Fintech
A Blueprint for Enhanced Customer Experience in Financial Institutions.
From the left: Dr. John Olukuru, Head of Data Science and Analytics at @iLabAfrica; Satyajit Turumella, IT Advisory Director at Grant Thornton Advisory East Africa; Ezekiel Macharia, CEO at Kenbright Holdings; and Hartnell Ndungi, Chief Data Officer at Absa Bank Kenya, during the GDSAI summit at Strathmore University, Nairobi.
How can financial institutions ensure inclusivity, digital transformation, and analytics in their operations for an enhanced customer experience?
This was the first topic of the first panel discussion at the 2nd annual Global Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (GDSAI) summit hosted by @iLabAfrica-Strathmore University last year
The panel, featured Hartnell Ndungi, Chief Data Officer at Absa Bank Kenya; Ezekiel Macharia, CEO at Kenbright Holdings; and Satyajit Turumella, IT Advisory Director at Grant Thornton Advisory East Africa, explored the transformative impact of digital technologies on financial services.
Digital transformation is revolutionizing the landscape of financial services, reshaping customer acquisition, improving client satisfaction, and simplifying banking procedures.
In the pre-revolution era, customers heavily depended on face-to-face interactions with bank staff, making processes such as opening accounts, conducting transactions, and accessing financial services time-consuming and paperwork-intensive.
The ongoing change is evident in more efficient banking procedures, achieved through the simplification of traditional processes through automation and digital interfaces. The significant move towards online and mobile platforms is an important factor in boosting accessibility, consequently contributing to an enhanced overall customer experience.
Mr. Macharia highlighted the importance of effective data storage and aggregation to ensure inclusivity in financial institutions, stating, “We ensure inclusivity, digital transformation, and analytics by looking for effective ways to store your data and finding ways we can aggregate data in a way that communicates to everyone.” This shows the significance of accessible and comprehensible data.
Digital transformation is not just a choice but a necessity for the financial sector, driven by escalating customer demands, complex regulatory environments, and intense competition within the sector.
In a 2022 report by McKinsey and Company, it was revealed that digital transformation in Africa constituted only 25 to 30 percent, a figure notably lower than the global average of 50 percent observed in markets such as America and Asia.
Within Kenya, the Equity Group has emerged as a pioneer in digital transformation, offering a comprehensive array of digital products that leverage technology to address the increasing need for convenient, accessible, and affordable banking services.
Mr. Ndungi elaborated on the practical applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing its role in enhancing customer interactions by collecting and analyzing feedback, predicting customer behavior through scorecards, enabling organizations to cater to their needs effectively, suggesting suitable products to customers, and offering personalized experiences. The integration of AI is positioned as a strategic move to cater effectively to customer needs.
Although a lot of the financial sectors are trying to incorporate digital transformation, it comes with a concern, and that is how customer data needs to be protected. The protection of data is an important concern for organizations and businesses. With the increasing reliance on technology for storing and transmitting sensitive information, the threat of data breaches has become a major issue.
Satyajit Turumella addressed these concerns by presenting key considerations when managing and protecting data:
- Do you understand what your personal data is?
- Do you trust AI with your data?
- Do you trust the governance of the organization to which you consented to manage your data?
The insights from the panel discussion shed light on a path forward for financial institutions. The commitment to inclusivity and digital transformation emerges as a cornerstone in delivering an exceptional customer experience, shaping the trajectory of the financial industry in the years to come.
By Wachira Kevin.
@iLabAfrica unveils the 2nd Global Data Science and AI Summit.
Data science and AI enthusiasts during the 2nd Global Data Science and AI Summit at Strathmore University, Nairobi.
@iLabAfrica launched the 2nd Global Data Science and AI Summit (GDSAI) at Strathmore University on November 9, showcasing Kenya’s advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation.
The summit was graced by distinguished guests, including: H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; Mene Wamkele, Secretary General at African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA); and Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director of @iLabAfrica. Many prominent figures from various industries also attended the summit, which marked a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey towards embracing and advancing AI.
Under the theme dubbed ‘Unlocking the Power of Big Data and AI, the summit provided valuable insights into data science and AI for individuals and organizations alike.
During a precursor pre-launch of the GDSAI summit on November 7, H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, said, “I welcome all of you to put forward your best ideas, perspectives, and insights in making sure that we utilize AI in the trade sector, not just for Kenya but for our continent and the world at large.”
In his opening remarks, Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director of @iLabAfrica, expressed his enthusiasm for hosting the 2023 GDSAI Summit, focusing on emerging technology. He highlighted the collaborative efforts between local initiatives and global tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Apple, emphasizing the potential for positive change and technological advancements that benefit Kenya and the world at large.
“The 2nd GDSAI Summit has brought together over 150 key industry stakeholders from diverse sectors to demonstrate the transformative power of data science and AI in revolutionizing lives,” Dr. John Olukuru, Head of Data Science and Analytics at @iLabAfrica.
The summit’s first panel discussion, ‘Inclusivity, Digital Transformation, and Analytics in Financial Institutions,’ featured: Ezekiel Macharia, Managing Director and Chief Actuary at Kenbright; Hartnell Ndungi, Chief Data Officer at Absa Kenya; and Satyajit Turumella, IT Advisory Director at Grant Thornton Advisory East Africa.
During the discussion, Mr Macharia emphasized the importance of actively seeking efficient methods for data storage and exploring approaches to aggregate data. This, he stated, would facilitate communication for everyone, contribute to fostering inclusivity, drive digital transformation, and enhance analytics within financial institutions.
Mr Ndungi explored the diverse applications of AI in various business sectors, highlighting its versatility and potential in practical use cases.
- identifying potential customers and recommending suitable products, which not only boosts sales but also enhances customer satisfaction by adjusting products to individual preferences.
- collecting and analyzing feedback, hence enhancing customer interactions.
- creating scorecards that help in understanding and predicting customer behavior, allowing organizations to anticipate the needs of their customers more effectively.
Some of the other topics discussed during the panel discussions included:
- Use of Data to Improve Health Services and Analysis, and AI in Health. This panel featured: Samuel Oti, Senior Program Specialist at International Development Research Centre (IDRC); Dr. Ngure Nganga, Founder at Savannah Health Informatics and Dep. Sec. – Gen Kenya Health Informatics Information; Dr. Vinita Saini, CEO at Saadani Healthcare; and Jonathan Friedman, Director Data Science at Palladium.
- How AI and big data are driving forward the climate change agenda, emphasizing the pivotal role of data science and AI in forging a sustainable and resilient future. This panel featured: Dr. Angela Ndaka, Executive Director and Co-Founder at CAE Justice; Dr. Samuel Chege, Senior Research Scientist and Manager at Microsoft Africa Research Institute; Zeph Kivungi, Senior Associate at Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet; and Brian Nyangema, Managing Partner at Bayes Consulting.
- Adopting modern technologies such as precision agriculture, IoT devices, and AI driven analytics to optimize resource use, increase yields, and enhance farm efficiency. The panel featured: Chris Orwa, Head of Data Science at Brave Venture Labs; Alex Karanja, Head of Digital Transformation at Naivas Supermarket; and Sajni Malde, Data Scientist at World Data Labs.
- AI for development- use of data to improve development. This panel featured: Mariam Ibrahim, Senior Manager at Development Initiatives; Odanga Madung, Senior Researcher for Elections and Platform Integrity at Mozilla Foundation; Philomena Mbura, Data Scientist and WID Lead; and Rositsa Zaimova, co-founder at Dalberg Data Insights.
Notably, Kenya actively applies AI across agriculture, health, education, fintech, and transport, strategically positioning itself to harness Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies like AI.
Mene Wamkele, Secretary General at African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), said, “As the world is becoming more African, we need to move aggressively to integrate the market and the continent by creating opportunities for young Africans.”
According to a recent global survey, Kenya has been ranked fifth in Africa in terms of government preparedness to implement AI for public service delivery. The 2022 Government AI Readiness Index, published by Oxford Insights, assigns Kenya an overall score of 40.36 percent, positioning it behind Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, and Morocco. Globally, Kenya is ranked 90th as nations brace for the expected disruptions from this emerging technology.
The summit attracted over 150 professionals, CEOs, and other senior managers, a representation of over 20 countries across the world, and offered networking with our various sponsors, speakers, and partners.
The 2nd GDSAI Summit serves as a testament to Kenya’s commitment to technological advancement and global collaboration in the ever-evolving landscape of data science and artificial intelligence. As the nation strives to unlock the power of big data and AI, these initiatives pave the way for a brighter and technologically empowered future.
By Wachira Kevin
Women in Tech Program awards 7 women-led startups with USD 70,000
- 7 Kenyan women-led startups awarded USD 70,000 through the Women In Tech Program
- To date, 64 start-ups have participated in the Women In Tech Program and 32 have been awarded over KES 38.4 Million in seed funding
The Standard Chartered Bank and @iBizAfrica – Strathmore University, through its partnership program the Women in Tech Incubator program has today awarded 7 women-led businesses with USD 70,000 marking the successful conclusion of the 6th cohort of the incubation program.
The award ceremony, themed Leveraging Technology for Impact, was presided over by The Standard Chartered Bank Board Member, Mr. Imtiaz Khan, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya CEO, Kariuki Ngari Strathmore University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Ogutu, and @iBizAfrica Incubation Centre- Strathmore University Director, Dr. Joseph Sevilla.
The 6th cohort of the Women in Tech Program, launched in March 2023, attracted a pool of over 250 startups from sectors such as agriculture, finance, transportation, health, and the construction industry. 15 women-led startups were shortlisted to undergo a 3-month incubation training modeled around the fundamentals of business idea conceptualization, strategy formulation, the Internet of Things (IoT), marketing, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Vincent Ogutu, the Vice Chancellor at Strathmore University, stated, “As we celebrate the graduation of this Women in Tech Cohort, it’s important to recognize the role of technology in our daily lives. A recent study has shown that only 14.6% of startups in Africa are founded by women; there is hope for a bigger representation. If women receive the right mentorship, training, and coaching, the tech ecosystem in Africa will thrive even more. Currently, 30.9% of all new tech roles are filled by female candidates, showing a slight increase from 29% in the previous year, according to recent statistics. Academia and the private sector need to collaborate more on programs like this that support women-led businesses”.
These 15 teams are an increase from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated and 5 startups per cohort received funding.
Speaking during the event, Mr.Kariuki Ngari, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya & East Africa said, “Supporting women-led enterprises is a key component of our ambition to impact and influence the growth of the SME sector, and the Women in Tech programme enables us to bring this vision to life. We have been able to catalyse growth through our latest cohort and are confident that the entrepreneurs who have gone through the programme will be better positioned to take up the opportunities in across the various sectors that they serve.”
The funding recipients were picked after a rigorous judging process undertaken by accomplished industry experts in both private and public sectors, seasoned entrepreneurs, and academic thought leaders on solution innovation, availability of market opportunity, and social impact in Kenya, among other criteria.
The seven awarded women-led startups demonstrated excellence based on three main criteria:
- A female-led start-up business that solves social economic needs in Kenya
- An innovative startup that utilizes emerging technologies ie. Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and virtual Reality; 3D & 4D Printing; Cloud Computing; Big Data; Blockchain; Drone Technology, and Biometrics.
- A business model with a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) alignment
The Women In Tech Top 7 startups for this year are as follows:
- Sign-With Us – Sign with Us is a Sign language training institution that teaches sign language to anyone around the world who has a passion for sign language, or may interact with a deaf person in their line of work.
- Saidiwa Rides – Aims to bridge the gap between unreliable public transportation and relatively expensive digital taxis with a novel driver-passenger pairing model that permits daily commuters to share taxi seats and share costs.
- Imani Health – An e-wallet that enables people to save specifically for healthcare. It breaks down large payments into piecemeal payments that one can easily pay over time before they need the healthcare service.
- Know Learning Ltd – Revolutionizes parental engagement by providing a user-friendly platform that bridges the gap between schools and parents.
- PanaCare- A healthcare company that provides affordable telemedicine services using USSD technology for consultations, remote monitoring, and health management tools without internet access.
- Rhea Soil Health Management – Rhea provides access to soil testing and agricultural extension services to smallholder farmers, analyzing soil and providing results and fertilizer recommendations through a machine learning-powered recommendation system.
- Instruct Africa -Instruct is a legal tech company that leverages tech and data to provide legal assurance to matatu drivers and bodaboda operators. Our mission is to democratize access to justice and legal tools in the informal sector.
In today’s increasingly digitized landscape, emerging technologies have become essential for startup innovators to integrate into their ventures. Notably, AI startup funding in Kenya is valued at KES 13 billion according to a recent survey. However, the adoption rate of such technologies in Kenya remains relatively low at 28.76%, falling below the global average of 35.17%.
Since its inception, the program has trained more than 64 women-led businesses leveraging on technology by offering mentorship, advisory, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards. To date, 32 startups have been awarded over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed funding with the first five cohorts attracting over 2,000 applications.
15 Women-led startups selected to join Standard Chartered USD 175K Women in Tech Cohort 6 program
- The top 15 Women led startups selected to join the Women in Tech Cohort 6
- 15 Kenyan companies will access 12 weeks of incubation, which will culminate in 7 of them getting KShs 1,200,000 million in funding to grow their businesses.
Standard Chartered Kenya in partnership with @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University have today shortlisted fifteen (15) women-led startups that will be undergoing 12 weeks of business incubation training under the Women in Tech Program. This will culminate in seven of the women led businesses receiving USD 10,000 each in funding to grow their businesses.
Standard Chartered Women in Tech (WiT) supports female-led entrepreneurial teams with business management training, mentoring, and seed funding. This year’s top 15 teams were selected from a pool of over 250 startups that applied for the program from different sectors, such as agritech, fintech, the healthcare industry, mobility tech, disability tech, and the construction industry. This is an increase from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated and 5 startups per cohort each received funding.
The shortlisting criteria were rigorous and required the selected teams to demonstrate capacity in execution, showcase potential to solve socio-economic challenges in Kenya, have a balanced skill set (team lead, business development, product development, and marketing), while ensuring that they leverage technology.
Commenting on the program, Standard Chartered’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing East Africa, Ms. Joyce Kibe, stated;
“I wish to congratulate the fifteen women-led enterprises that made it out of a pool of over 250 startups and the rigorous shortlisting criteria to join this forward-thinking, efficient, and transformative Women in Tech Cohort 6 program. As Standard Chartered, we are delighted to have scaled the number from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated.”
She further alleged: “Our continued funding of this programme is as a result of research that indicated that female-led startups in Africa attracted less funding in 2022 compared to male-led startups in the region. Women-led enterprises were more challenged by societal bottlenecks and financing limits, so we are pleased to contribute to closing the gap through increased capacity building and focused funding toward female-led enterprises.
I therefore encourage the beneficiaries to maximize this opportunity as we empower them to champion more diversity in technology and advance entrepreneurial and leadership excellence.
Speaking during the selection of the Top 15, Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director of @iBizAfrica- Strathmor University, said;
The Women in Tech Program has been designed to bridge the finance and capacity building gap that women entrepreneurs face, and we are proud to have partnered with Standard Chartered Bank to further champion this cause through an additional cohort.
“I therefore also congratulate the successful beneficiaries and wish to encourage them to take advantage of this programme as it will equip them with the necessary coping mechanisms and professional skills through training, mentorship, and financial literacy that will resultantly contribute to their survival and success.
He added: As Strathmore University, we are confident that the financial contribution worth US 175K made by Standard Chartered towards the Women in Tech—Cohort 6 programme will go a long way in uplifting the participation of marginalized groups, tackling inequality, and promoting greater economic inclusion for women entrepreneurs in our country. As I conclude, I appeal to more men, as they constitute the majority of the workforce in the technology ecosystem, to offer more support to women in the computing and engineering spaces by taking up mentorship roles and opening doors for them.
To align with the theme for this year, Embracing Equity in Women-Led Businesses, the business incubation training has been modeled around emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data, while additionally integrating the fundamentals of business idea conceptualization, strategy, formulation, and marketing, which will be key in moving businesses from incubation to sustainable ventures.
The Women in Tech Incubator Program is committed to being digital by design and supporting female entrepreneurs with technology to grow their businesses.
The 15 enterprises that will be starting the 12 weeks of mentorship @iBizAfrica the Women in Tech 2023 include: –
- Ecorich Solutions Limited -A start-up that provides cheap fertilizer. The company has developed a WasteBot decomposer device/smart recycling bin that use AI-enabled recycling to convert waste into valuable and affordable primary farm fertilizer.
- Imani Health Wallet – An e-wallet that enables people to save specifically for healthcare. It breaks down large payments into piecemeal payments that one can easily pay over time before they need the healthcare service.
- Sol Active (fusion) – A web platform where landlords can list their empty retail space for free, and brands can book it easily
- Saidiwa (squad) Rides – A hailing app that aims to bridge the gap between unreliable public transportation and relatively expensive digital taxis. It introduces a novel driver-passenger pairing model that permits daily commuters to share taxi seats and share costs.
- Ento Farm – A biotechnology company that produces protein-rich animal feed based on dried, inactive insects that are produced through the fermentation of organic waste.
- AgriTech Analytics – They build innovation capabilities of start ups and aspiring start ups in Kenyan universities to help geospatial information systems and AgriTech students develop rare and valuable tech skills needed to come up with profitable and sustainable solutions.
- Techtenum Minds LTD – An E-learning platform that aspires to raise subject matter experts by bridging the practical skill gap between traditional academic curriculum and latest job market needs.
- MyAfya Africa – A mental health organization and digi-health company dedicated to revolutionizing the accessibility and availability of mental health services.
- Rhea Soil Health Management Limited – An IOT soil analysis device that provides soil testing and agricultural extension services to smallholder farmers. A machine learning algorithm is then powered to make recommendations depending on the data shared.
- Know Learning Limited (Recess)- is a platform that enables parents to participate in their children’s learning processes by partnering with teachers and schools to improve the learning outcome. It additionally ensures that schools and parents are on the same page through facilitation of transparent and efficient dialogue on the child’s progress.
- Sign with us – A Sign Language Training Institution Based in Meru and Online The institution teaches sign language to anyone around the world who has a passion for it.
- Acre-insights – They use drones and satellites to collect high-resolution data on crop growth and development, soil moisture, and other key indicators. Through advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to interpret this data and provide farmers with actionable insights to make informed decisions about irrigation, fertilizer application, and pest control.
- Instruct Africa – They provide affordable legal solutions to professionals in the informal sector
- Panacare: A healthcare company that provides affordable and accessible healthcare services through telemedicine. The company leverages USSD technology to offer consultations, remote monitoring, and tools that help patients manage their health and well-being without the need for internet access or smartphone devices.
- Tynka Global – A platform that connects entrepreneurs, experts, and investors, simplifying the process of forming partnerships. The platform’s open database of investors and businesses allows entrepreneurs to showcase their projects and attract potential investors.
Since its inception, the program has trained more than 10 small and medium businesses to leverage technology by offering mentorship, advisory services, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards. 50 start-ups have participated to date, and 25 have been awarded over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed funding. 50 businesses have so far gone through the incubation process, with the first five cohorts attracting over 2,000 applications.
@ilabAfrica-Strathmore University partners with Ukraine company to train students on block chain solutions.
THE DAWN OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP
@ilabAfrica-Strathmore University has partnered with 482.solutions, Odessa, Ukraine with the aim of providing trainings on blockchain solutions development to students at Strathmore University and other interested professionals. This training is set to equip Kenyan students with skills that will set them apart from others and provide the Kenyan market with highly skilled professionals in blockchain.
The establishment of partnerships between Strathmore University and 482.solutions became possible thanks to the assistance of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Kenya.
Blockchain technology has proven to be a catalyst across a wide variety of industries and the demand for people with Blockchain skills is very high. Many companies are looking to hire those who have the skills set to navigate this new technology. Its features of immutability, distributed nature and provenance guarantee data safety and integrity. Because of the nature of blockchain technology, hackers will have a tough time reaching all the networked nodes to tamper with any records. Blockchain technology is perfect for securing information, storage and sharing.
During the virtual MOU signing ceremony Ms. Eunice Maingi- Project coordinator in the IT Security Department and lead of the Blockchain research team, @ilabAfrica-Strathmore University said, “We are looking forward to have our first workshop in April. It will be a virtual workshop and we will have an option of making it a hybrid course for students who want to attend the course physically @iLabAfrica Strathmore University.”
Mr. Richard Otolo- Manager of the IT security research, @iLabAfrica-Strathmore University said, “After this training we can see our students engaging in projects that are focused on the industry. There are several challenges that blockchain can address like fraudulent certificates, title deeds among other key records that face major threats of fraud and tampering. The training will be a forum to upscale existing techies and to increase the number of professionals who can use this technology to combat the mentioned challenges.”
Over the years counterfeiting has become a global issue that affects a wide range of industries. Proving or disproving the authenticity and quality of an asset can quite difficult because traditional supply is complex and lacks transparency. However, if a producer or manufacturer’s goods are placed on blockchain, their origin and trail throughout the entire supply chain can be easily tracked and verified, making it difficult to pass off counterfeit products for genuine ones.
Mr. Leonid Khatskevych – Strategic Partnership Manager at 482.solutions said, “The training will offer theory and practise. Theory will be about blockchain systems in general, cryptography and about bitcoin protocol while practise will be about smart contract. Students will have an option to choose between creating of Ethereum ERC-721 token or “Voting smart contract”. He further added, “There will be our demo solution “Woden”, based on Hyperledger Fabric, where students can realize the electronic document workflow and digital voting”
Dr. Joseph Sevilla- Director @ilabAfrica, Strathmore University mentioned, “I am happy about this collaboration and I look forward to the outcomes of these trainings which will provide the Kenyan market with highly skilled professionals in blockchain. We are also looking at partnerships with government institutions to help them solve local problems by implementing blockchain solutions.”
To register for the training, Click here
Others in attendance during the signing of the MoU included; Mr. Ivan Balashov- co-founder & CFO at @482.solutions; Roman Kravchenko co-founder & CEO at 482.solutions; Alexander Kryvoruchko – co-founder & COO at 482.solutions and Ms Diana Mutua – PR and Marketing Manager @ilabAfrica- Strathmore University
@ilabAfrica-Strathmore University
@ilabAfrica is a Centre of Excellence in ICT Innovation and Development at Strathmore University. The Centre spearheads Research and Innovation in Information Communication Technology for the Development (ICT4D) of ecosystems towards the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to contribute toward Kenya’s Vision 2030. The research Centre is involved in interdisciplinary research, students’ engagement and has partnered with over 800 institutions (Universities, NGOs, foundations, and government) worldwide and other funding agencies.
About 482.solutions
482.solutions is an international software engineering provider specializing in innovative solutions using decentralized technologies. 482.solutions has offices in Ukraine and Singapore.
The key competency of 482.solutions is creating solutions for “Industry 4.0” issues; Blockchain, Future of Energy, Digital Identity, Decentralized Asset Management, Financial Products, and Services.
482.solutions mission is “We harness decentralized technology solutions that empower business and society evolution to reach a global impact.”
Food Africa Accelerator Demo Day
You are cordially invited to The Food Africa Accelerator Virtual Demo Day on 27th November 2020 from 3.00p.m EAT to 4.30p.m EAT. This event marks an important milestone in the acceleration process towards the acquisition of investment for the enterprises that participated in the first cohort of the programme.
During this highly interactive event, businesses from the program will exhibit and pitch before an investor panel to gauge their investor readiness as they kick off potential investment conversations with program investors. This being an important milestone for the businesses and program, it will also provide an opportunity for key players in the agriculture industry including company founders, venture capitalists, investors and industry partners, to network and engage.The demo day will be hosted by Make-IT in Africa – GIZ, @iBizAfrica and Pangea Accelerator.
Kindly RSVP by responding to rkilonzo@strathmore.edu, by Friday, 20th November 2020. We will follow your confirmation with a Google Calendar invite.
Event Details:
Click Zoom Invite to register.
Women in tech – Last call
WIN KSH 1,000,000 FOR YOUR BUSINESS!
Standard Chartered in partnership with @iLabAfrica has launched a search for the third cohort of women-led technology startups which will see five entrepreneurs win Sh1 million each.
The program combines world class startup support with local and international experience to provide Africa’s most competitive and attractive startup incubation program focusing on immersive learning, mentorship, building and growing Africa’s next iconic startups taking on the continent’s most relevant challenges and opportunities
- be a woman
- be the CEO with equal or majority ownership in the company
- 18 and above
- of Kenyan nationality
- Agribusiness
- Education
- ICT
- E-Commerce
- E-Health
- Fintech
- Three months incubation at Strathmore University’s leading business and innovation incubator- @iBizAfrica
- Mentorship from world class mentors
- Coaching by top business, technology and legal professionals
- Immersive, world-class entrepreneurship curriculum
- Networking and exposure to expand your business networks
- USD 10,000 or KES 1,000,000 equity-free grant seed funding for the top 5 winners
- 9 months ongoing support from Standard Chartered and @iBizAfrica to assist with go-to market and scale.
- Participants must be physically available to attend the program over the three months incubation
- Participant accommodation costs are not catered for
| Application deadline | 4th November 2019 |
For more information Click here
To Apply click here
AITEC to Showcase Region’s Leading Fintech Innovations At 10th Anniversary Banking & Mobile Money Conference
To mark the 10th anniversary of its Banking & Mobile Money COMESA Conference, AITEC is selecting the region’s 20 most promising and innovative fintech start-ups to demo their products and services at the conference over 30-31 August.
Since 2010 the conference has provided a valuable promotional platform for the region’s fintech start-ups to attract investors, customers and partners. “We are proud of the role the conference has played over the years in connecting young innovators with partners, facilitating their entry into commercial relationships which in several cases have resulted in long-term growth,” said Sean Moroney, AITEC founder and chairman
Examples of a successful start-ups launching themselves at the conference include KopoKopo, PayPal and JamboPay. Liko Agosta, founder of Pesa Pal, praised the role played by the conference. “Before it became fashionable for conferences to showcase fintech start-ups, AITEC invited us to make an Innovator Showcase Presentation in the opening session in 2011 and gave us free exhibition space to network with participants. This lifted our profile in the market and we can trace our current success to that turning point when the market started taking us seriously. We look forward to seeing the new crop of innovators at the conference this year and exploring possible synergies with them.”
The Innovator Pavilion at this year’s conference will be co-ordinated by AITEC Associate Dr Bright Gameli Mawudor. Each participant will be given an opportunity to make a 3-5 minutes elevator pitch in the Fintech Innovation conference session, which VCs, angel investors and heads of innovation at financial institutions will be invited to attend. They will also have space to show case their start up applications to the public.
Applications to participate are invited from start-ups throughout the COMESA region. Participants can email details to innovation@aitecafrica.com.
. Innovation Categories
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Are you a Fintech Company? Apply to this Opportunity
Efma is a very well-known not-for-profit global association, created 45 years ago by banks and insurance companies. Their mission is “content sharing and networking”.Efma brings together more than 3,300 retail financial services companies from over 130 countries (1/3 of the top 100 financial institutions are Efma members) and its members include prestigious worldwide groups such as: BNPP, Deutsche bank, Citi, Santander, Bradesco, OCBC, BBVA, etc.
Efma will launch a new Fintech portal on 14th April 2016, a unique website to facilitate interaction between financial institutions and Fintech companies.
The campaign for Fintech data collection has already started and submission is free of charge.
Efma Fintech portal benefits:
The Efma Fintech portal will be a worldwide repository of leading Fintech solutions and services. It will provide a unique Fintech database: banks will be able to search and have access to the latest information about Fintechs and their solutions. It is being brought to the market in partnership with Microsoft and Avanade.
Moreover, the Efma Fintech portal will serve as a forum for networking and collaboration. It will create leads for Fintechs as a “match-making” service, where banks can post their needs/projects. If a Fintech solution match their criteria, this Fintech will be directly put in contact with the requesting bank.
Furthermore, the related Fintech Awards will highlight the best-in-class Fintech solutions, chosen by a panel of recognized experts (ceremony scheduled for 14 April 2016).
Application Deadline
Apply before 29 February 2016 in order to be eligible to participate in the Fintech awards on 14 April 2016.
If you have any question, please send an email
@iLabAfrica 