosystem. I had the opportunity to interview African founders developing impactful tech solutions across various sectors, discussing their business models, strategies for scaling their impact, and increasing visibility in local and international markets.

Additionally, I contributed to fundraising efforts, ideating on strategies to enhance OST’s sustainability, and organizing events for OST in the US. Through this work, I supported OST’s US strategy of bridging ecosystems and fostering innovation by facilitating collaborations that drive sustainable growth in the African startup world. This aligns with OST’s mission to accelerate innovation and foster entrepreneurship in Africa by connecting startups with global expertise, international exposure, and mentorship.

My work at OST allowed me to apply the skills I gained from my master's courses. I found the knowledge from the course Doing Business in Africa particularly useful. I applied this by conducting market analysis to understand the dynamics of the sectors in which the startups operated, enabling me to have productive conversations with the founders. Additionally, I used insights from Interstate Relations to navigate strategies for creating sustainable and mutually beneficial US-Africa partnerships for OST. The internship also gave me valuable insight into investing in emerging markets. This came from my research on capital firms that invest in Africa, analyzing their investment theses and areas of alignment with the startups OST was supporting.

One of the significant challenges I faced during my internship at OST was navigating cultural and communication differences that are more effective in the US. Securing strategic partnerships to meaningfully impact African startups wasn’t always straightforward, as it required a deep understanding of stakeholders and their operational environments. For instance, when identifying investors, it was crucial to find firms committed to innovation in Africa, ensuring OST could offer a strong pipeline of African startups scaling their impact. We developed effective ways to communicate the unique value propositions of these startups. Another challenge involved travel arrangements, which were complicated by issues with the travel company. We experienced delays and lacked communication regarding visa status. Eventually, we reapplied through the Tunisian embassy, and the process was swift, with visas approved in just two business days.

My experience at OST was both eye-opening and inspiring. I gained a deeper understanding of the African startup ecosystem and the critical role incubators with strong networks play in accelerating innovation and impact. I was particularly inspired by OST’s resilience in delivering world-class resources to enable tech startups, and by the creativity of the founders I met, who are solving pressing social and environmental challenges. This experience also motivated me to start working on my own startup, a project I’ve been passionate about for the past two years. I learned that creating meaningful solutions requires not only innovation but also a robust network of support and exposure across regions. Working in Tunisia, where OST’s main office is located, was equally enriching. The warmth and generosity of the people, combined with cultural immersion, left a lasting impression on me. I now feel more confident in navigating complex cross-cultural business environments and am excited to apply the knowledge I’ve gained to my future career and entrepreneurial endeavors.