Rinchi
Google Impact Challenge Africa was held in three African countries last week and selected 12 startups to receive a US$250,000 grant while 36 finalists received a US$150,000 grant funding. Google.org, giving away US$6 million grant funding in total.
TechInAfrica – Google Impact Challenge Africa opened for applications in three African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. There were over 5,000 social innovators submitted their applications. Among those submissions, 36 finalists were selected to pitch their ideas in front of judges. Finally, judges chose 12 of them as the overall winners.
The 12 finalists were selected on the event held in each country last week. Receiving a US$250,000 grant from Google.org while the 36 finalists received a US$125,000 grant. The total of grand funding adding up to US$6 million.
Among those overall winners, three winners were from South Africa, such as Corruption Watch with its Bua Mzansi Platform; Gradesmatch with its career guide; and the RLabs Z1to Digital Platform, a mobile and blockchain platform. Meanwhile, the People’s Choice Award winner was MeMeZa Shout Crime Prevention with its public alarm system.
The three winners from Nigeria were Cece Yara Foundation with its toll-free child helpline; HelpMum with its clean birth kits, and Project Enable Africa with its digital inclusion project while the People’s Choice Award went to Vetsark with its plan to launch Alpha Prime Disease Surveillance Technology. The technology can predict and prevent pests and disease outbreaks.
The Kenyan winners were African Prisons Project, Startup Lions, and UjiziKilimo Solutions. As for the People’s Choice Award, the winner was Lewa Wildlife Conservancy with its digital literacy program.
Speaking about the 12 winning startups, Adepoju Abiodun, the Product Marketing Manager at Grow with Google stated: “We’re inspired by the passion and vision of all of our finalists – and the real work is just beginning. We are excited to partner with these organizations as they dig into new and innovative projects to make our communities even better.”
