Gebeya and IREX expand opportunities for African innovators to compete in CANEX Create-Thon 2026. James Mahoney August 11, 2026 Partnership creates a dedicated pathway for eligible alumni of IREX-led programs to develop AI-powered creative products in music, video, and games. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, August 11, 2026 - Gebeya and IREX today announced a new partnership to expand access to CANEX Create-Thon 2026, creating a dedicated pathway for alumni of IREX-led programs to participate in one of the continent's leading AI innovation challenges. Across the continent, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, and creators are using artificial intelligence to solve local challenges, launch new businesses, and reimagine industries. As AI reshapes the global economy, access to the tools, networks, and opportunities driving this transformation will help determine who shapes the future. The collaboration introduces an exclusive application pathway and dedicated prize opportunities for IREX-led program alumni, recognizing exceptional AI-powered solutions developed during the Create-Thon. The initiative is designed to reduce barriers for talented innovators while increasing visibility and support for ideas with the potential to create meaningful impact. CANEX Create-Thon 2026 is part of the broader Creative Africa Nexus initiative by the African Export-Import Bank, which advances Africa's creative and digital economy by connecting technology, entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation. Powered by Gebeya's Dala Studio, an AI-native creation platform, the Create-thon challenges participants to transform ideas into AI-powered creative products across three categories: music, video, and games. In the music category, participants can explore AI-powered tools for creation, composition, production, and new forms of musical expression. The video category focuses on AI-driven storytelling, filmmaking, editing, and content creation. The games category challenges innovators to build interactive experiences, game concepts, and AI-powered entertainment solutions. Using natural language instead of traditional coding, Dala Studio enables creators to bring ideas to life by describing what they want to build. The platform makes advanced creative technology more accessible to both technical and nontechnical innovators, expanding participation in the creation of digital products and experiences. Participants will also gain access to mentorship, learning opportunities, and a growing pan-African network of creators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders working together to shape the future of Africa's creative economy. "AI is changing who gets to create technology," said Amadou Daffe, CEO of Gebeya. "The next generation of African innovation won't be defined by who can code the fastest. It will be defined by who can identify meaningful problems and build solutions that improve lives. This partnership helps ensure more innovators have that opportunity." Through its global network of innovators, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders, IREX expands access to education, skills development, and opportunity. This partnership gives IREX alumni a pathway to explore AI-powered creation, strengthen practical skills, and participate in a growing ecosystem of African builders and innovators. "This partnership reflects what IREX is working to make possible: helping people learn, lead, and thrive in a world increasingly shaped by technology, AI, and data," said Aleksander Dardeli, President and CEO of IREX. "Afreximbank has built something important with Creative Africa Nexus: a platform that takes African creative talent seriously as an economic force, not just a cultural one. We're proud to partner with Gebeya to give our alumni a meaningful opportunity to bring their ideas to this platform. I've seen what happens when young innovators get the right tools at the right moment: they don't just participate; they build things that outlast the program that got them started." The partnership reflects a broader shift in which AI is becoming a practical tool for entrepreneurship, creativity, and economic growth. As access to AI-powered creation tools expands, initiatives such as CANEX Create-thon can help innovators build products, businesses, and intellectual property that compete globally. Applications for CANEX Create-Thon 2026 are now open, inviting Africa's next generation of builders, creators, and entrepreneurs to transform bold ideas into AI-powered solutions. About Gebeya. Gebeya is a pan-African AI technology company deploying AI for the next billion users by building localized digital infrastructure designed for Africa's realities. Through AI-powered tools, accessible digital systems, and language-first experiences, Gebeya makes technology more usable, relevant, and inclusive for individuals, businesses, and institutions across the continent. About IREX. IREX, the International Research & Exchanges Board, Inc., is a forward-looking global solutions provider that partners with communities, governments, institutions, funders, donors, and businesses to empower people to learn, lead, and thrive. Building on decades of trusted experience, IREX delivers world-class, evidence-informed approaches that help leaders bridge divides, learners succeed in the world of work, and people thrive in a world increasingly shaped by technology, AI, and data. With a commitment to continuous improvement, IREX strengthens performance, supports responsible innovation, expands opportunity, and creates lasting value with partners.

IREX appoints Chief Growth Officer for 2040 goal. Pietro Turilli steps into IREX's leadership ranks. Swing a cat and you'll hit someone talking about new leadership these days, but when someone with 30 years' worth of savvy steps in to push the agenda, you'd better sit up and take notice. IREX, the nonprofit heavyweight flexing its global influence, recently dialed up the heat by snagging Pietro Turilli as Chief Growth Officer. Yet, instead of an ivory tower position, this role zeroes in on multi-faceted growth strategies. Energizing IREX's ambitions with a visionary approach. Turilli's got a track record that's hard to argue with. This isn't his first rodeo in shaping partnerships and fostering growth in the nonprofit sector. Having played pivotal roles at institutions like the TB Alliance and Heifer Project International, Pietro's stepping into IREX brings a cocktail of partnership prowess, strategic foresight, and growth toolkits to the table. "Pietro is joining us as we build toward our IREX 2040 Ambition," noted Aleksander Dardeli, President and CEO of IREX. "His experience diversifying revenue and leading growth in complex environments will help advance our commitment to helping people learn, lead, and thrive in a fast-changing world." Fueling innovation and sustainable growth. In an era obsessed with riding the latest trend wave, it's refreshing to see IREX anchoring its sails in robust, sustainable growth. With Turilli steering the ship, his emphasis lies on attacking the market from multiple fronts. His weapon of choice? Partnerships stretching across government, philanthropic circles, and business avenues, which he knows how to milk for every drop of opportunity. Looking towards the future. Innovation without sustainability is like trying to ride a bike with one pedal. It might get you somewhere fast initially, but you're bound to crash eventually. Over in IREX's camp, they're keen on making sure innovation pairs with sustainable practices. Turilli's not the kind to pay lip service to buzzwords, and his history of executing actual results bankrolled by programs that walk the talk is what'll cement his office's tactical effectiveness. * Partnership-centric solutions for expanded impact * Fostering diverse revenue streams for stability * Facilitating real-world program deployment and results Beyond this vision, Pietro Turilli's got a tapestry of experiences under his belt that'll serve IREX well. While in leadership at CGIAR and the World Bank, he learned the art of marrying resources with results - exactly what IREX vies for in the name of public good. A nonprofit poised at the edge of transformation. Investors Hangout, LLC is staring at a landscape where nonprofits face colossal shifts, and it's not just about catching up. It's a race against obsolescence. IREX's bold play to have Turilli lead its growth engine signals more than ambition - it's a gamble on purposeful growth in an ever-evolving global environment. So, what's the bottom line here? Slap a different label on it, but IREX is dressing up for a real-world trial. By weaving diverse partnerships with an eye for innovation and evidence-led outcomes, they're making a broader case for being more than just players in the nonprofit theater - they aim to be the leads. What lies ahead. Turilli's tenure will be telling. If he delivers on the promise of dynamic and diversified revenue streams while nurturing invaluable partnerships, IREX's 2040 vision could leap from ambition to tangible reality. As the plot unfolds, keen-eyed observers will be watching his every move, as there's no place for half-measures with stakes this high. But if there's one truth here, it's this: In casting Turilli, IREX isn't just dealing in future prospects - they're betting on current action driving lasting impact.