15 startups will participate in the first cohort of the Microsoft GrowthX Accelerator program. They will work to co-create technology solutions with partners such as Etihad Airways, Unilever, Flow, IKEA, KPMG and Akbank. The startups will spend 12-weeks of virtual and physical workshops and training in the United Arab Emirates. Thanks to Microsoft for Startups’ partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).
Startups are now in the driver’s seat to fulfilling their potential says Roberto Croci, Managing Director, Microsoft for Startups, MEA. “Alongside our partners, we look forward to enabling our first cohort of B2B startups to compete at the highest level. And in hopes of transforming the region into a globally leading hub for technology and entrepreneurship.”
The accelerator program is designed to bridge the gap between corporates and B2B startups across the Middle East and Africa. By connecting startups with large corporations with specific problem statements they are looking to solve. The 12-week program will empower the B2B startups with technology, mentoring and market access.
GrowthX Accelerator startups
Here are the 15 startups from across the Middle East and Africa region participating in the Microsoft GrowthX Accelerator program.
Spitch – a global provider of B2B and B2C Conversational AI solutions.
Gener8 – enables users to control and be rewarded from their own data.
Poltio – helps the world’s top brands engage and learn from their users with interactive content.
Getbee – an ecommerce platform that engages with customers on a more human and immersive level.
OPLOG – a pioneer in e-logistics, simplifying the cost, time and resources for supply chain operations.
Fero – shaping the future of digital freight with technology to automate the logistics industry,
Urbantz – a SaaS solution to transform last mile delivery and logistics across industries.
Hi55 – a digital payroll scheme to empower individuals and businesses with cashflow.
Nym Card – provides dynamic and secure building blocks for building fast and easy card programs.
Artiwise – an AI and NLP startup that provides cloud-based analytics solutions to enterprises.
B2Brain – delivers tailored analytics to automate research and intelligence to improve conversations.
Alpha Sense – an intelligence platform that helps businesses make data-driven decisions.
NexDegree –enables brick & mortar retail stores to improve customer experience and sales.
Udentify – reduces the need for manmade market research, utilizing body tracking technologies.
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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
Agritech startups in Africa will be eligible to win up to 1.5 million dollars at the seventh edition of the Pitch AgriHack competition. Pitch AgriHack is a pitching contest aimed exclusively at African businesses bringing technological innovation to the agriculture sector. Organized by AGRF and Heifer International, the competition focuses on accelerating entrepreneurial growth and job creation in the agriculture sector by leveraging advanced technologies and youth participation in Africa’s food security agenda.
The open competition portion of Pitch AgriHack 2021 will support companies that are driving innovation in agriculture across three categories-Early-stage, Mature/Growth-stage, and Women-led, with prizes totalling US$45,000. A fourth invite-only category known as the AYuTe Africa Challenge, sponsored by Heifer International, will award up to $1.5 million in grants to scalable ventures that are already generating measurable impact for Africa’s smallholder farmers.
Six winners will be selected from the open-application categories and two winners from the invite-only AYuTe Africa Challenge category. The winners will be announced at the AGRF Summit which takes place September 7-10 in Nairobi. Top contestants will receive a one-day boot camp in preparation for their final pitches. Winners will get continued support to develop and grow their enterprises.
“As a continent with a thriving youth population, Africa’s agricultural sector must look to its youth for the innovation that will fuel the future growth of this strategically important sector,” said Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President for Africa Programs at Heifer International. “Integrating youth and technology in the agricultural sector will transform the continent, creating new jobs and income-generating opportunities for young Africans”.
In addition to its sponsorship of Pitch AgriHack 2021, Heifer International is partnering with Generation Africa to run this year’s competition. Both organizations have a shared vision of eradicating hunger and poverty through sustainable, community-led development that begins with agriculture.
“It’s a privilege to have an established and experienced non-profit organization like Heifer International on board,” said Head of Generation Africa, Dickson Naftali. “At Generation Africa, we believe that food systems can change if we collaboratively support young African agri-food entrepreneurs. Pitch AgriHack 2021 can give access to the tools and expertise they need to make their businesses successful.”
Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and Special Envoy to the UN Food Systems Summit, said, “We are excited to welcome Heifer International as it partners with the AGRF and Generation Africa on Pitch AgriHack 2021. By working together, sharing knowledge, and supporting mutually beneficial projects, we can make a bigger impact and drive agricultural transformation in Africa. We want young people across Africa to hear our message – the future of food and farming depends on them.”
Business profiles of the finalists will also be published in a Deal Book for circulation at the AGRF and online, while individual profiles will be made public on the GenAfrica.org platform and reviewed for relevance to their investor community.
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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
Delivering on a promise, Google announces the launch of its first Developer Space on the African continent. The space similar to the Microsoft Reactor will serve developers, entrepreneurs and startups across Africa. It will be based in Lagos, Nigeria and co-located and in partnership with Impact Hub.
In 2017, then Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai visited Nigeria and made a number of promises. These include extending the Google digital skills training program, from one million to ten million people. Providing one hundred thousand Africans with mobile developer training. The Launchpad Accelerator Africa program and a space to house its efforts in Nigeria.
Google says the Developer Space will provide a hub where entrepreneurs, developers, mentors, VCs and investors can connect and collaborate. The hub will also house the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa program.
Onajite Emerhor, Head of Operations Launchpad Accelerator Africa, Google, says this about the space.
Starting today, members of the African tech community can use this Space for free. In addition to housing Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa, the Space will support developer meetups, training, experts office hours, Women in tech events, Startup programs (outside of Launchpad), partner events that support the wider entrepreneur and developer ecosystem, as well as Google initiatives for empowering people through digital skills training.
Africa’s startup ecosystem is growing and we’re looking forward to working with startups and other players in the ecosystem from across the continent at the Space, continues Onajite.
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Microsoft leaders meet with Nigeria tech innovators at a founders dinner in Lagos.
Microsoft for Startups team meets with innovators and leaders of technology organizations from across Nigeria that are “disrupting the way Nigerians experience payments, healthcare, transportation and education“.
The special drinks and dinner meetup brought together over forty innovators, founders and leaders in the Nigerian Tech ecosystem. The event was hosted by the Microsoft for Startups team and organized by TechCircle Nigeria.
Microsoft leaders at the event include, Microsoft Startup Advocacy lead and Cloud Developer Advocate, Simona Cotin, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana Country Manager, Akin Banuso and Gafar LawalMicrosoft Africa Development Center Managing Director.
Simona Cotin shared Microsoft’s desire to deepen its relationship with the emerging tech scene in Africa. As well as work with communities in the area.
The team visited Nigerian startups OPay Nigeria, Paystack, PiggyVest and Flutterwave earlier in the day. Learning about the developer ecosystem. Simona and other Microsoft advocates also spoke at Concatenate developer conference in Lagos, where Microsoft was a platinum sponsor.
In February 2018 Microsoft announced Microsoft for Startups. A new program and platform for startups to grow, build and connect. Giving qualified startups access to technology, market and a community.
Microsoft is celebrating seven years of its 4Afrika initiative in Africa. Noting it has supported over three hundred startups providing them with business development support, access to markets and potential customers.
What do you think about Microsoft’s move into the African Tech scene. Share your thoughts with us.
The fourth edition of MEST Africa Summit will be in collaboration with Microsoft. This year Microsoft partners with MEST in the event as platinum sponsors. The summit will explore the latest innovations in the African tech ecosystem. Mest Africa Summit 2019 will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from June 10th to the 12th.
The 3 day Pan-African Tech Summit will have keynotes, fireside chats, panel discussions and workshops. It will look to discuss key topics impacting entrepreneurs and investors in Africa’s technology space. Conversations will range from the impact of AI and machine learning on Africa’s workforce, the role of tech in cultivating a more energy-efficient Africa, ways data is being used to enable financial inclusion on the continent, how key sectors and innovations are contributing to the ecosystem, etc.
“At Microsoft we believe in empowering every organization and person to do more. The work that MEST does with innovators in Africa aligns perfectly with our mission to transform people’s lives through technology engagement.” – Chris Lwanga, Senior Director Software Partnerships, Microsoft
“As we gear up for this year’s Summit, we’re excited to welcome some of Africa’s most engaging entrepreneurs, partners, corporate leaders and ecosystem facilitators. We’re thrilled to partner with Microsoft, whose entrepreneur toolkit is helping developers across the continent more easily build impactful solutions. We look forward to diving deep into discussions around the innovations and solutions that are rapidly driving change on the continent.” – Aaron Fu, Managing Director, MEST
2019 MEST AFRICA CHALLENGE
MEST Africa Summit 2019 will also host the Mest Africa Challenge finals. Competing regional finalist will pitch to win the grand price of $50K in equity investment and the chance to join the MEST community. Finalist teams are from Ghana(OZE), Nigeria(Ampz_TV), South Africa(Snode Technologies), Kenya(Wayawaya Ltd) and Cote d’Ivoire(Seekewa).
