BRAIN

🔴 Engaging with TINS: Technology Innovation Studio, a venture studio based at the Cambridge Innovation Center, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic innovation, was a key highlight of our exploration of Boston’s innovation ecosystem. At CIC, we discovered a thriving model that brings together startups, corporates, investors, and academia under one roof, fostering community, experimentation, and access. With the support of TINS, we were able to connect with experts who provided our team with a valuable overview of the ecosystem and arranged investor pitching sessions, offering tailored feedback on how to effectively navigate and access this dynamic market. This visit and being part of Venture Café Cambridge reaffirmed how ecosystem density, openness, and collaboration drive innovation, and inspired reflection on how similar models can take root across Africa’s emerging DeepTech landscape. Pixii Motors Chekkit Technologies Corp. Zencey ATAREC  Remotion eSteps Health 🐜 It was a pleasure collaborating with Salma B. and Suman Lal, and we’re grateful for the insights of experts Robert Garces PhD MBA and Soren Weis Dahl, Nathalie van Doorne , Wilbert Kragten, Prakash Rao, Ph.D MBA, Matthew Henson, and Divya joshi whose perspectives enriched our understanding of Boston’s innovation ecosystem. #OpenStartup #BRAIN #DeepTech #BostonInnovation #TINS #CambridgeInnovationCenter #InnovationEcosystem #AfricaInnovation

Wrapping up our participation in the Tough Tech Summit as part of our #Boston Immersion, where our 6 African DeepTech startups explored one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems. The Summit highlighted how Tough Tech is defined globally as patient, purpose-driven innovation tackling complex challenges. From advanced materials to quantum systems, the message was clear: #DeepTech is still tough and requires time, resilience, and patient capital. Boston’s ecosystem demonstrates how strong bridges between research, funding, and industry can turn that challenge into progress, a model we’re working to build across Africa’s DeepTech landscape. It was also a pleasure reconnecting with ecosystem friends and partners who continue to push the boundaries of DeepTech, Alex Grant, Ian Johnston, Ahmed Hentati, Diana Kamau, and witnessing shared commitment to advancing global innovation. Pixii Motors Chekkit Technologies Corp. Zencey ATAREC Remotion eSteps Health 🐜 #ToughTechSummit #DeepTech #InnovationEcosystem #Boston #AfricaInnovation #OpenStartup #BRAIN

🔴 BRAIN Accelerator has built on its 5-year iterations and learning to accelerate the startups’s market and investment readiness! Hear it directly from our champions! From our #climate and #agritech pipeline, DeepLeaf, from Morocco, an AI-powered agritech startup helping farmers reduce water consumption and optimize crop yields through precision irrigation. Today, DeepLeaf has evolved into a scalable API platform that empowers government programs, banks, NGOs, and agri-tech companies to integrate its technology directly into their existing systems, reaching 4.78 million farmers across Africa and the Middle East with up to 70% subsidized access, grew from a team of 3 to 9, and raised $227K in equity-free grants. 🌍 Be the next champion. Apply before the 7th of November 👉https://lnkd.in/eBM7NUzd El Mahdi Aboulmanadel 🌍 Made possible by Open Startup's organizational partners: AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, and Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), Bpifrance, and The Dot. And program partners: Stellenbosch University, CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Steve Madden, MIT-Africa, MIT Executive MBA Program, and our local partner: LaunchLab.

🔴 BRAIN Accelerator has built on its 5-year iterations and learning to accelerate the startups’s market and investment readiness! Hear more about it from our champions! From our #healthcare pipeline, Fluorobiotech, from South Africa, a #biotech startup revolutionizing enzyme production for vaccines, who started from $100K to raise over $1.3M in blended funding and currently closing strategic partnerships that are paving the way to reshaping the vaccine manufacturing future in Africa in a more affordable and accessible manner! 🌍 Be the next champion. Apply before the 7th of November 👉https://lnkd.in/eBM7NUzd Ross Rayne Vermeulen 🌍 Made possible by Open Startup's organizational partners: AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, and Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), Bpifrance, and The Dot. And program partners: Stellenbosch University, CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Steve Madden, MIT-Africa, MIT Executive MBA Program, and our local partner: LaunchLab.

🔴BRAIN Accelerator leverages its global network to accelerate the growth of startups’ market and investment readiness! Hear more about it from our Champions! From our healthcare pipeline, Reme-D.Inc-D from Egypt, a deep-tech startup specialising in affordable molecular diagnostic kits for underserved regions, has expanded to Kenya, Greece, and more. Reme-D.Inc-D is now an international company with 45 team members, including 25 women, and a portfolio of 30+ products. 🌍 Be the next champion. Apply before the 7th of November 👉https://lnkd.in/eBM7NUzd Salma Tammam 🌍 Made possible by Open Startup's organizational partners: AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, and Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), Bpifrance, and The Dot. And program partners: Stellenbosch University, CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Steve Madden, MIT-Africa, MIT Executive MBA Program, and our local partner: LaunchLab.

🔴 Kicking Off the BRAIN Boston Immersion. Bridging Africa’s DeepTech to MIT’s Tough Tech Ecosystem This week, we kicked off the BRAIN Boston Immersion, taking a delegation of #5 DeepTech startups from across Africa four in #HealthTech and two in #ClimateTech to explore one of the world’s most advanced innovation hubs: Boston and MIT. eSteps Health 🐜, Remotion, Zencey Pixii Motors, and ATAREC Day 1 was all about immersion in the heart of science and entrepreneurship. From a visit to our partner MIT-Africa, where bridges between the continent and MIT’s research and students community are constantly being built, to deep dives at the MIT Media Lab, MIT Museum, and the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, our founders experienced the full spectrum of how ideas move from lab to market. BRAIN has been building over the past 5 years: a model for #DeepTech acceleration in Africa that keeps the research spirit alive, while pushing for real-world impact. Huge thanks to our hosts and friends who made this possible: Ari Jacobovits, Jack Rademacher, Ben Soltoff, Philippe Taieb, Richard Rabbat, and all the mentors and experts who continue to open doors for our startups. And the journey continues applications for BRAIN 5.0 are still open. Join the next generation of DeepTech founders shaping Africa’s future before the 7th of November. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eBM7NUzd

🔴 5 Years of DeepTech Momentum Across Africa In just 5 years, BRAIN evolved from a pilot to a continental platform supporting African scientists and entrepreneurs turning cutting-edge research into real companies. What’s been built so far: 🔷 1 pilot + 4 accelerator editions (the 5th now underway) 🔷 3 DeepTech ecosystem events across Africa and more than 10 global immersions 🔷 40+ DeepTech startups accelerated in HealthTech, ClimateTech, and Frontier sectors 🔷 A model refined every year through learning, iteration, and results But more than programs, we’ve built an ecosystem connecting founders to mentors, investors, and partners who believe in the power of African science. Along the way, we’ve been joined by incredible allies shaping this journey: AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), Stellenbosch University, CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, Mastercard Foundation, Steve Madden, MIT-Africa, MIT Executive MBA Program, Bpifrance, LaunchLab, IFC - International Finance Corporation, Digital Africa, Sanofi, Briter, InstaDeep, Smart Capital, AUF, and many others. And by an inspiring network of global experts and mentors who have generously shared their time and expertise Richard Rabbat, Ozan Sonmez, Kate Hach, Alex Felman, Diego A., Sabri Ben Radhia, Philippe Taieb, Rym Baouendi, Olga D., and many others. Together, we’ve witnessed that #DeepTech can thrive in Africa, when science meets purpose, collaboration, and persistence. The journey continues. 🔴 Applications are now open for the next BRAIN Accelerator, built on 5 years of learning, impact, and partnership. 👉 Apply before November 7th: https://lnkd.in/eBM7NUzd #DeepTech #Africa #BRAINAccelerator #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #HealthTech #ClimateTech #Science #EcosystemBuilding

🔴5 Years of Building DeepTech in Africa with Science-preneurs At BRAIN, it’s never just about acceleration, it’s about walking the journey with founders building science-based solutions solving fundamental challenges for Africa and the world and supported by strong partners who share the passion for African Deeptech potential. Over the past 5 years, we’ve supported 40+ DeepTech startups across 12 countries, turning research into real impactful companies. Along the way, we’ve learned, iterated, and refined our approach to better serve our entrepreneurs, building a supportive ecosystem around them with the trust of committed partners that helped to accelerate their market and investment readiness. 🔴The BRAIN Journey in Numbers: 🔷 +40 DeepTech startups supported and 25 accelerated  🔷 17 among the 25 accelerated startups secured funding post-program. 🔷 50% in HealthTech | 40% in ClimateTech | 10% in Frontier Sectors 🔷 17 female-led startups Among the 17 accelerated:  🔷$7M+ total raised collectively 🔷$4M+ total revenue generated collectively 🔷 3+ startups raised individually over $1M USD. 🔷80+ Clients & partnerships deals signed collectively 🔷8+ startups expanded beyond their local markets. 🔷20+ international awards won collectively. And the journey continues. Applications are now open for the next BRAIN cohort, built on 5 years of continuous learning for the scientists, engineers, and builders shaping Africa’s DeepTech future in health and climate sectors. 🌍 Be part of this story. Apply before the 7th of November 👉https://lnkd.in/eBM7NUzd 📌 Disclaimer: Startups selected as finalists will be asked to allocate a symbolic 1% equity to Open Startup (OST) to support the long-term sustainability and growth of the program across Africa. 🌍 Made possible by Open Startup's organizational partners: AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, and Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), Bpifrance, and The Dot. And program partners: Stellenbosch University, CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Steve Madden, MIT-Africa, MIT Executive MBA Program, and our local partner: LaunchLab.

🔴 Don’t Miss Your Chance to Join BRAIN 5.0 in South Africa! 🇿🇦 Are you a DeepTech startup in Africa working on #Health or #Climate, applying #AI or advanced #hardware? This is your moment to scale your science-driven venture and raise big! Be part of BRAIN 5.0 and secure a fully-funded trip to an immersive in-person training bootcamp in Cape Town, South Africa, where you’ll connect with top minds in the #DeepTech space and benefit from: ◾ A Tailored Curriculum Focused on Market & Investment Readiness ◾ One-on-One Mentorship with Global Experts ◾ Immersion in South Africa’s Thriving DeepTech Ecosystem ◾ VC Clinic Sessions with Local and International Investors ◾ Networking with Visionary Entrepreneurs from Across Africa 📍 Where? Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦 📅 When? February 2026 Over the past 4 cohorts, BRAIN has accelerated 40+ startups from 10 countries and 12 industries, helping 60% secure funding and collectively raise over $5M to take their science from lab to market. ⏳ Applications are still open — deadline extended! 👉 Apply now before November 7th 📩 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eD8sphw7 📌 Disclaimer: Startups selected as finalists will be asked to allocate a symbolic 1% equity to Open Startup (OST) to support the long-term sustainability and growth of the program across Africa. 👉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eUBFfwAd 🌍 Made possible by Open Startup's organizational partners: AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, and Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), Bpifrance, and The Dot. And program partners: Stellenbosch University, CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Steve Madden, MIT-Africa, MIT Executive MBA Program, and our local partner: LaunchLab. #BRAINAccelerator #DeepTech #AfricaTech #HealthTech #ClimateTech

🔴 BRAINX Program | Wrap-up 🇹🇳 Tunisian women continue to stand out! Ranking #1st in Africa and the Arab world for women in research, #1st worldwide in female STEM enrollment, and #2nd globally for women holding higher education degrees in STEM. The talent is here. The ideas are here! What’s often missing is the bridge, the support, resources, and mindset that help research move beyond theory and create real-world impact. That’s what BRAINX set out to build. This year, 120 women scientists from 22 regions across Tunisia applied to join the program. From which, 32 participants were selected, leading 24 projects from 14 regions, each driven by a vision to turn research into tangible solutions. Over 2 days, they gathered to explore entrepreneurship, collaboration, and impact through intensive workshops, practical sessions, and interactive panels led by local and international experts from the U.S. Now, as they move into their 4-week mentorship phase, they carry forward one shared goal:  To prove that Tunisian science doesn’t just advance knowledge, it drives change! A huge thank you to our amazing team, partners, experts, and facilitators. Yesmine Mansar, Cherine Charfeddine Boukhari, Fatma Ben Amar, Mejda Elheni, Weiyi Sun, Noomane Fehri, Zack Temtem, Seifeddine Ouni, Rihem Chahloul, Emna Hriga, Nejla STAMBOULI , PhD, Mohamed Aziz ELHIF, neila ben slima, Farah Boughalmi, Noureddine Ben Othman, Maroua Nouira. 🌍This Program is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Department of State, by the support of Open Startup's inception partners: AfricaGrow and AfricInvest Group, MIT-Africa, and The Dot, and Funded by US-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) The contents are the responsibility of Open Startup and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of State or the United States Government. #OpenStartup #USMepi #BRAINX #Tunisia #WomenInScience  #DeepTech #Research2Impact #Entrepreneurship #Innovation