Meet the startups set to battle it out at IBM’s inaugural SmartCamp SA

Tech startups from across the country are about to throw down for top honours at the first IBM SmartCamp to be held on South African soil. The team that emerges victorious, will compete in the Global SmartCamp Finals for the chance to be crowned IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year.

In September this year, we reported on South Africa’s induction into the IBM Global Entrepreneur Program. IBM SmartCamps are an aspect of the Global Entrepreneur initiative designed to foster startups involved in building new technologies that tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues. SmartCamp winners receive mentoring, access to industry experts and technology, and deeper partnership opportunities from IBM, VCs and industry partners.

The South African 2012 SmartCamp finalists are:

Clevva – whose software helps capture and maintain the sales and support intelligence of businesses that then make use of this intelligence to ensure staff can sell and support all products and solutions as if they are experts.

Entersekt – a leading innovator in the field of online transaction authentication, founded by a team of electronic engineers focussed on internet security solutions.

Go Metro – partners with transport operators to build a customised mobile traveller information system that delivers real-time trip info, delay notifications, system announcements, crowdsourced network sensing, improved customer relations through direct in-app feedback channels, location-based personalised profiles and mobile ticketing solutions. Read Ventureburn’s extensive Go Metro coverage.

Mobile Decisioning – is focused on delivering micro and nano credit products to consumers across the globe. The products have been used by millions across the continent.

“These finalists represent the best and brightest thinking from the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Clayton Booysen, ISV and Developer Relations Lead for IBM South Africa. “In addition to these startups becoming part of our Business Partner ecosystem, we look forward to their winning idea becoming solutions that we put forward to our enterprise customers, and in actively assisting us to extend our Smarter Planet initiative.”

Startups that participate in IBM’s Global Entrepreneur initiative receive access to free software, education, insights, visibility and a team of dedicated project managers to assist in product development through the global network of 40 IBM Innovation Centers.