MultiChoice Shortlists 11 African Startups to Pitch for International Funding

The MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Program has shortlisted 11 promising African startups to pitch for international funding in its quest to boost the growth of startups across the continent. The program, which is a brainchild of the MultiChoice Group, in partnership with Dubai-based business incubator Companies, Creating Change (C3), technical partner, EOH, and Galelo Africa, aims to help grow startup businesses from across Africa, specifically targeting startups and small businesses in the healthtech, agritech, fintech, edtech, the circular economy, and creative industries sectors.

Speaking on the program, Fhulufhelo Badugela, the CEO of MultiChoice Africa said “There’s no denying the impact African SMMEs have on job creation and economic growth, through the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme, our vision is to take that impact and multiply it beyond what our startup founders ever believed possible. I have no doubt these small businesses will be able to take everything they’ve learned so far to unlock transformative business funding.”

The African tech ecosystem has been growing in recent years, but the lack of funding and support has hindered the growth of many startups. The MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Program seeks to address this challenge by providing startups with the necessary skills and resources to unlock transformative business funding. The program also showcases the innovation of Africa to the world and enables businesses to develop tech solutions to real societal problems.

What You Should Know About the Program

The program’s focus on the technology industry is significant as it allows African startups to showcase their innovation to the world and develop tech solutions to real societal problems. Again, the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Program provides a platform for African startups to access international funding, which is crucial for their growth and success. The program aims to take the impact that African SMMEs have on job creation and economic growth, as well as multiply it beyond what the startup founders ever believed possible.

Also, the program’s first phase involved public and private-sector partners in each country nominating businesses or entrepreneurs for the program. The second phase saw 29 startups embark on an intensive virtual training course in December 2022, followed by a dedicated boot camp in Lusaka, Zambia, where the 11 shortlisted startups learned more about shaping their story for international investors and got “pitch ready” before their big presentations.

Additionally, the quality of the submissions for the program this year was high, indicating that Africa has enormous potential. The program’s specific focus on tech industries allows African startups to develop innovative solutions that address societal problems while creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. Through this program, African startups can gain the skills and knowledge needed to shape their story for international investors and get “pitch ready” for their presentations.
MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme set to boost prosperity of African SMMEs

Meet the Shortlisted Startups for MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Program

• Tupuca (Angola): An on-demand quick-commerce platform and logistical aggregator of uber-like drivers that allows users to order from multiple vendors and service providers ranging from restaurants, grocery stores, small retailers, and courier services.
• Taskmoby (Ethiopia): The first digital marketplace in Ethiopia that connects customers with qualified home services providers (e.g. plumbers, cleaners, electricians), leveraging a mobile application, SMS/USSD solutions, and a dedicated call center.
• StarNews Mobile (Ivory Coast): A pan-African media-tech company whose mission is to give financial freedom to African creators from the distribution and monetization of their digital content globally.
• Tendo (Ghana): A social commerce platform that enables anyone to sell online with zero capital.
• Zuri Health (Kenya): A virtual hospital (Super Health App) providing affordable and accessible healthcare services to patients across Sub-Saharan Africa via mobile app, website, WhatsApp bot, and SMS service.
• Dojah Inc (Nigeria): An end-to-end Identity verification and compliance framework to strengthen confidence, credibility, and compliance across digital businesses.
• Crop2Cash (Nigeria): A digital financial service that allows smallholder farmers anywhere in Nigeria to open a bank account on their feature phones in under 2 minutes, with no internet required.
• MaTontine (Senegal): A digital financial services platform. It digitizes traditional, African savings groups to provide access to financial services for financially excluded women in Africa.
• Botlhale AI (South Africa): Builds Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools for African languages. Developers and organizations can integrate any of these tools into their solutions through their APIs.
• Gradesmatch (South Africa): Helps students (and families) to transition from education to economic opportunity by making the journey as simple as possible.
  Mighty Finance Solution (Zambia): Provides SMEs in emerging markets with seamless credit and financial solutions using artificial intelligence. The company leverages proprietary credit rating algorithms to pave the way for a unique lending experience and transform lives by providing simple, quick, and affordable loans.

How this will benefit the African Startup ecosystem

The MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Program contributes to the African tech ecosystem in several ways. Firstly, it provides startups with the necessary skills and resources to scale their businesses and attract international funding. This support is also crucial in helping startups overcome the challenges of funding and resources that they face. Furthermore, the program showcases the innovation of Africa to the world, which helps to change the narrative about Africa from a continent of problems to a continent of opportunities.

Also, the program focuses on technology sectors crucial in addressing societal problems in Africa. Health tech, agritech, fintech, edutech, the circular economy, and creative industries are all critical areas that require innovative solutions to improve the lives of Africans. By focusing on these sectors, the program ensures that the startups are not just innovative but also have a positive impact on society.

Additionally, the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Program is an excellent example of how public and private sector partnerships can contribute to the growth of the African tech ecosystem. The program’s success will benefit not only the startups but also the African economy as a whole. The program’s impact on the African tech ecosystem is significant, and it is expected to contribute to the growth and success of many African startups in the years to come.

Quadri Olaitan