THE BOX

Arizona State University (ASU) will partner with the Africa Trade and Investment activity (ATI), implemented by DAI, to execute the YALI Alumni Expo and Trade Show (YALI Expo) in Cape Town, South Africa. ASU will oversee the YALI Expo from November 11 to 13, 2024, while ATI will manage the Trade Show component taking place at the Africa Tech Festival (also in Cape Town) from November 12 to 14, 2024.

The idea for the YALI Expo was born from the 2022 U.S. Africa Leaders’ Summit, with the White House announcing the expo as a unique opportunity to showcase the innovations of alumni and foster their connection with experts and officials from the private sector, civil society, government, and the diaspora community.

The YALI Expo aims to convene, connect, and celebrate YALI alumni making positive change in their communities by creating networking opportunities, showcasing their innovations for sustainable impact, and connecting them with investors, policymakers, ecosystem partners, and the African diaspora. 

A key objective of the expo is to tell stories and increase awareness of successful alumni who have made a difference in their communities to encourage support from private sector investments and partnerships and, ultimately, establish the YALI brand as a continuous source of young African talent. 

Key to this amplification is “The Box” (https://www.yaliexpo.com/#box), a dedicated podcast space at the YALI Expo where alumni will share first-hand impact experiences on diverse fields of business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management. The Box will serve as a platform for alumni to discuss pressing issues across key themes of the expo and share new industry trends, innovations, and experiences they are implementing across and beyond the continent. Participants will also share testimonials of the expo experience and the event's relevance in sustaining their work post-expo.