Mobile Challenge Africa crowns three winners from Sub-Saharan Africa

Last week saw the final round of the Mobile Challenge Africa (MCA) startup competition, where three exciting mobile-focused entrepreneurs were recognised for their innovations.

The event is co-founded by European business school IE Business School and IMTIAZ Middle East. “It was a fantastic event where we could see the enormous talent and potential that there is in the region,” says Catalina Tejero, Associate Director for the Middle East & Africa, IE Business School & IE University.

Out of the eight contestants on the day — several of which were unavailable — three winners were chosen. The winners were Kenyan credit card processing and paying system, LipaPlus; Gifted Mom from Nigeria, an SMS and voice notification application system for mothers; finally, a system for bursary sponsors to monitor the expenditure of students, Mali Mobile from South Africa.

Some of the contestants who didn’t win included child tracking system, Safe Zone, and ID Work, an online profile, review system and CV for artisans.

Read more: Innotribe Startup Challenge announces Africa’s 14 fintech semi-finalists

Contestants were given three minutes to pitch their startup to a panel of three judges and an audience, followed by three minutes of Q&A. Some of the available contestants were unable to make it to the event and pitched via Skype.

According to one of the event’s judges, CEO and co-founder of Mashauri Limited, Simon Gifford, choosing winners from the final few contestants was a difficult task.

The three winners will go on to the Global Mobile Challenge at 4FYN, hosted annually by Mobile World Capital in Barcelona in February. They will compete with international teams for the chance to attent a one-week acceleration programme at IE Venture Lab Accelerator, in Madrid, Europe.

“IE Business School and IMTIAZ Middle East are the co-founders of the Mobile Challenge Africa. The Mobile Challenge Africa is part of the largest mobile competition in the world, the Global Mobile Competition. A program endorsed and hosted by the Mobile World Capital annually, bringing young people from all around the world to compete on global platform,” adds Tejero.

The event was co-hosted by the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) at the Bandwidth Barn in Woodstock, Cape Town.