Seedstars’ Gambian leg ended with solar startup, Nadji.Bi claiming top spot, and as such safeguarding its slot to pitch at the Seedstars global summit, for a USD 500,000 equity investment.
The competition selects startups from emerging markets that have the potential to scale widely and effect a social impact.
Competitors hail from all countries, including 30 African countries, all of whom congregate in Switzerland annually to compete for the equity investment as well as other prizes.
Winners from Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Ghana, Angola, Senegal and Sierra Leone have already been selected during the different editions of Seedstars in their respective regions.
Gambia’s winner, Nadji.Bi, which was founded in 204, has developed an innovative, sustainable solar solution.
The startup designs, manufactures and sells solar solutions for agricultural and household use. It is targeting a potential customer base of 1.3 million people.
Nadji.Bi has operations in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Guine Bissau and France.
It also specialises in the research and development as well as manufacturing of solar products.
The startup, which is a subsidiary of the Nadji.Bi Group, beat the 9 other startups that also pitched to represent Gambia at the global final, as well as the Seedstars Africa Summit in South Africa later this year.
Related article: Agro-based crowdfunding platform money farm wins seedstars Gambia
Also in competition was, Ang Capital, which provides instant loans and easy payments for transactions online with or without the use of the internet. Ang Capital took second place while cashless city bus service Yobuma Transportation took third place.
The pitch competition was presided by a local panel comprising, Ace Communication’s Fatim Badjie Sinyan, Global Properties’ Saul Frazer, Khamsys Technologies’ Mbaye Kah, Insist Global founder and CEO Seedy Bensouda, J-Financial Services CEO Muhammad M Jagana, GIZ’s Suwaibou Cham and Bridging Gaps Advisory CEO Ramatoulie B Gaye.
