6 African Startups Join the WEF Technology Pioneers Cohort of 2022
The list of 100 technology startups chosen for the 2022 Technology Pioneers cohort has been released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
These six firms are from four nations in Africa: Nigeria (one), Kenya (three), Rwanda (one), and Cameroon (1). This year, Cameroon and Rwanda are added to the list for the first time.
The World Economic Forum chose the nominated startups based on their innovation, impact, leadership, and importance to the organization’s objectives.
In their respective fields, such as climate change, food security, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and others, the chosen startups are creating answers.
The 2022 cohort of Technology Pioneers is already bringing great changes to industries around the world. By joining this community these emerging tech leaders can continue to show not only the impressive tech advancements within their firms but also how their companies are helping to build a better future for us all.
Saemoon Yoon, Technology Pioneers Community Lead, World Economic Forum.
They will work together on WEF projects, events, workshops, and activities to solve global issues over the ensuing two years. The pioneers of this year will join a distinguished group of graduates, which includes well-known companies like Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Spotify, TransferWise, Twitter, and Wikimedia.
About WEF Pioneers Listing
The WEF technology pioneer program offers a platform for the community of technology pioneers to interact with leaders in the public and private sectors, offer fresh approaches to the present crises, and shape the global agenda on pressing issues.
It consists of a global network of early-stage to growth-stage entrepreneurs that, by designing, developing, and implementing cutting-edge technology and concepts, have a significant impact on industry and society.
The program has had a number of significant organizations that have taken part since it began in 2000. Airbnb, Bluebird Bio, Bloom Energy, Cyberdyne, Editas Medicine, Foundation Medicine, Google, Kaggle, Mozilla, Palantir Technologies, Proteus Digital Health, Scribd, Spotify, Twitter, and Wikimedia are a few of these.
This community has grown to include members of the Network of Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a group that develops new regulations on cutting-edge technological issues, as well as the Global Innovators Community of potential startup companies.
Meet the selected startups
Okra
David Peterside and Fara Ashiru Jituboh established Okra in the year 2020. It was created with the intention of delivering digital financial services across Africa while offering a common API for various financial use cases across industries and businesses.
The business has been referred to as Africa’s first super-connector for APIs. The founders claim that the objective is to make it possible for financial institutions to provide customized financial solutions and savings.
In 2020, TLcom Capital provided the fintech business with $1 million as part of a financing round. The firm also completed a $3.5 million seed round in 2021, which brought its total funding to $4.5 million and was headed by Susa Ventures in the United States.
Access Afya
For Kenyans with modest incomes, Access Afya, a health tech firm, provides high-quality, affordable healthcare coverage.
The business employs technology to run a model that utilizes the physical and digital infrastructure for its users while maintaining a chain of clinics, pharmacies, and mobile health facilities.
The firm, which Melissa Menke founded in 2012, is one of Kenya’s first fully authorized online clinics. The company received recognition in 2019 for offering the best customer experience in Kenya.
Sendy
Sendy is a freight delivery firm with headquarters in Kenya that specializes in building straightforward infrastructure for African consumer brands and e-commerce sites. Evanson Biwott, Don Okoth, and American Malaika Judd launched it in 2015 as a marketplace to offer a more effective and affordable way to transport things utilizing technology.
The business uses an app to manage contract drivers who own their own vehicles, confirm deliveries, create performance metrics, and handle payment as part of an asset-free strategy.
The Kenyan business raised a $20 million Series B in 2020, with help from Toyota Corporation and Atlantica Ventures.
Pula Advisors
Agritech startup and insurance firm Pula Advisors is based in Kenya and specializes in developing and delivering cutting-edge agricultural insurance and digital solutions to small and medium-sized farmers to help secure high incomes and better farming practices.
Thomas Njeru and Rose Goslinga founded the company in 2015. In a Series A seed fundraising round led by TLcom Capital in 2021, Pula raised $6 million.
Ampersand
Ampersand is Africa’s first and leading complete energy solution for electric motorcycles and other forms of mobility. The Rwandan firm has earned the title of top battery-swap energy network for light vehicles.
Since its beginning in 2019, Josh Whale’s Ampersand has completed more than 50,000 battery changes. Electric motorcycles that are more affordable and effective in East Africa are designed and financed by the start-up.
Ejara
Fintech company Ejara is based in Cameroon and provides inexpensive investment options such as fractional shares, cryptocurrencies, commodities, etc.
Nelly Chatue-Diop founded the company in 2020, and since then, over 8,000 users have made cryptocurrency transactions on the site.
To pioneer the usage of cryptocurrencies and investing services in the area, the company raised $2 million in 2021.
