Snapplify to represent SA at next year’s Global Startup Edtech Awards finals

Cape Town based edtech Snapplify is heading to the Global Startup Edtech Awards finals in London — which take place in January next year. This, after coming out tops in the awards’ SA semi-finals last Thursday (15 November).

The semi-finals — which took place at the Bandwidth Barn in Cape Town — were hosted by edtech incubator Injini, The British High Commission and the Western Cape provincial government. The event also featured a semi-final track for startups from the continent.

The winners were selected by a panel made up of the Consul general of the British Consulate in Cape Town Ben Boddy, CiTi head of innovation Michelle Matthews, Western Cape Department of the Premier’s Delivery Support Unit chief director for the Lead eLearning Game Changer Penny Tainton and Western Cape Government deputy director for economic development and tourism Marc Cloete.

Snapplify and Zelda will participate at the Global EdTech Startup Awards finals taking place in London

Snapplify was placed first, ahead of another Cape Town based edtech startup Zelda. Four other companies pitched in the SA semi-finals, these were Seebox, Jolp, Digemy and Syafunda.

Judges verdict is in: #Snapplify came in first place, with #Zelda a close 2nd place. #GESA2018 #SASemifinal @injiniedtech #GEW2018

— Bandwidth Barn (@BandwidthBarn) November 15, 2018

Khalmax Robotics Project wins Africa semis

In the Africa semi-finals, Ghana-based Khalmax Robotics Project, a startup that focuses on teaching children about robotics construction and programming, was placed first.

Four other startups Angaza Elimu, Mtabe, Simbi Interactives and Prep Class pitched at the event.

The British High Commission, through the UK Prosperity Fund’s My Digital Access programme will sponsor Snapplify and Zelda’s travel costs to London to attend the awards.

Editor’s note (21 November 2018): An earlier version of the article stated that the British High Commission would sponsor both Snapplify and Khalmax Robotics Project’s travel costs to the Global Startup Edtech Awards finals in London. Matthew R de Klerk, communications and public diplomacy officer at the British Consulate General in Cape Town subsequently told Ventureburn that the British High Commission would in fact only sponsor Snapplify and Zelda’s travel costs.