The 2019 Southern Africa Startup Awards (SASAwards) regional finalists have been announced.
The awards form part of the annual Global Startup Awards which aim to spotlight tech startups from around the world.
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In a statement last Friday (25 October) the SASAwards’ committee said a total of 346 contenders across 19 categories and 12 countries were shortlisted from 2 444 nominations.
Public voting for the Southern Africa Startup Awards regional finalists will close on 10 November
The shortlist was decided by a by a series of national judging panels. Members of the public can now vote on the SASAwards website for the startups they want to see go through to the Global Startup Awards. Voting will close on 10 November.
The 346 regional finalists will be judged again by a panel to determine the 2019 Southern Africa Startup Awards winners who will be named at the Grand Finale which will take place on 28 November in Johannesburg during a two-day event that starts on 27 November.
The finalists are:
Angola
- Best Newcomer: Appy Saúde
- Best Coworking Space: Launchpad Angola
- Best Social Impact Startup: Bisno
- Best Edutech Startup: Educartis
- Best Healthtech Startup: Apply Saúde
- Startup of the Year: Appy Saúde
- People’s Choice of the Year: Kepya
Botswana
- Fintech of the Year: Seriti Insights
- Female Role Model of the Year: Rethabile Konopo
- Best Social Impact Startup: These Hands GSSE
- Best Edutech Startup: Inforserve Training
- Founder of the Year: Nomsa Makgabenyana
- Best Healtech Startup: Yapili
- Startup of the Year: My Foodness
- Best Newcomer: Seriti Insights
- Best Food or Agritech Startup: TGNJ Investments Proprietary Limited
- People’s Choice of the Year: Nomsa Makgabenyana or Seriti Insights
Lesotho
- Best Newcomer: Girls Coding Academy
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: Startup Grind Maseru
- Best Foodtech or Agritech Startup: AgriTech Solutions
- Best Social Impact Startup: Girls Coding Academy
- Best Accelerator or Incubator Programme: College of Co-operative Entrepreneurship and Business Studies
- People’s Choice of the Year: Girls Coding Academy
Madagascar
- Best Fintech Startup: Vanilla Pay
- Best Foodtech or Agritech Startup: Soanamad
- Best Social Impact Startup: Green N Kool
- Female Role Model of the Year: Marie Christina Kolo
- Startup of the Year: Ny Manjary
- People’s Choice of the Year: Ratsirahonana Tiasoa Samantha
Malawi
- Female Role Model of the Year: Wangiwe Joanna Kambuz
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: Chiponde Business Group
- Best Co-working Space of the Year: Mzuzu E-Hub
- Best Social Impact Startup: TakenoLAB
- Best Edutech Startup: TakenoLAB
- Founder of the Year: Spencer Nundwe Jr
- Best Healtech Startup: One Clinic Yathu (Ocliya)
- Startup of the Year: Droidfx Technologies
- Best Newcomer: One Clinic Yathu (Ocliya)
- Best Accelerator or Incubator: mHub Malawi
- People’s Choice of the Year: Prisca Chipao or Empower
Mauritius
- Female Role Model of the Year: Veda Dean
- Startup of the Year: Demars
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: Connectme
- Best Newcomer of the Year: Discover Mauritius
- Brave Founder Beginnings: Joseph Rutakangwa
- Best Foodtech or Agritech Startup: JUA
- Best Student Tech Startup: Roomscout
- Best Social Impact Startup: Smarty Nappy
- Best Edutech Startup: Afriedx Technology
- Founder of the Year: Joseph Rutakangwa
- Best Accelerator or Incubator Programme: P-Cube
- Best Fintech Startup: BLNS
- Best Media Partner: Discover Mauritius
- Best Healthtech Startup: State Informatics
- People’s Choice: Joanne Rannoojee
Mozambique
- Fintech of the Year: Luzacredito or Ei
- Female Role Model of the Year: Ancha Salvador
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: Muva´Titude
- Best Co-working Space of the Year: Orange Corners Maputo
- Best Fashion Tech Startup: Gentleman’s Barber Shop
- Best Water Crisis Management Solution: Brick n Bag Gardening
- Best Social Impact Startup: Daisy Handmade Soap
- Best Edutech Startup: Explicador
- Founder of the Year: Mozbuy
- Startup of the Year: Riha
- Best Newcomer: We Deliva SA
- Best Food or Agritech Startup: Dzimene Agrobusiness
- Best Media Partner: Anima
- Best Accelerator or Incubator: Moz Innovation Lab
- People’s Choice of the Year: We Deliva SA
Namibia
- Female Role Model of the Year: Nashilongo Gervasius-Nakale
- Best Newcomer: Easyshop Mobile Marketing
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: Dololo
- Best Coworking Space: Dololo
- Best Fashion Tech Startup: Nels Babies
- Best Foodtech or Agritech Startup: Oshuulo Trading Enterprises
- Best Student Tech Startup: Cyclops Manufacturing Namibia
- Best Media Partner: Poiyah Media
- Best Social Impact Startup: Suncycles Namibia
- Founder of the Year: Tim Wucher
- Startup of the Year: Green Earth Creations
- Best Accelerator or Incubator: Dololo
- People’s Choice of the Year: Luciana Kangombe or Namibian Weddings
South Africa
- Fintech of the Year: Mama Money
- Female Role Model of the Year in Tech: Useful and Beautiful co-founder and director Lynette Hundermark
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: GrowthWheel SA
- Brave Founder of the Year: Intuitive Web CEO Akintunde Rotimi
- Best Co-working Space of the Year: Workshop17
- Best Fashion Tech: Zabantu
- Investor of the Year: Kalon Venture Partners
- Best Water Crises Management Solution: Lige
- Best Student Tech: Quillo
- Best Social Impact: Ctrl
- Best Edutech Startup: Why Toyz
- Founder of the Year: Pargo founders Lars Veul and Derk Hoekert
- Best Healthtech Startup: The Birthing Team
- Startup of the Year: Lula
- Best Newcomer: MomSays
- Best Food or Agritech Startup: Revolute Systems
- Best Media Partner: The Loudhailer
- Best Accelerator or Incubator: Startupbootcamp AfriTech
- People’s Choice of the Year: No Land Farming
Tanzania
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: Robotech Labs
- Best Social Impact Startup: Toolboksi
- Best Edutech Startup: Explicador
- Founder of the Year: Julius J Mbungo
- Startup of the Year: Robotech Lab
- Best Newcomer: Robotech Labs
- Best Accelerator/Incubator: SmartLab
- People’s Choice of the Year: Robotech Labs
Zambia
- Startup of the Year: Afridelivery
- Best FoodTech or AgriTech Startup: Savanna Premium Chocolate
- Best Media Partner: Dailynation
- Best Health Tech Startup: Briisp Inventions
- Best Accelerator or Incubator Programme: WeCreate Zambia
- Brave Founder Beginnings: Tafadzwa Kalisto Munzwa
- Best Coworking Space: Lusaka Impacthub
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: Burger Queen
- Best Newcomer: Dawa Clinic
- Female Role Model of the Year: Stella Sata
- Best Student Tech Startup: Soar Free Pharmaceuticals
- Best Social Impact Startup: Dice Juice bar
- Best EduTech Startup: Zed Tutors
- Founder of the Year: Chiinga Musonda and Lynn Musonda Phiri.
- Best Fintech Startup: Edu-Pay
Zimbabwe
- Female Role Model of the Year: Faith Nyamukapa
- Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative: Overuse Enterprises Pvt Limited or Mazibisa Inc
- Best Foodtech or Agritech Startup: YouFarm
- Best Social Impact Startup: Farai Pyro
- Founder of the Year: Nkosana Mazibisa
- Best Newcomer: Zim Waves
- People’s Choice of the Year: Johan Paul Matenga or YouFarm
Read more: Here are the 2019 Southern Africa Startup Awards SA chapter winners
Featured image: Some of the South Africa 2019 SASAwards national finalists (Global Startup Awards – Southern Africa via Facebook)
