In addition to receiving US $18,000 in funding, ten African startups have been chosen to participate in the fourth iteration of Startupbootcamp AfriTech’s ASIP Accelerator Program. This means that they will have access to resources, networking opportunities, and mentorship for three months.
Startupweek In 2017, AfriTech was established as the first pan-African startup accelerator supported by multiple corporations.
After nearly forty mentors, investors, partners, and industry experts attended a three-day selection event, ten startups have been chosen to participate in the fourth edition. They will now take part in the three-month program, where they will get resources, networking opportunities with investors and industry experts, and mentorship. The chosen businesses also receive a $18,000 equity investment.
Out of the ventures that were chosen, five are based in Nigeria: 10mg Pharma uses artificial intelligence (AI) to match healthcare providers with financing partners; Betapawa Solutions provides a solar-powered banking solution; Edusko is a web-based platform that matches kids with private schools K–12; Messenger is an end-to-end logistics platform; and Primed EHealth is a SaaS-based hospital automation platform.
Additionally chosen were Uganda’s Munakyalo Agrofresh, which offers solar-powered cold storage preservation units known asCOLD HIVES to smallholder farmers and market vendors; Senegal’s Kori Tech, which created KORIPASS, an e-wallet linked to physical payment accessories like bracelets, stickers, or keychains; Tanzania’s LyfPlus, a telemedicine platform; and Egypt’s Ostafandy, which enables homeowners and construction professionals to estimate and complete building projects.
“The Startupbootcamp Afritech ASIP Accelerator cohort four selection period had a lot of surprises and many firsts,” said programme director Henry Ojuor. “For example, AI emerged as one of the top sectors in our application pool. Also, 26 percent of all the startups that applied are in the growth stage. Major positive signals for the African tech ecosystem. That didn’t make our job of selecting the final top 10, easier, however, but we delivered nonetheless. And I’m optimistic that we’ve assembled and are ready to accelerate Africa’s future success stories.”
The Senegalese government through DER/FJ and the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank (FMO) through MASSIF, the financial inclusion fund that FMO oversees on behalf of the Dutch government, are the main sponsors of this edition of the ASIP Accelerator Program. AWS, Firstbase, Google for Startups, Telecel, and others are additional partners.
The event will be held in Dakar, Senegal, with startups being hosted at the D-hub, an innovation campus that DER/FJ commissioned. On February 8, 2024, a demo day will mark its conclusion.
