DEMO Africa has released the names of the 30 startups that will launch their products and solutions at the August event in Johannesburg, with South African startups the best represented with 11 finalists.
DEMO Africa, which began life in Nairobi, Kenya and has taken place in Lagos, Nigeria for the last two years, will take place in Johannesburg for the first time this year.
Thirty startups have now been chosen to pitch at the event, after 723 applicants were narrowed down to a shortlist of 131. South Africa is represented by 11 startups, Nigeria six, Kenya five and Ghana three. Morocco, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda all have one representative.
The 30 selected startups are Grid Supply Chain, Loystar, Iyris KO Ltd, Cocktail Insights, Boresha Limited, Ujuzi Software Solutions, MumsVillage Ltd, Strauss Energy, IT Brothers, NEXTWI, Solstice HES, Wesabi, ArtNigeria, Shuttlers, Rubiqube, SharpHire Global, Vuga, ConnectMed, Reel Gardening, SolarCap, RadioVybe, Sortd, ION Comsys, Ekasi Energy, 4th Element, K Measure, Zivo Learning, flexyPAY Intenational, Telescrypts and Lipa Mobile.
“The entries this year certainly kept up with the DEMO Africa spirit to produce innovative and creative ideas that are bound to transform the technology landscape and we are excited by the growth of innovation and technological advancement in Africa as portrayed by our finalists,” said Harry Hare, DEMO Africa executive producer while congratulating the finalists.
The 30 finalist startups have products in 11 verticals, including logistics, retail, e-commerce, education, banking and finance, media, renewable energy, health and agriculture. Banking and financial technologies had the highest number of entries followed by media and e-commerce.
“The adjudication process involves a review of the documentation submitted by the startups, a review of their online properties, and testing some of the applications that are online, but the judges also look at the innovation, viability and the product – market fit,” said event director Mbugua Njihia.
