The finalists were picked from a record 723 technology startups from 27 African countries that applied to launch at the event. Out of the 30, South Africa is represented by 11 startups, Nigeria 6, Kenya 5 and Ghana 3. For the first time Morocco will have a representative in the continental faire. Other countries include Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.
“The entries this year certainly kept up with the DEMO Africa spirit to produce innovative and creative ideas that are bound to transform the technology landscape and we are excited by the growth of innovation and technological advancement in Africa as portrayed by our finalists,” said Harry Hare, DEMO Africa Executive Producer while congratulating the finalists.
The 30 finalist startups have products in 11 verticals including logistics, retail, ecommerce, education, banking and finance, media, renewable energy, health and agriculture. Banking and financial technologies had the highest number of entries followed by media, ecommerce and education.
The adjudication process which began mid-June 2016, involved a series of activities with a continental jury. “The adjudication process involves a review of the documentation submitted by the startups, a review of their online properties, and testing some of the applications that are online, but the judges also look at the innovation, viability and the product – market fit,” said Mbugua Njihia, the Event Director.
“It was difficult to come up with this list,” said Harry Hare, Executive Director, DEMO Africa. “Any of the short-listed companies could make an impression on the DEMO Africa stage due to the quality and their potential. But we can only have 30 companies. I would like to congratulate all the companies that participated and encourage them to continue building their business,” Hare continued.
The DEMO Africa 2016 conference, which will take place from 25th – 26th August, and it is expected to attract venture capitalists, angel Investors, investment fund managers tech buyers, entrepreneurs, innovation supporters & media from various parts of the world.
This year’s event is supported by the LIONS@frica Partners, City of Johannesburg, the South African Department of Science and Technology. Other partners include Google, The World Bank, and African Technology Foundation.
DEMO Africa 2016 list of finalist startups
- Grid Supply Chain
- Loystar
- Iyris KO Ltd
- Cocktail Insights
- Boresha Limited
- Ujuzi Software Solutions
- MumsVillage Ltd
- Strauss Energy
- IT Brothers
- Nextwi
- Solstice HES
- WESABI
- ArtNigeria
- Shuttlers
- Rubiqube Limited
- SharpHire Global Limited
- Vuga Ltd
- ConnectMed
- Reel Gardening
- SolarCap Pty Ltd
- RadioVybe
- Sortd
- ION Comsys
- Ekasi Energy
- 4th Element
- K Measure Pty Ltd
- Zivo Learning
- flexyPAYIntenational
- Telescrypts
- Lipa Mobile
