The inaugural edition of AfricaBeta, hosted by TechCabal in partnership with WeChat, is finally here. The event is scheduled to hold tomorrow on the 3rd of October, 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.

AfricaBeta is a conference that will showcase the companies and individuals that are pushing the frontier, influencing how Africans experience a life in which technology has become essential.

This first edition, tagged Chat 3.0: How Chat Applications will Power the Next Level of Online Commerce, will focus on how chat applications, and messaging are moving beyond communications into the realms of business and commerce.

In addition to robust expositions by experts in the field, one of the highlights of the event will be demonstrations of outstanding value propositions from the top seeds that emerged from the WeChat ideathon. 10 finalists were seeded from over 80 applicants that participated in the WeChat Ideathon. They are, Gingerbox, Yuzah, Traclist, Jay Osbie,  ChopUp, Tranzit Nigeria, Jekalo, Pass.ng, Foodstantly and Trackenvoy.

Some of the brightest minds in the technology industry will be offering their perspectives and experiences as it relates to Chat 3.0  – how chat and messaging technologies and platforms are being used, and can be used, in promoting a profitable business. They are:

Etop Ikpe, the Co-CEO at Dealdey, who will be discussing hyperlocal possibilities and peer-to-peer commerce;

Adia Sowho, the Vice-Chair of the EMEA board at Mobile Ecosystem Forum, who will be speaking on the network’s perspective on the state of messaging; and

Amber Fowler, a Partner and Chief of Staff at EchoVC, who will be discussing how messaging has transformed business in China.

The event will be hosted by the award winning journalist and television personality, Lamide Akintobi.

Guests at the first edition of Africabeta also stand the chance to win fabulous prizes, Samsung Galaxy Note Edge devices. The raffle draw, which requires intending participants to download the WeChat app will also be open to livestream participants as well.

The event will also be available to a global audience via dedicated livestream (http://www.africabeta.com/live). The proceedings will also be live-tweeted from TechCabal’s Twitter account (https://twitter.com/techcabal). Real time community updates are also available via Radar, TechCabal’s companion forum (http://radar.techcabal.com).

Pulse NG, Black House Media, 360 Nobs and Ynaija.com are Media Partners for the Africabeta conference.