Ten digital technology leaders from Africa and Europe have been recognised under the EU-Africa Startups Partnership Recognition initiative for their contributions to innovation and the advancement of the digital technology ecosystem.
The recognition, titled “10 Digital Technology Leaders Who Shaped the Digital Future, 2015–2025,” brought together technology entrepreneurs and executives whose work spans artificial intelligence, aerospace technology, fintech, digital platforms and other emerging areas of the global technology ecosystem.
The recognition was highlighted in connection with the EU-Startups Summit 2025, held on April 24–25 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Malta, one of Europe’s major gatherings for startup founders, investors, technology companies and innovation leaders.
The 2025 EU-Startups Summit was the 11th edition of the annual event and attracted approximately 2,200 founders, investors and startup enthusiasts for two days of keynote sessions, panel discussions, networking, exhibitions and a startup pitch competition. The organisers reported that almost 1,500 startups applied for the pitch competition, with 15 finalists eventually selected.
Ten leaders recognised
According to the recognition graphic, the featured technology leaders represented both established European technology ecosystems and emerging African innovation markets.
Among those recognised was Arthur Mensch, Co-founder and CEO of French artificial intelligence company Mistral AI, alongside Alex Kendall, Co-founder and CEO of UK-based Wayve, whose work focuses on artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technology.
The list also featured Kate Kallot, Founder and CEO of Amini in Kenya; Marta Oliveira, Co-founder and CEO of Germany’s ATOM Space; Diliara Lupenko, Co-founder and COO of Spain-based Impress; and Daniel Metzler, Co-founder and CEO of German aerospace company Isar Aerospace.
Africa’s technology ecosystem was represented by a number of emerging digital leaders, including Nigerian technology professionals Oluwafemi Wale Ogunny, Founder of FixnHost, and Efetobore Alexander Monedo, identified as Digital Product Manager at Wakaforme.
Also featured were Oluwaseyi Tolulope Fakunle, Founder of Getcaresasure, and Pelonomi Moiloa, Co-founder and CEO of South African artificial intelligence company Lelapa AI.
The selection reflects the increasingly international nature of the technology sector, with African and European founders and technology professionals contributing to a digital ecosystem that increasingly transcends geographical boundaries.
A meeting point for Europe’s technology ecosystem
The EU-Startups Summit provided an appropriate backdrop for the recognition. The 2025 gathering brought together founders, venture capital investors, angel investors, corporate innovators, policymakers and other stakeholders interested in the future of entrepreneurship and technology. The event also featured an exhibition area showcasing more than 70 innovative companies.
A dedicated StepUp Startups Stage, supported through the European Commission’s digital strategy ecosystem, also formed part of the summit programme, providing opportunities for startups to engage with investors, entrepreneurs and other ecosystem stakeholders around growth, funding and scaling.
The Mediterranean Conference Centre, located in the heart of Valletta overlooking Malta’s Grand Harbour, hosted the two-day gathering, which combined formal presentations with extensive networking and matchmaking opportunities.
Africa-Europe technology collaboration
The EU-Africa Startups Partnership Recognition positioning also underscores the growing links between Africa’s technology ecosystem and European innovation markets.
African startups and technology companies have increasingly attracted international attention as entrepreneurs develop solutions across artificial intelligence, financial technology, education technology, healthcare, logistics, agriculture and other digitally enabled sectors.
By placing African technology leaders alongside European founders and executives, the recognition presents innovation as a shared global endeavour and highlights the potential for stronger collaboration between the two regions.
The ten leaders featured in the recognition therefore represent different companies, countries and technology disciplines, but are united by their contribution to the development and adoption of digital technologies.
As Europe’s startup ecosystem continues to expand its international reach, initiatives that spotlight technology leaders across continents could provide greater visibility for innovators emerging from Africa while creating opportunities for cross-border partnerships, investment and knowledge exchange.
The EU-Startups Summit 2025, held in Valletta on April 24–25, consequently served not only as a gathering for Europe’s startup community but also as a platform for conversations around the future of technology, entrepreneurship and international collaboration.
