Rabat – REBORN, a Moroccan sportstech startup, has been named Grand Winner of the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator 2025, rising from a pool of over 700 startups from across the continent in a historic moment in African sports technology advancement.
The declaration took place in Kigali, Rwanda, on December 5, ranking REBORN at the top of all participants from 32 African countries, who took part in one of the most rigorous sportstech competitions on the continent.
The achievement also comes during a symbolic time, with Morocco shortly to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, thus establishing the country’s rapid ascendency in both sports performance and the technology that drives today’s modern games.
REBORN develops performance solutions powered by data and artificial intelligence, designed to help athletes, clubs, and training centers better understand physical readiness, tactical behavior, and technical execution. The solutions are currently used in academies and training centers in Morocco, where demand for data-driven decision-making in sport continues to grow.
Attaining first position, however, qualified it for an entire range of support, not limited to funding. REBORN was treated to a combination of $25,000 funding, $10,000 worth of API credits, as well as a 12-month incubation opportunity through Carnegie Mellon University’s Business Incubation Program.
The award comes complete with an immersive experience among OpenAI engineers hosted at the company’s global headquarters, as well as access to all innovation ecosystems of NBA Africa, ALX Ventures, ServiceNow, and CMU-Africa.
A win that signals Africa’s sportstech momentum
Beyond the immediate rewards, the victory highlights a broader shift in how African innovation is being recognized on the global stage. REBORN’s success positions Morocco as a rising hub for sportstech in Africa and underscores the continent’s ability to develop solutions that compete at international standards.
In a released statement following the news, REBORN’s co-founder, Youssef Maaroufi, called the victory an “immense pride for our team and for Morocco.”
He said the recognition confirms that “Africa is not just a sports market, but a hub of innovation capable of influencing performance on a global scale.”
“We are determined to make Data and AI true accelerators for African talent,” he continued.
The startup also credited its success to strong local and international partnerships. REBORN expressed gratitude to Moroccan institutions such as the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Evosport, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which assisted in their growth in the earlier stages.
It also extended gratitude to organizations involved in the accelerator, including NBA Africa, ALX Ventures, OpenAI, ServiceNow, Carnegie Mellon Africa, and Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports.
As Morocco prepares to welcome Africa’s biggest football tournament in 2025, REBORN’s achievement adds another layer to the country’s sporting narrative.
It reflects a future where performance is increasingly guided by insight, technology, and innovation, and where African startups are not just participating in global conversations about sport, but helping lead them.
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