Online and SMS test result service AikoCorp was crowned winner of the first Seedstars Bamako event yesterday (September 4), securing a place in the global finals to be held in Switzerland next year.
This year marks the first time the global seed-stage pitching competition visits Mali on its world-tour, with the event taking place at Impact Hub Bamako yesterday.
The winning startup will join winners from more than 65 countries across the world in the final in Switzerland next year, where finalists will battle it out for up to US$1 million in equity funding.
AikoCorp took first place; Transup, which allows users to transfer phone credit between different operators, placed second; and motorcycle registration and insurance device Feuze was namd in third place.
“Seedstars World is an amazing opportunity for the best entrepreneurs of emerging countries to be identified,” said Mohamed Keita, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) at Impact Hub Bamako.
AikoCorp joins the ranks of the other finalists already picked at Seedstars World events in Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast.