StartupSA by SiMODiSA saw on-demand cleaning service SweepSouth named the winner of the conference’s Get-Up Start-Up pitch awards last week.
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Apart from the food, drinks and insightful fireside chats, the event saw 10 chosen South African startups pitch their hearts out in front of a judging panel that included industry experts Vusi Thembekwayo, Vinny Lingham, Justin Stanford, Pontsho Maruping, and Anita Nel.
SweepSouth has been awarded the opportunity to go on a two-month long trip to Silicon Valley where it will get the chance to network with various experts and mentors in the industry. The two founders, Alen Ribic and Aisha Pandor, also get a dedicated office space for the duration of their stay which is sponsored by SABLE.
Chatting to Ventureburn about StartupSA, the award is a massive confidence boost and validation. “Since we will be launching in Cape Town at the end of the year, it was also an opportunity to get some awareness for the startup and to connect with the Cape Town eco-system,” says Pandor. “We are really honoured to have received first prize and are grateful for the overwhelming support we’ve received both on the day of StartupSA and afterwards.”
South Africa’s Uber for cleaning services launched in June 2014 in Johannesburg and hopes to expand to Cape Town later this year after it’s picked up some impressive traction.
SweepSouth has also been named one of the ten African startups that will be representing in Dublin, UK at the annual Web Summit.
The company hopes to immerse itself into the world of Silicon Valley’s startup scene and to meet with other investors and potential partners for international prospects. Since the event, SweepSouth has received interest from a couple of investors, including some of the judges.
Other startups at the event that really stood out include the online PVR for radio, iono.fm, and the on-demand courier service, WumDrop.
Events like Startup SA are really important in giving startups a platform to showcase their work, their potential, and their teams.
“What’s great is that startups at various stages can attend, not only to pitch, but also to chat to other founders, get advice, and experience the culture and ecosystem,” SweepSouth notes. “SiMODiSA StartupSA has taken up this great initiative to help promote South African startups on both the local and global stage. Their efforts to promote collaboration between government, academia and the private sector are also commendable and are bound to bear fruit,” it says.
