One Nigerian startup will get the chance to win one million naira ($2700) in equity-free funding in a pitch competition to be held at 2pm today at the Impact Hub in Lagos, Nigeria and hosted by TechCircle and Japan’s Freakout Holdings.
In a statement on Monday (10 June), TechCircle, which runs events in the Nigerian tech sector, announced the names of the 10 startups selected to compete in today’s Pitch2Win Competition TechCircle.
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The programme aims to uncover some of the most innovative startups in Nigeria, and then position them for local and international opportunities.
Pitch2Win received over 200 entries, after applications opened last month to startups across a number of sectors.
One Nigerian startup will get the chance to win one million naira in a pitch competition today at the Impact Hub, Lagos
TechCircle founder Oo Nwoye said in the statement that the calibre of applicants was extremely high and the judging team were presented with a tough choice in selecting the very best startups.
The 10 finalists chosen to pitch today are:
Asusu is a Software as a Service (SaaS) company founded in 2017. It aims to build infrastructure for informal microfinance organisations by digitising the financial activities of low income and daily earners through co-operatives, trade groups, agent networks, and partnerships.
Gricd Frij is an Internet of Things (IoT) startup founed in 2017 by Oghenetega Iortim. The startup provides an affordable and portable cold-chain device for the efficient storage of vaccines, blood and other health or agricultural products.
LendSqr is a cloud platform for individual and small lenders to provide credit at zero upfront cost and reduced loan loss. The fintech solution is the brainchild of Adedeji Olowe, who founded the startup last year.
Plumter is an artificial intelligence (AI) powered solution created by Simi Adejumo last year. Plumter helps users to schedule, co-ordinate and keep records of meetings and tasks in an everlasting calendar.
Cashbuddy enables Nigerians to receive and send money using mobile airtime, withdraw cash, buy mobile data and pay bills with or without the internet. The startup was founded last year by Rosanje Michael.
Curacel is an AI-powered fraud detection engine that helps automate claims processing. It was founded by Henry Mascot in 2017.
Prodigy is a school management software platform founded by Adeleye Olufemi in 2013. It enables schools owners to manage their school effectively and efficiently.
Truckrtech is an online marketplace, enabling listing and booking of third-party trucks. Truckr gives real-time visibility, cargo-in-transit insurance and proper communication channels to shippers and drivers and was birthed in 2018 by Caryl Joshua Akonor.
Driversng has been providing on-demand drivers, recruited online since 2016. The company was founded by Daniel Audu.
Aidahbot is an AI solution founded last year by Nancy Ewurum. The startup helps businesses automate their customer interaction.
In the last edition of the competition, 12 startups were selected to pitch before foreign and local investors. Kangpe (now RelianceHMO), a healthtech startup founded by Femi Kuti emerged winner, before proceeding to win Seedstars World Competition, and securing investment from Y Combinator.
The judges include Greentree Capital Investments Ola Brown, Reliance HMO’s Femi Kuti, Freakout Holdings’ Yuzuru Honda, Lateral Capital’s Babara Iyayi and M&S partners’ Hiro Mashita.
Editor’s note (14 June 2019): An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Herbert Obude as founder of Cashbuddy. The startup was founded by Rosanje Michael. The article has been updated to reflect the correction.
Featured image: Chickenonline via Pixabay
