Finance and Banking innovations dominate top thirty technology startups to pitch at DEMO Africa 2015

Ahead of DEMO Africa 2015 to be held at Nigeria from the 21st of September to the 25Th,  the startup challenge programme has released a list of the thirty participating start-ups from across Africa. Where over 500 guests including investors, IT buyers, IT consumers and media are expected.

Last year’s giant, Nigeria, tops the list again with 8 representatives followed by Kenya with 6. South Africa is third with 3 representatives while Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon and Zimbabwe each have two. Uganda, Tanzania and new comer, Ivory Coast, will each be represented by 1 start-up. The presence of Ivory Coast on the list of giants is a strong signal that more African nations are warming up to the ability of the continent to craft her own solutions to various needs.

The highest represented category on the 2015 list is Finance and Banking with 8 products. Other popular categories include Education, Transport and Logistics, Retail, Communication and Media and entertainment.

There has been a notable increase of products in this year’s edition as compared to past years therefore indicating more effort towards creation of Africa generated solutions. The 30 start-ups have been selected from a list of over 600 hundred applicants with four earning direct nominations during the DEMO Africa pre-pitch events.

The selected start-ups will now be placed under a mentorship programme which will run till September 22^nd 2015. This programme is aimed at sharpening the pitching skills of the entrepreneurs readying them for the DEMO Africa stage. More people continue to book their slots to witness the unveiling of the selected thirty products.

The event will be co-hosted by DEMO Africa, Nigerian Ministry of Communication Technology and National Information Technology Agency-Nigeria in collaboration with LIONS@FRICA partnership and VC4Africa.

Here is the list of the Startups expected to pitch at DEMO Africa 2015;