Telecel selects 10 start-ups for Accelerator Programme

Ten start-ups from across the continent have been selected for the 2022 Telecel Group Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) Accelerator Programme, powered by leading tech accelerator Startupbootcamp (SBC) AfriTech, an African based and lead multi-corporate-backed tech accelerator that specialises in unlocking and growing Pan-African tech opportunities.

The preliminary rounds of ASIP saw 2 295 hopeful applications from 58 countries.

The announcement follows an intense two-day selection process held in Dakar, Senegal (the city will also play host to the programme), on 9-10 March, with 20 semi-finalists pitching to judges and stakeholders.

“Senegal is committed to driving innovation and entrepreneurship across our country so that we can take our place among Africa’s top ten startup ecosystems,” said Papa Amadou Sarr, Senegalese Minister and General Delegate for Entrepreneurship in the Presidency.

“For the past four years, we have provided specific support and assistance for startups in the form of finance, incubation and acceleration. We are inspired by the energy and commitment that the ten finalists bring, and we look forward to their growth and future impact.”

The current cohort was selected based on the impact of their proposed solution, scalability, vision and whether they had the necessary skills to succeed in their markets, quality of leadership, commitment, market timing, growth potential and comparative advantage.

Participants will receive an intensive three-month coaching and support programme to accelerate their growth and benefits worth $750 000.

“Entrepreneurship and innovation represent Africa’s best possible investment for future sustainability. SBC’s entrepreneurs are working to solve critical challenges, improving lives and communities,” said Philip Kiracofe, CEO and Chief Disruptor, Startupbootcamp AfriTech.

More than 88 percent of our 40 alumni are still operating and have raised more than $90 million in funding, showing that our program is making a difference.”

Startupbootcamp runs accelerator programmes, with SBC AfriTech as the African leg of a global family of industry-focused accelerators.

The following ten start-ups make up the ASIP Accelerator Programme class of 2022:

• Agrodata (Nigeria) has invented an IoT-enabled smart hive to assist fruit and vegetable farmers with pollination requirements to support year-round food availability. They were selected in the 2021 cohort but will be completing the program this year.
• Crowdyvest (Nigeria) is an impact-driven fintech platform that creates financial solutions for long-term growth and financial freedom. Crowdyvest has over 140 000 user accounts, with over $30 million raised for projects and 30 impact projects supported.
• eCampus (Ghana) provides a machine learning platform for parents and educators to track the progress of learners, meet their needs, and improve learning outcomes.
• Ecomak Recyclers (Uganda) is reusing plastic waste as long-lasting, eco-friendly, durable and low maintenance construction material. Their plastic bricks and poles are 30% cheaper than conventional concrete bricks and wood timber.
• Neural Labs Africa (Kenya) is using AI-enabled medical imaging (NeuralSight™) for real-time diagnosis. NeuralSight can identify, label and highlight over 20 respiratory, heart and breast diseases and pathologies, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, COVID-19, emphysema, and more. This technology will reduce Africa’s disease burden and hospital workloads, with better patient outcomes and democratized access to healthcare.
• Parc Smart (Senegal) helps drivers find and reserve a parking space using their smartphone before they reach their destination, reducing traffic, pollution, and stress.
• Powerstove Energy (Nigeria) has developed an IoT-enabled smokeless stove that reduces fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The stove generates enough electricity to charge mobile phones and power LED lamps and appliances. The IoT system tracks and sends carbon data so that carbon credits can be generated.
• Proxalys SAS (Senegal) connects fresh food producers with retailers, restaurants and service providers to build a robust e-commerce supply chain.
• Qataloog (Nigeria) offers transparent, cost-effective pricing directly to institutions using cataloguing algorithms for learning content and user search preferences. It has distributed over 10 000 books to 35 universities and colleges and has raised US$150 000 in funding.
• Rural Farmers Hub (Nigeria) offers a crop intelligence solution for farmers to manage crop health and soil nutrients with real-time farming advice delivered by SMS, voice, apps and in-person. Their intelligence solution, Capture, is being used by over 16 000 farmers in northern Nigeria.
• Vooli Mobile Insurance App (Kenya) evaluates insurance premiums to create the most cost-effective cover.

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