Mobile insurance company Nefrids Africa has been crowned winner of the Tanzanian leg of the Seedstars World startups pitching competition, and will represent the country at the global finals in Switzerland next year.
This year’s edition of Seedstars World sees the world-touring contest include visits to more than 25 cities across Africa, with new countries such as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mauritius, Madagascar, Sudan and Zambia added to its tour.
Yesterday’s event marked Seedstars World returning to Tanzania for the third time, with the support of the Swiss Embassy in Tanzania, COSTECH, the Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) and local ambassador Buni Hub.
10 startups pitched head-to-head for the chance to represent Tanzania at the global finals in Switzerland in April 2018, where regional winners will compete for up to US$500,000 in equity funding.
Local startup Nefrids Africa was named winner of the contest – for its mobile insurance solution SimuBima, which is designed to reach as many users as possible across Tanzania using digital channels.
Nefrids Africa will now travel to Switzerland in April for the chance to pitch for the equity investment main prize.
Last year, Tanzanian health micro-insurance startup Jamiii was one of three African startups to make the final 12 of the global competition, and went up against the other finalists for the equity prize at the Seedstars Summit.