Mbugua Njihia, Producer – DEMO Africa 2013
Demo Africa, the launch pad for emerging technologies and trends, has announced the top 40 startups that will get the opportunity to launch at the 2nd annual DEMO Africa event in October. The finalists were picked from a record 300 technology start-ups from 24 African countries that had applied to launch at the event.
Out of the 40, South Africa is represented has 12 start-ups, Kenya 9, Egypt 5, Nigeria 4, Tanzania 2 while Ghana, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Uganda and Morocco each have one start-up that will be launching at the DEMO Stage.
South Africa and Kenya made the highest number entries in 5 categories - Social Media, Cloud Services, Mobile, Consumer and Enterprise Technologies – that make up the conference. Of these categories, 50% of the total entries fell under Mobile and Social Media/Computing including gaming while 20% were placed in the Cloud Computing and Enterprise Systems. The adjudication process which began in August also revealed that the Consumer category had the highest number of entries in the final 40 with 19 entries appearing in both the mobile and consumer category.
DEMO Africa 2013 will take place on 24th October 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi where the 40 finalists will get an opportunity to launch their start-up to attendees who will include venture capitalists, angel Investors, investment fund managers, tech buyers, entrepreneurs, innovation supporters & media from various parts of the world. The DEMO Africa event provides a platform for innovative ideas and local tech start-ups looking for opportunity to nurture their skills and get exposure on the global stage. Nokia, Intel and Microsoft are some of the sponsors. Check out the event program here.
The 40 finalists are below:
1. Eventtus
Eventtus is a networking platform for events where users can explore events and socialize with like minded people during events. we build a community for each event and help organizers and attendees interact before, during and after events.
2. Splinter.me
A new social recruiting platform built on top of automatic data integration from multiple social networks to facilitate the recruiting process for both job-seekers and recruiters.
3. ViViFi
Touch sticker technology is a new human-object interface that is capable of transforming all non-conductive surfaces with limited thickness (wood, glass, etc.) into touch sensors or screens.
4. Faselty
Online donation organizing system to facilitate the blood donation process. Mobile integrated. Location and blood type based.
5. Spyros Entertainment
“Spyros Entertainment†is a video gaming studio specialized in mobile games, our main target is to provide Hardcore gamers (those who play on PS, and Xbox) with Midcore games that fit the experience -both from the perspectives of Gameplay complexity, and Graphics richness- they used to get on their consoles.
6. Dibsr
An online community for sharing the things and places you love.
7. BoxBuzz
BoxBuzz is an SMS alert system which sends text message to owners of Post Office Box addresses whenever they receive a letter in their boxes.
8. Chamasoft
Chamasoft is a simple to use web and mobile application which will help investment groups and chamas to manage all their group activities and communications.
9. Gmobile
GMobile is a set of proprietary apps for all smartphone operating systems- Android, Blackberry, iPhone, Symbian and Windows. It is a softphone running on your current smartphone.
10. Dinero MPS
We provide a multi-os software platform that allows Chamas to manage their offerings and members to hold and manage their balances on their phones.
11. SleepOut.Com – Kenya
SleepOut is the region’s most comprehensive booking engine featuring 1,000+ options, listing all accommodation from beach huts to house rentals and all-inclusive resorts.
12. Wireles Mobile Phone Charger
This charger works using pressure, as you walk you generate pressure that in turn generates energy, once you have arrived where you were going you can now sit down and charge your mobile phone.â€
13. Duma
DUMA Works is an SMS-based recruiting service that connects employers with the top qualified job seekers in the DUMA network. We match based on skill, geographic location, past employer reviews, and social network.
14. Jooist
Jooist is a social gaming network for mobile phones. Jooist enables users to discover games, play with friends, compare scores, share achievements and a whole lot more.
15. Remote Cycle
RemoteCycle is the Recurly of the emerging markets; the software as a service provides recurring billing and payment management for subscription-based companies in East Africa and India.
16. The Able Wireless Company
Able Wireless wants to take the potential of these people and deploy an edge of network solution that delivers content over a wireless network through a secure device, reducing 83% of capital and operational costs for current network providers, creating a legitimate distribution system with real infrastructure on the ground with the best support structures nationwide.
17. Next Level
Next Level is an engineering start-up specialized in developing electronic Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
18. Save & Buy
Save & Buy is a web and mobile platform that enables anyone save towards any item they desire in an easy to use, fun and safe environment.
19. ChopUP
ChopUp is a social platform that connects mobile device gamers across Africa and then allows them interact based on in-game achievements and points which can be transferred across games.
20. OTGPlaya
OTGPlaya is an affordable platform solution that combines cutting edge networking technology, emerging market wisdom, and customer focused application to bring “accessibility†to critically underserved sectors.
21. RAMP
RAMP is a new innovative web app developed to simplify the management process of Resident Associations in Nigeria or any where in the world.
22. Teranga Hospitality Suite
Teranga Hospitality Suite
23. Eduze
To provide everyone equal access to the learning, loving and LOLing that digital content offers.
24. Fraudcracker
FraudCracker.com offers an online technology solution to help companies identify and combat fraud.
25. Sstream-TV
Content aggregator and distributor via streaming platform across the African continent and focused on Southern Africa.
26. Anasodiabitiz
Online management of diabetes where all stakeholders are involved. Helps people living with diabetes coordinate all aspects of their management.
27. Dream Mobile
Dream Mobile provides tailored communications solutions direct to consumers, and small and medium enterprises with a specialization in smart devices.We employ a dynamic business model that aims to solve 2 key problems the average Southern African consumer faces.
28. GoMetro
GoMetro is a dynamic innovation, the first of its kind in South Africa, that provides real-time public transport information to commuters
29. Xtendevent
Xtendevent (formerly known as Afritradecentre.com) is an online platform that integrates virtual conferences and exhibitions, social media-styled business networking and e-commerce enabled trading.
30. Center for Affordable Housing
The organization has developed the “CityMark†dashboard, a web-based dynamic business intelligence tool that provides users with previously unavailable local housing market intelligence, in order to find areas of development opportunity, entice investment, inform public policy and better advocate for low income areas within African cities.
31. Gmaven vis
The business worlds: most user-friendly business intelligence and analytics product
32. Notafy
Notafy is set to revolutionise the way corporates communicate with their customers via mobile phone.
33. Obami
We connect educators, learners, parents, businesses, NGO’s and governments.
34. Zehoo
Zehoo is the next step of technological innovation in the cloud storage industry, which simplifies document storage services in ways unseen in the market.
35. Ubongo
UBONGO is a Tanzanian social enterprise that creates engaging and locally relevant multimedia content for learners in Africa.
36. Karibu Solar Power
KARIBU Solar Power is an innovative solar social enterprise that makes high quality solar power affordable.
37. Famissima
Famissima is a social platform that connects families to each other and to products and services they need.
38. Sky Energy
Sky Energy is a renewable energy company with a focus on solar technology.
39. M-Duka
M-Duka is an online platform that allows consumers to purchase virtual products and services on the GO using an internet enabled device such as a mobile phone, PC or POS.
40. BrainShare
BrainShare is an academic application that offers a one-stop-centre for students revision. With brainshare, students can access well organised notes, ebooks and past papers.
Cheetah Code shot a documentary “Inside DEMO Africa 2012” that offers a look at the activity behind the scenes at last year’s DEMO Africa 2012 that took place in Nairobi, Kenya on October 24th and 25th, 2012. Check it out below: