Koya Labs

Africa’s Innovation Opportunity

Africa produces world-class research but struggles to translate it into impactful, market-ready solutions. Bridging this “lab-to-market gap” is key to unlocking economic growth and global competitiveness.

• Research Output: Africa generates 2.1% of global research publications but under 0.2% of patents.
• Commercialization Gap: Fewer than 10% of African universities have fully operational Technology Transfer Offices (TTO).
• Limited Research Endowments: Fewer than 20 African universities maintain substantial endowments or innovation funds, leaving research translation underfunded.
• Funding Challenge: Deep-tech and IP-rich ventures attract less than 5% of Africa’s VC flows.
• Global Opportunity: Commercializing African research could create new industries in health, climate, education, agriculture with digital innovation.

Koya Labs builds the institutional infrastructure to bridge this gap: helping universities, governments, and investors transform research into high-impact ventures.

What We Do

• Establish and co-manage TTOs
• Create Spin-Out Venture Builders to accelerate patent-to-startup conversion
• Develop national and regional science, technology & innovation (STI) policies
• Design and develop technology developoment and proof-of-concept funding mechanisms
• Orchestrate entrepreneurship and commercialization training for researchers & students

Impact Highlights

• Co-designed the first South African university spin-out venture building program
• Partnered with governments & universities to develop national innovation commercialization frameworks
• Created funding structures for early-stage IP rich ventures

Collaborate With Koya Labs