Global seed-stage startup competition Seedstars World has opened applications for its Angolan leg, where it will select one startup to proceed to the national final in Switzerland to pitch for the chance to win up to US$1 million in equity investment.
Seedstars World, which has already picked winning startups in Egypt, Tunisia and South Africa, will be in Luanda on July 27, with up to 12 of Angola’s best seed-stage startups competing to represent the country at the global final next year.
Startups can apply to take part here, with the event run in partnership with FACRA, an Angolan government-backed VC funds with assets in excess of US$250 million.
The companies selected to pitch at the Seedstars Luanda event need to be less than two years old, have raised less than US$500,000 in funding and have built a minimum viable product, ideally with existing traction. The Seedstars World team is also looking for regional and global scalability.
“After finding a young but vibrant ecosystem in Luanda last year, we can’t wait to come back and see the growth and development that has taken place in the country’s startup ecosystem since last year,” said Claudia Makadristo, associate for Africa at Seedstars World.
Last year’s Angola winner was jobs and learning platform Jobartis.
“Experiences such as participating at the Seedstars World event are the reason why entrepreneurs become entrepreneurs. Coming from a country where the startup community is so reduced, participating at the Seedstars World is a true eye-opening experience,” said Luis Verdeja, co-founder of Jobartis.
Seedstars World is again working with local organiser Kianda Hub, which is representing the initiative throughout the year.
“Kianda Hub is actively supporting and empowering Angolan tech entrepreneurs by engaging them on events such as the Seedstars competition,” said Dizando Norton, co-founder and head of research and innovation at KiandaHub.
“The successful last year’s competition and the quality of the startups was a direct result of the ongoing awareness around the necessity to venture, innovate and challenge the status quo. As active players of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, we are looking forward to having an extremely successful event for this year.”
Further support is provided by Unitel, Total E&P, Fábrica de Sabão, Banco Económico, Djembe Communications, ESPartners, and the Angolan Ministry of Technology.
