On October 23rd, 2023, SmartLab was nominated by the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Awards amongst many other innovators and organizations in Africa. The summit brought together influential speakers from across Africa, focusing on the theme of "Advancing Ecosystem Building: A Fresh Approach to Promoting Economic Development in Africa."

SmartLab received nominations in three categories:

• Entrepreneur Support Organization of the Year

• Corporate Champion of the Year

• Startup Ecosystem Support Initiative. 

These nominations underscored SmartLab's significant contributions to the growth and development of the startup ecosystem within its community and on a broader scale across the African continent.

Amongst the nominations, SmartLab was victorious and was awarded the Corporate Champion of the Year award. This acknowledges the company's outstanding efforts, mainly through programs like the Corporate Digital Masterclass for the commitment to collaboration with businesses, driving innovation, and empowering teams through training and skills development. Additionally, through the groundbreaking Corporate Accelerator program called Vodacom Digital Accelerator in partnership with Vodacom Tanzania.  

Winning the Corporate Champion of the Year Award is a remarkable achievement for SmartLab. It demonstrates the company's exceptional devotion to promoting entrepreneurship, collaborating with stakeholders, innovating in building the startup ecosystem, and extending its influence beyond immediate boundaries.

Larry Ayo, Business Lab Director, expressed his enthusiasm about this achievement, stating, "Winning the Corporate Champion of the Year Award is a monumental honor for SmartLab. It highlights our commitment to creating a thriving startup environment to innovate, collaborate, and succeed. This recognition is not just for SmartLab but a celebration of Tanzania's vibrant and dynamic startup ecosystem."

He emphasized the broader significance of the award for African startups, stating, "This win reinforces our mission to foster innovative solutions from corporates, startups, and investors that solve challenges within the African community and beyond. It's a validation of the hard work put in by the entire team and a promise to continue championing innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent."

As a subsidiary of Smart Africa Group, SmartLab continues to drive innovative and impactful solutions for African communities and businesses.