Kenyan startup Sky.Garden has been selected as one of 12 startups to join the Norway-based Katapult Accelerator, an impact-tech programme that offers startups hands on assistance and up to US$100,000 in funding.
Based in Kenya, Sky.Garden is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for mobile commerce that is built specifically for African businesses. Its easy-to-use online marketplace allows informal traders, SMEs and established businesses to sell their products.
The Katapult Accelerator supports startups using exponential technologies to solve environmental and societal challenges, through a three-month hands-on accelerator based in Oslo, Norway.
Katapult aims to help the startups scale their innovations by mentoring, training and access to a network of additional investors.
Selected startups also receive US$100,000 each in startup capital.
Sky.Garden is one of 12 startups selected for the programme, chosen from over 1,000 applicants from around the world. It is the only African startup to make the cohort.
“These startups are helping us see how we can use exponential technologies like artificial intelligence to improve the state of the world, the environment, education, health or other fields. We selected the startups based on their novel approach to using exponential technologies and for their potential to become successful businesses,” says Anders H. Lier, chairman and co-founder of Katapult Accelerator.
