Say hello to Ventureburn’s top 5 Startup Battle finalists

Ventureburn is announcing the top five finalists of our Startup Battle. In partnership with Ford and Social Media Week Johannesburg, we will be giving away R25 000, as well as some other prizes, to the most innovative problem-solver that can woo our panel of judges.

Ventureburn Editor Michelle Atagana says that although we’ve been impressed by the amount of exciting feedback from South Africa’s startup community, deciding on the top five has been difficult:

“This has been very exciting for us. We received a number of applications and the process of picking the top five was quite difficult but we really wanted to pick companies we felt had interesting value propositions and their markets figured out. We can’t wait to see them pitch to our judges.”

Apart from the R25 000 sponsored by Ford, the overall winner will receive the following packages from Sage:

• Mentoring session/lunch with Steven Cohen: Managing Director at Sage Pastel
• Sage One Accounting and Sage One Payroll software for 12 months’ each worth over R3 000.

The four finalists will receive the following package:

• Sage One Accounting and Sage One Payroll software for 12 months’ each worth over R3 000.

Our expert panel of judges is made up of the following people:

• Matthew Buckland, Founder of Creative Spark
• Korkor Cudjoe, Marketing Manager at TechnoServe South Africa
• Selebogo Molefe, Founder of Hook Up Dinner
• Kuda Takura, Sponsorship Manager at Ford Motor Company

From recycling to education, these five startups below will be pitching at Social Media Week Johannesburg on 26 September in front of a live audience:

FlightSite Agent

FlightSite has developed a online management tool that enables anyone to become a travel agent, for free. All you need is an email address and a telephone number to sign up. The system wants to help everyday people become competitors to traditional travel agencies.

Watch its explanatory video:

MzansiStore

MzansiStore is no stranger to Ventureburn. The online shop for South African artisans aims to empower crafters by not only giving them an online store, but also providing things like workshops and promotion.

MzansiStore wants to provide its customers with local, handmade products from every corner of South Africa. We also want to sell more products internationally thereby creating more income for small creative businesses locally.

RecycleNet

RecycleNet wants to place itself smack dab in the middle of the demand and supply of recycling. Using its app, the startup wants to better connect suppliers and buyers of recyclable materials. These materials include everything from aluminium, to glass and tyres.

Essentially, RecycleNet is a B2B network of buyers and suppliers of recyclable material. With this initiative, the company hopes to create over 10 000 jobs within the next few years.

Afri-Acts’ Gradesmatch

Education company Afri-Acts has developed a product called Gradesmatch, which is a mobile system designed to enhance the way in which high school learners interact with higher learning institution and bursars in South Africa. In essence, Gradesmatch digitises the process of calculating APS points, giving student feedback on the likelihood of acceptance to help high school learners prepare for tertiary education.

eAfford

eAfford has developed a mobile application platform that students can use to easily rent out textbooks as well as access other digital tools to help them plan, afford and better their grades. Students can find books from their peers for cheap, get books delivered, and finally return it once the semester is over.

Here’s its video: