Tech in Africa
The Pan African focussed Jua Fund has awarded seven African tech startups with its $2 million funds, which will be accompanied by advice and mentorship. Jua Kickstarter fund gives entrepreneurs start-up capital to grow their futures.
Among the startups shortlisted for its inaugural fund are three Kenyan enterprises, two from Nigeria, one each from Madagascar and Zimbabwe. The deals were arrived at shortly after the Kickstarter Olympics that ran for a week where high panel judges listened to ideas.
Kenya
Xetova – digital procurement ecosystem platform.
SIDE – e-commerce distribution channel
GrowAgric – a crowd-farming platform
Zimbabwe
Bryte-Knowledge – an online educational platform
Nigeria
Powerstove energy – IoT System for real-time monitoring.
Whispa Health limited – app providing young people with non-judgemental access to sexual and reproductive health information.
Madagascar
Jirogasy – manufacturer, assembly, and design of home solar and communication systems.
"We targeted enterprises that are scalable across the Continent and actually address the challenges that are hobbling Africa’s development, and the selected enterprises all do that." – @molai_adam
Meet the #JuaFund 2021 Recipients! 🇳🇬🇰🇪🇲🇬🇿🇼#InspiringAfricasEntrepreneurs #Thread pic.twitter.com/U6cfNRv3w8— Jua Fund (@Jua_Fund) March 12, 2021
The fund was launched by Industrialist Adam Molai in 2020 and recently received a pledge from Simba Global Start-ups (a US-based mentorship and angel investing firm) doubling its size to $2million to become Africa’s largest individually backed capital venture fund.
The panelist judges can be found here.
Note: Jua the Swahili word for “the Sun”
