11 startups to pitch at second edition of Seedstars Kinshasa

A total of 11 of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) best startups are set to pitch at the second edition of Seedstars Kinshasa taking place this Friday (21 September).

Seedstars World, one of the largest seed-stage startup competitions for emerging markets, announced the 11 startups in a statement yesterday (17 September).

The startups are set to pitch in front of jury panel that will include Seedstars World senior manager Fanny Dauchez, Fsd Africa country representative Henry Plessers, Rawbank head of commercial banking Jean Paul Odent, Elan RDC business development services sector leaf Bas Zuidberg and Deloitte managing partner Bob David Nzoimbengene.

Seedstars Kinshasa is set to take place in the DRC capital this Friday (21 September)

The 11 startups will be competing for an opportunity to represent the DRC at the regional and global Seedstars summits. The winning startup stands to win up to $1-million in equity investments at next year’s Seedstars global gathering in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The selected companies are mixture of healthtech, edtech and clean energy startups. They are:

AfriNTIC : This Goma-based startup has developed an agritech solution that helps farmers better manager their farms, in addition to supplying the government with statistics for use in decision making.

Ebutelo: Kinshasa-based Ebutelo has developed an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that helps hotels, restaurants, and retail shops better manage their businesses.

WapiMED: This Kinshasa healthtech startup has developed MEDpay, a dedicated healthcare payment platform which allows its users to pay online, via mobile banking and with top-up cards.

Stats Congo: Bukavu-based Stats Congo is on a mission to bring analytics to the Congolese healthcare system. The startup has developed the country’s first collaborative database of maternal and child health.

Labes Key Schoolap: This startup has developed Schoolap.com, an edtech solution that provides users with access to digital lessons online.

SMS Emploi: SMS Emploit, in partnership with education institutions, matches companies or individuals looking for competent service providers or talent with qualified professionals.

EHE (Eye of the Environment and Health): This greentech startup detects levels of toxic air pollutants and then suggests solutions to safeguard public health and biodiversity

Faysal Company: Goma-based Faysal Company’s Tap and Pay offering allows for users to pay using a contactless electronic payment system.

Integrity Media DRC: Integrity Media DRC has developed a solar powered USB charging zone dedicated for charging mobile devices at low cost.

Alternative Energy Technologies Group: This clean energy startup distributes solar kits, solar home systems and clean energy stoves through a community-embedded pay as you go model.

InjoByte: InjoByte digitises bulletin boards in in universities, churches and companies.

Featured image: Kinshasa central business district in 2017 (Andy Woodfield via Twitter)