GoMetro runner up at Get in the Ring

South African travel app startup GoMetro finished runner up at the international Get in the Ring (GITR) pitching competition final held in the Netherlands on Saturday.

GoMetro founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Justin Coetzee participated in the head-to-head pitching competition, winning the African regional leg of the tournament in September, and was one of four runners up in the global competition on Saturday.

Coetzee told Disrupt Africa he is “very happy with offers received [at GITR]”. “We’ll get our funding goal for sure.”

He also said GITR served to encourage plans to expand GoMetro to other regions; “We’re  very happy with the international validation we have received for Asia and South America.”

GoMetro came second to Indonesian startup eFishery, whose “smart” feeding system for fish farmers is set to make fish feeding much easier and more efficient; with the winning team taking home the “World Champion” belt and a €25,000 prize package.

Participants at the competition were judged by a panel of four investors, as well as the voting audience.

In the final rounds, one overall winner was selected – eFishery – while four other startups including GoMetro were named equal runners up.

Of the eight finalists and three runners-up taking place in the competition, Egypt’s Integreight – provider of novel electronic products for hobbyests -, and Moroccan cloud development platform ScreenDy also made it to the final; meaning over 25 per cent of finalists hailed from Africa.

Disrupt Africa reported last week GoMetro also won “Best Innovation in a Growth Market” at the 11th annual Meffys awards.