Startupbootcamp AfriTech and telecom firm Telecel Group have selected 11 startups to take part in the third edition of the Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) accelerator.
Startupbootcamp AfriTech was launched in 2017 as the first multi corporate-backed pan-African startup accelerator. Disrupt Africa reported in March 2021 it had partnered telecoms firm Telecel Group to launch the Africa Startup Initiative Programme, which aims to support the next generation of early-stage African tech startups disrupting a wide range of sectors.
ASIP backs young startups with innovative ideas that are creating a difference in their communities. Selected companies receive US$18,000 in equity funding in addition to US$750,000 worth of credits, services, and in-kind value. Startups will also have access to the global Accelerator Squared platform, which has a complete library of content, group workshops, one-on-one mentoring, collaborative sessions with Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, and invite-only discussion forums with founders from around the globe.
The programme will take place in Dakar, Senegal, and culminate in a demo day on May 25.
Three of the selected companies are Nigerian, namely PharmaServ, an SaaS product which automates the processes for pharmacies; Parkwell, which matches drivers with available, safe parking spaces; and Jand2Gidi, which offers ‘Logistics-as-a-Service’ to B2B and B2B2C customers.
Two are from Ghana – greentech platform BD Waste and AI-based diagnostics service Chestify AI Labs – and another two from Ivory Coast, namely food conservation and transportation service Limawa, and mobility startup Moja Ride.
The cohort is completed by Kenyan fintech startup Kyanda Africa, Malian sales marketplace Sodishop, Moroccan IoT-based water monitoring solution SafeTrack, and Senegalese e-commerce platform Yoonema.
“We’re excited by the quality of startups in this cohort. About 30 per cent of them have applied before, 60 per cent applied on the recommendations of an alumni founder, and 50 per cent of them have monthly revenues above US$50,000. Cohort three companies are building in over 12 verticals, and we have a 30 per cent female-founder ratio. It’s going to be 13 weeks of far-reaching progress and impact,” said programme director Henry Ojour.
