Tech solutions performed well at the annual Pitch@Palace Africa competition hosted by The Duke of York at St James’s Palace, London, earlier this month.
Pitch@Palace Africa is a collaboration between the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation and Pitch@Palace, an initiative founded by The Duke of York in 2014 as a platform to amplify and accelerate the work of entrepreneurs.
The event saw engineering entrepreneurs shortlisted for the 2019 Africa Prize pitch their innovations, with Muzalema Mwanza of the Safe Motherhood Alliance named the overall winner. The Zambia-based social enterprise develops simple, low-cost disposable baby delivery kits.
Mwanza will now take part in Pitch@Palace Global at St James’s Palace on December 11. That event will bring together entrepreneurs from all Pitch@Palace events that take place across the world throughout the year.
Tech solutions did place highly, however, with Kenyan entrepreneur Chelmis Thiong’o coming second with Sign-IO, a smart-glove that tracks and translates sign language movements into speech in real time. Sign-IO was also selected as winners of the public vote.
Third place was presented to Anne Rweyora from Uganda with Smart Havens Africa, a social enterprise which aims to end housing poverty through the development of sustainable, eco-friendly affordable housing for women.
“Tonight we heard from entrepreneurs from across Africa, with 17 brilliant businesses coming from six countries. Listening to these entrepreneurs has been inspiring beyond measure, and I would just like to thank them for all they have done,” The Duke of York said.
“This is a very special event in our calendar, and it is a great privilege to work alongside the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Academy have a huge network across Africa and do a great amount to encourage entrepreneurial activity, without whom Pitch@Palace Africa would not be possible. Together we can help to showcase some of the great things going on in sub-Saharan Africa.”
