Global startups competition Seedstars World has opened applications for the Kenyan leg of the contest, with up to 12 startups to be invited to pitch live at the event to be held on October 2.
This year’s Seedstars World sees the competition expand to 50 countries worldwide – up from the 36 included in the 2014 event – with 13 African cities hosting competition legs.
So far this year, editions have already taken place in Mozambique; South Africa; Nigeria; Ghana; Ivory Coast; Rwanda; and Uganda.
Each regional winner will progress to pitch head-to-head against finalists from around the world in Switzerland in February 2016, for the chance to win up to US$500,000 in investment.
Seedstars World has now called for applications for the Nairobi-based leg of the competition, which will take place on October 2. Applications can be submitted here.
“Kenya has consistently proven itself to be an exceptional startup ecosystem and an enabler of brilliant talent. […] we are very excited to discover and bring support to all entrepreneurs participating in the competition,” said Gregory Pepper, regional manager for Africa at Seedstars World.
Up to 12 applicants will be selected to pitch at the Nairobi event; with the startups to be judged by a panel of industry experts.
The members of the panel in Nairobi have been named as Aaron Fu, managing partner for Africa at startup accelerator Nest; Veronica Ogeto-Tchoketch, head of innovation at Safaricom; Bitange Ndemo, former permanent secretary at Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communications; Josiah Mugambi, executive director at iHub; Ben Wandawanda, head of business banking at CfC Stanbic Bank and Dr. Eddine Sarroukh, Africa research and innovation manager at Philips.
CfC Stanbic Bank has also been named a key partner for the Nairobi event; with the bank to explore potential options for collaborations and partnerships with the participating entrepreneurs beyond the conclusion of the event.
“As a bank, our core purpose is empowering business people to succeed and this one of way of doing so for startups as it brings together passionate people and also reflects our entrepreneurial spirit as we help them take those important first steps in their entrepreneurial journey,” Wandawanda said.
