Top Southern African start-ups announced at GITEX Africa

Fifteen start-ups hailing from South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe have emerged victorious in this year’s Southern Africa Startup Awards, part of the esteemed Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa.

The announcement took place at the inaugural GITEX Africa 2023 event in Marrakech, Morocco, a significant gathering of innovation leaders aimed at accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technology across the continent.

South Africa secured 11 titles, including Best Newcomer, Venture Capitalist of the Year, Best Accelerator/Incubator Programme, Diversity Role Model of the Year, Ecosystem Hero of the Year, Best Health-Tech Start-up, Best Commerce-Tech Start-up, Best Mobility & Logistics-Tech Start-up, Best Green-Tech Start-up, Best Ed-Tech Start-up, and Best Web3.0 Start-up.

When asked about their win, the founders of BAOM Eco Solutions, the winner of Best Newcomer, expressed their excitement and gratitude.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition from the Global Startup Awards Africa. It validates our hard work and commitment to developing sustainable eco-friendly solutions. This award will undoubtedly boost our visibility and help us make an even greater impact,” said John Smith, co-founder of BAOM Eco Solutions.

Zimbabwe won two awards for Start-up of the Year and Best Co-Working Space. The founders of Forestry & Citrus Research shared their joy and future plans.

“We are honoured to be recognised as the Start-up of the Year. This award is a testament to our dedication in revolutionizing the agricultural sector. We are excited to leverage this platform to expand our operations and create more positive change,” commented Sarah Johnson, co-founder of Forestry & Citrus Research.

Mozambique and Namibia received the awards for Best Agritech Start-up and Founder of the Year, respectively. Sustainable Planet, the winner of Best Agritech Start-up, emphasised the importance of sustainable agriculture.

“We are grateful to Global Startup Awards Africa for recognising our efforts in developing innovative agritech solutions. Our goal is to promote sustainable farming practices and contribute to food security in Africa. This award motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and making a difference,” stated David Mbeki, co-founder of Sustainable Planet.

These Southern Africa regional winners will now compete in the Continental Finals of the GSA Africa competition, where they will face off against winners from the Northern, Eastern, Western, and Central Africa regions. The African winner will then proceed to the GSA Grand Finale, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions alongside top entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and ecosystem enablers from around the world.

Reflecting on the quality and diversity of the solutions presented by start-ups from Southern Africa, GSA Africa and GIIG co-founder, Jo Griffiths, shared her excitement.

“With 189 finalists, Southern Africa did not disappoint! Our panel of judges were blown away by the quality and diversity of solutions that are actively working to power, light, feed, industrialize, integrate, and ultimately empower Africa. From Angola to Zimbabwe, start-ups like Lynkwise, Forestry & Citrus Research, and Mzansi Meat Co. are proof that Africa is the tech continent of the future.”

Caitlin Nash, co-founder of GSA Africa and GIIG, expressed her enthusiasm for the winners and their potential impact on a global scale.

“These winners represent the top startups in both their home country and region – and it’s all the more special that we announce them here in Morocco. This competition is all about building global bridges between our continent’s most exceptional solutions and the people, markets, and communities where they can make the most significant impact. In that vein, this event has been the ideal launchpad for these startups’ global ambitions, and we’re excited to help take them to the world.”

The Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa is the largest independent start-up competition in Africa, with regional and continental finals leading to the GSA Grand Finale in Copenhagen, Denmark. It provides a platform for start-ups to showcase their solutions and connect with influential figures in the global start-up ecosystem.

The Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG) aims to find, fund, and grow African innovations with global relevance. Through its GIIG Africa Fund and the GIIG Africa Foundation, the organization supports African start-ups by providing investment, skills development, and connections to global partners.

For more information about the winners and the competition, visit the Global Startup Awards Africa website at www.globalstartupawardsafrica.com.

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