Free internet startup selected as Seedstars World Angolan winner

Free internet startup Wi-Connect has been crowned the winner of the Seedstars World Angola pitching event. The event took place on 27 July at Banco Económico in Angola.

“We have created this startup because we believe that making everyone connected has the opportunity to make Angola a better place,” says the founder and CEO of Wi-Connect, Paulo Aurojo, in a press release to Ventureburn.

Wi-Connect will go on to compete with 60 other startups from around the world at the Seedstars World finals in Switzerland in 2017. There, they will compete for an equity prize of up to US$1-million.

The first runner-up at the Angolan event was music streaming service Kiandastream, which is focused on African artists and bands. The next place was awarded to ecommerce fashion store SOBA.

The other contestants were Ponto, Manifesto, Kamputer, Ingresso, Nguimbi, Buka, and Tupuca.

The event was supported by local ambassador Kianda Hub and FACRA.

“For KiandaHub it was another confirmation that every startup was a winner in its own way despite the final result. Congratulations to the winner Wi-Connect that will represent the country in the Global final, and most importantly has the noble mission to provide free internet access to underserved communities,” says local ambassador from Kianda Hub Dizando Norton.

All of the Angolan contestants pitched in front of a panel of judges consisting of director at FACRA, Armando Teixeira; co-founder of KiandaHub, Dizando Norton; Head of Innovation at Unitel, Juelson Bartolomeu; Dimonekene Ditutala, co-founder at ECOSYSTEO, LDA; Director Sales and Marketing at INFRASAT, Emília Dias and Claudia Makadristo, Associate at Seedstars World.

Read more: Seedstars World names Angolan job, education portal best regional startup

“The quality of startups, pitches and ideas was impressive, which we believe is a sign that the ecosystem is growing and producing more high-quality startups and entrepreneurs. We are happy to take Wi-Connect to our regional and Global summit and follow his path to success. We will also keep an eye on the other startups and are looking forward to come back next year.” says Claudia Makadristo, Associate for Seedstars World Luanda.

Last year’s Angolan winner was Jobartis, an online job and education panel.