Rwandan tech incubator think has announced the 10 startups selected as finalists for the chance to win a place on the incubator’s second programme.
Disrupt Africa reported in January applications opened for the second cohort of the think incubator – run by Tigo Rwanda -, calling for high-potential Africa-focused tech startups to join its six month programme.
Five startups will be selected for the programme, and today think announced the 10 finalists still in the running for the five spaces.
Ugandan startups Bitnexa – a bitcoin exchange for merchants and individuals, using mobile money to exchange local currencies with bitcoins -; and interactive online mentorship platform SeedBox made the final 10, along side Kenyan startup Two4one – a mobile platform incentivizing people to eat out, go out, and hang out more often.
From Rwanda, text-to-order sales and distribution platform delivering household items to consumers, Get It, was selected as a finalist; as well as Malaika Travel & Tours – a travel app designed to crowd-share rides and excess luggage allowances -; and Mergims, a mobile application that allows Rwandan migrants to pay airtime, tuition fees, and utility bills efficiently.
Nigeria is represented by GutsHaven, a web platform that connects a local community of freelancers to those who need small projects completed.
South Africa’s Howxit – a mobile app for real-time communication via text, voice and video – also made the list of finalists; as did SoftProviders, from Burundi, with its multi-function, adaptable mobile payment platform, leveraging patented M-PAY technologies.
The last member of the shortlist is the only non-African finalist, hailing from the USA, THE Exchange Visionary Labs, produces contact lenses that display an augmented reality.
“We are excited about the promising top 10 finalists. Investing in the final selected companies from among this group is a hallmark of Tigo’s commitment to innovation and to growing the IT startup environment across Africa,” said Tongai Maramba, general manager of Tigo Rwanda.
This year’s application round prompted submissions from 14 countries, with the final five successful applications to join think in May.
Participants in the accelerator stand to receive US$15,000 in equity investment, strategic consulting services, growth-training curriculum, and will benefit from access to Tigo resources and global tech mentors.
