German accelerator F-LANE releases names of African startups for 2nd cohort

Two startups from Africa are among five teams selected by Berlin-based accelerator F-LANE to attend the next cohort of its acceleration programme which starts next month.

The six-week accelerator programme for social ventures, which is backed by the Vodafone Institute, will kick off on 9 October in Berlin.

In an emailed announcement to Ventureburn, F-LANE’s Gabriele Scheibert told Ventureburn that Ugandan telemedicine hub Kaaro Health and Mozambique’s Mowoza, which aims to use the Blockchain to create digital retail communities for women-owned micro enterprises, are among the five teams selected for the accelerator’s latest cohort.

Ugandan telemedicine hub Kaaro Health and Mozambique’s Mowoza will participate in F-LANE’s next cohort

She said the five were selected out of 180 applications from over 50 different countries.

Kaaro Health is a telemedicine hub that provides a network of rural clinics with access to the services of qualified maternal and child health specialists. The company is run by Angella Kyomugisha, Brenda Nantongo, Joyce Nakawungu, Francis Xavier Asiimwe from Ibanda, Uganda.

Mowoza founder Suzana Moreira from Maputo in Mozambique,  aims to strengthen women-owned micro retailers in Mozambique by integrating them into “digital retail communities” using private Blockchain solutions.

The remaining three teams are: mobile investment platform Sou Sou (US), gender data analysis firm Gapsquare (UK), cervical cancer screening developers Gridwaditi (India).*

The accelerator aims to implement at least two programmes each year, focusing on offering business advice, training and networking and funding of up to €12 000, potential investment from Vodafone and networking with other investors.

About 150 startups from 50 countries applied to take part in the first round of F-Lane, which took place from February to March this year. Five startups were chosen for the accelerator programme, including Wazi Vision, Ask without Shame (both from Uganda) and Securella from Morocco.

Read more: German accelerator opens global call for social ventures that empower women

*UPDATE (18 September 2017): F-LANE today advised Ventureburn that it has had to “part ways” with Gridwaditi. A replacement team has yet to be announced.