Denis Opudo
On 26th February 2018 GSM Association announced the 15 startups that will benefit from its grand. The 15 startups will also be added to its startup portfolio. GSM Association made the announcement via its Mobile for Development group. It was also part of GSM Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund. The 15 startups will increase the number of startups in the GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund portfolio to 24 startups.
The 24 startups will work on the thirteen out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals. United Nations introduced the goals and accepted by the whole mobile industry. This is according to the head of GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Max Cuvellier. GSMA initiative also aims at narrowing the gap between startups and mobile operators. Through that, it brings strong partnership. The partnership improves the growth of innovative mobile services and products.
The fund gives selected startups in Asia and Africa with grant funding. Furthermore, they get technical assistance and opportunity to partner with mobile operators. This then helps them to scale their products and services into a sustainable business. The businesses are those with better socio-economic influence. Amongst the selected startups eight of them are from Africa. The eight came from Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Senegal.
Lynk founded by Adam Grunewald and Johannes Degn represents Kenya. The startup works on linking informal workers with better jobs. Lynk will direct the grand in developing a worker-facing mobile app. Farmcrody founded in 2017 represented Nigeria. The agritech startup helps locals to venture into the agricultural sector. They also fund farms which they have interest in. The startup will use the grand to develop a mobile app for feature phones and smartphones. This will enable technical field specialists and farmers to interact with farm activities. The app will also give other services to farmers. the services include electronic payments, training, and information.
Senegal had two startups those are SudPay and MaTontinte. MaTontine offers financial services via the digitization of traditional savings ways. The startup was founded by Bernie Akporiaye and Tosan Oruwariye. It will use the grand to achieve its target of having a credit scoring feature. SudPay is a fintech company which was founded by Ngom Pathe Faye and Samba Sow. The platform developed a solution that helps municipalities to digitize. It also automates collection of local taxes. It will use the grand to launch the solution in municipalities in Dakar. Jamii Africa founded by Lilian Makoi represented Tanzania. The startup ensures that tech startup gives a mobile management platform for health insurance policies. The startup will use the grand to run mobile-based onboarding of users.
Uganda produced two startups Enibuuko and LipaMobile. Enibuuko received grand worth $250,000 and it was founded by Gerald Otimi. The fintech startup uses clouds and money to help credit and saving cooperatives to collect and manage savings. The startup will use the grand to develop a mobile banking platform. LipaMobile is a fintech startup that has developed MSomesa. mSomesa is a school fee management platform. The company was founded by Laban Jemba. It will use the grand to expand the mSomesha services. It will also use the grand to develop another product called Mslapp.
From Zambia, there is Musanga Logistics. The startup founded by Emmanuel Kwenda andNjavwa Mutambo offers delivery services. It uses bicycles and motorbikes to carry out deliveries. It will use the grand to expand its services and operations in three Zambian cities.
