The South African leg of the Seedstars World competition came to a close this week with EMGuidance being chosen to represent SA in the finals in Switzerland next year.
The finals saw all the SA satellite winners as well as the three wildcard draws come together to pitch for their chance to represent the country.
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“The quality of startups is validation of the abundance of talent in South Africa. 2017 being our third (running), we are seeing the impact Seedstars World has on the growth of the local ecosystem, as more founders are thinking global,” said Vuyisa Qabaka, a partner at Entrepreneur Traction in a press release to Ventureburn.
The SA representative, EMGuidance, is a digital platform which aims to support and improve clinical decision making by medical professionals by providing a single point of access to locally relevant clinical guidelines, tools, and local medicines and prescribing information.
EMGuidance will compete against more than 75 other startups for the top prize
As part of EMGuidance’s prize, it will go on to face dozens of other startups at the final held in Switzerland in April 2018. The startup will undergo a week-long training opportunity and meet with investors and mentors from around the world. The startup will also stand a chance of winning $500 000 in equity investment.
“We are really impressed with the quality of finalists as well as the diverse sectors that are represented at this year’s Seedstars Final,” said Jayshree Naidoo, head of the Standard Bank Incubator.
Aside from EMGuidance, in second place was Zlto, a digital rewards platform that incentivises users for their positive behaviours. Empty Trips Pty Ltd, an online smart transport marketplace connecting transporters, brokers and shippers, claimed the third spot.
The participating startups pitched in front of a jury consisting of Quinton Dicks, CEO at SA SME FUND LIMITED; Ivan Epstein, chairman of Cash Connect and Tricolour at Tricolour Investments, Audrey Mothupi, CEO of SystemicLogic; Lebo Gunguluza, group chairman of Gem Group; Jayshree Naidoo, head of Standard Bank Incubator, and Polo Radebe, CEO at IDF.
Continuing on its African tour, Seedstars World will be heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo to find its best startup to represent the country.
Featured image via Seedstars World
