The London Africa Network (LAN) has officially launched its 2026 chapter with a full-day program at The Africa Centre in London, bringing together founders, investors, operators, ecosystem builders and new members around the growing momentum of the UK-Africa innovation corridor.

The event marked the start of a new chapter for the network, combining daytime sessions with an evening of connection and community-building. Organisers described the gathering as a reflection of what LAN is about: creating a platform where relationships, ideas and opportunities can translate into practical collaboration across the UK and Africa.

A central feature of the day was the transformation of The Africa Centre into an African Tech Pop-Up Hub, creating a space for visibility, exchange and engagement across multiple parts of the ecosystem.

Among the highlights was a workshop led with Itana and the UK-Africa Sandbox, focused on the realities and opportunities of building into Africa. The programme also included the UK-Africa Founders Gallery, which showcased the stories and journeys behind a number of companies and entrepreneurs operating across the corridor.

The event also highlighted several partner delegations and initiatives. These included the International Trade Centre, which brought a delegation of founders and tech leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Royal Academy of Engineering, which used the occasion to announce its Africa Prize shortlist finalists.

Also present was the UK-Africa Tech Immersion cohort, in collaboration with Ventures 54 x London & Partners, reinforcing the event’s broader role as a meeting point for organisations supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and market connections between the UK and African ecosystems.

Community support for the 2026 chapter also received a boost through sponsorship from Briter, which was acknowledged by organisers as part of the effort to expand the network’s reach and strengthen its activities throughout the year.


Beyond the individual sessions and delegations, the launch highlighted something broader: the importance of building stronger platforms that connect African founders, innovators and ecosystem actors with international networks, capital, knowledge and market access. At a time when African entrepreneurship is gaining visibility but still faces structural gaps in scale and connectivity, spaces like LAN can play a meaningful role in helping ideas, talent and ventures move further across borders.

The event underlined the role London continues to play as a bridge between African and international innovation ecosystems, while also showing how community-led platforms such as LAN are helping to deepen relationships across founders, institutions, investors and support organisations.

With the 2026 chapter now officially underway, the London Africa Network is positioning itself for the months ahead, with the community already looking toward London Tech Week as the next major moment to build visibility, partnerships and cross-border momentum.