The “African HubCities” experiment was initiated in 2012 by Sename K. A. as a program of its NGO L’Africaine d’architecture. The bet was to show that tech- hubs (fablabs, makerspaces, incubators, third places) could participate in the virtuous transformation of their territory. L’Africaine d’architecture thus prototyped an alternative to the concept of ‘Smart City’.

the program allowed to create WoeLab Zero (2012) then WoeLab Prime (2017). In two places: 1300m2, the largest African tech-hub in terms of space. International distinctions, prizes, recognitions and citations have accumulated and the local impact is indisputable, WoeLab having founded the Togolese tech scene and inspired many innovation spaces in Africa and beyond. The initiative has especially achieved notoriety among models of social innovation advocating environmental protection, inclusiveness and redistributiveness.

3D printer in recycled computer waste, local electronic currency, cultural and local social network, urban and disruptive peer-to-peer services, etc. the HubCity experiment and it´s WoeLab tech- hubs are pioneers in positioning third places as territory factories. Since 2011, have contributed to the international definition of the movement of circular, collaborative, contributory and sharing economies.

Self- financed for 10 years (nearly 450,000 euros invested in expenses, logistics of the Labs, grants for young people, social, program support, financing of startups, etc.), the initiative is now structured to address the challenge of its sustainability, scale up and export its experience to more cities by supporting public authorities.

HubCity will be the first company with a mission, entirely dedicated to solving the challenges of African urbanity and – considering the weight that African cities will have in global urbanity – to safeguarding the habitability of the planet. This campaign serves the ambition of structuring a hubcity ecosystem around the world, starting with Togo