She Leads Africa (SLA), an ecosystem designed to help young African women make their entrepreneurial dream a reality, has announced the winner of their 2016 accelerator.
The 2016 SLA Accelerator Programme began in July in Lagos with help from companies such as Work in Progress, Alliance and Guaranty Trust Bank. This programme was aimed at identifying, supporting and funding some of Nigeria’s brightest female entrepreneurs.
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Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services were announced as the winners of the Investor Demo Day and have won an N2-million investment from SLA as well as business support services. Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services is an eco-friendly social enterprise which produces organic produce through hydroponics as well as community action.
This year, SLA received over 120 applicants from across Nigeria. Participating entrepreneurs were evaluated based on their existing traction as well as their overall progress in the market. They also needed to show a strong vision with the ability to scale across Africa.
SLA 2016 has reached seven cities across six countries over three continents
Other startups included in the accelerator are:
- Delivery Bros — A delivery service which delivers from the store to your home or office
- VivaSante — A medical procurement technology company which helps with distribution
- Koko’s Kitchen — A brand of indigenous confectionary dry mixes
- Bubble Tii — A beverage company specialising in bubble tea
- Shuttlers — This transportation company makes travelling from your home to work a lot easier using what they call “seat matching technology”
- Keexs — A bespoke weight-loss package for women
- Native Bukka — A chain of Afrocentric restaurants designed for busy people on the go
- BathKandy Co — Creates dessert-inspired beauty products for women
- Independent Personal Assitant — A strategic virtual assistant to business people on the go
These startups received expert knowledge during the course of their bootcamp from industry mentors such as VP of investment at Verod, Chudi Amu and investor at Cardinal Stone Partners, Shirley Somuah. Other mentors include creative director at Wilson’s Juice Company, Seun Abolaji and the co-founders of ACE, Tunde Kehinde and Ercin Eskin.
Featured image: Clara Sanchiz via Flickr
