African funding platform VC4A has announced the 12 companies selected for its 2019 Series-A Venture Showcase.
The founders of the 12 companies will showcase their businesses in front of investors at the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (AESIS) which will be he held in Cape Town on 13 and 14 November with the aim of raising between $250 000 and $5-million in Series-A capital.
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VC4A said in a statement yesterday that the 12 include 11 companies that have completed Series-A raises and one company that has received seed funding.
The organisation said the 12 were vetted by 40 venture capitalists as well as by multiple angel groups, through a rigorous referral and selection process and that they represent the best investment opportunities on the continent.
The founders of the 12 Series-A Venture Showcase companies will pitch at the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit
The 12 are operate in the healthcare, finance, transport, commerce and advertising sectors and provide technology-intensive or innovation-based products or services that are currently available in one or more African markets. They are:
- 7keema(Egypt): On-demand nursing service
- Brimore (Egypt): The startup is an end-to-end distribution platform where manufacturers can list their products and an interconnected network of women, housewives and employees sell the products in their surrounding circles.
- Buseet (Egypt): Operates high-end private bus network which enables businesses and employees to book trips on predefined routes through the startup’s app
- CredPal (Nigeria): Fintech startup that enables consumers to make purchases across online or offline merchants and pay in fixed monthly instalments by providing them with instant access to credit at the point-of-sale and also on credit cards
- Crowdforce (Nigeria): Offline and online agent distribution network that collects real time data and handles offline distributions for government, businesses, non-governmental organisations and connects individuals to financial services
- FinChatBot (SA): Develops bespoke artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots to help financial service providers acquire and retain customers while reducing operating costs
- FlexClub (SA): A managed marketplace that helps independent drivers on digital platforms access vehicle ownership based on their skills
- LifeBank (Nigeria): Medical distribution company focused on transporting supply chain-sensitive medical products such as blood, vaccines and oxygen in developing countries using high and low technologies as well as smart logistics
- Mobiz (SA): Software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that offers businesses of all sizes cutting-edge customer engagement.
- SnapnSave (SA): Cashback coupon app that gives shoppers and independent traders cashback when shopping in-store just by snapping a photo of their shopping receipts
- Yassir (Algeria): Ride-hailing startup
- VRapeutic (Egypt): Seed funded healthtech startup that develops virtual reality software for therapy, with a focus on learning disabilities and developmental disorders, such as autism, dyslexia and cerebral palsy
VC4A said the 12 will be mentored by top VC investors in the coming weeks and receive bespoke investor readiness training that will culminate in a one-week residency in Cape Town.
During the residency the startups will have the opportunity to to interact with and learn from their mentors, peers, and partners, before delivering their pitches on the main stage of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit.
The summit’s programme offers two days of networking opportunities where entrepreneurs will also engage with interested investors during 30-minute deep-dive sessions.
In addition, the participants will pitch to a wider audience of corporates, investors and tech professionals at VC4A’s partner event, AfricaCom which will be held between 12 and 14 November in Cape Town.
VC4A said it believes initiatives like this help to build trust and foster collaboration between industry stakeholders, and importantly, create both co-investment opportunities and exit opportunities for our partners.
Featured image: A delegate pictured at the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit 2018 held in Cape Town in November last year. (Robert Cable)
