DEMO AFRICA 2014 - Startups in the loop

Congratulations to the selected entrepreneurs of DEMO AFRICA 2014
I've put up the ideas I have interest in. - or those which at least I have a faint idea what it is about.

* Do comment on those ideas which you foresee great solutions or problems to be resolved. Would be great to brainstorm together.

Its interesting how you see the inventions solving real-time needs in a developing country. Things which we take for granted - are scarcity in developing countries. 

Here's where you can review more of the ideas.

Shamba Technologies is a renewable energy technology company based in Tanzania and the UK.
- design domestic power products for the 115 million families in Africa without power.
- Portfolio of work has spanned the renewable energy sector and for the last 18 months we have been exclusively focused on modular solar photovoltaics.
-Latest product is a solar home system which can be purchased in small modular pieces each costing more or less the same as a solar lantern. When several small units are connected together the power is shared between them creating a larger ‘power bank’. In this way a household with an unpredictable income can build up a comprehensive electricity solution one piece at a time, customised to suit their specific needs.
Our product line has been developed over 2 years by world class designers and engineers. Our manufacturing partners are selected. Our market is vast and growing. Our potential distributors are excited.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch. We want you to sign an NDA before we share our business plan.
We have designed a solar home system for off-grid families that can be purchased in inexpensive modular pieces.

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
The current design is the product of 2 years of R&D into modular solar equipment, together with our design partners at Sebastian Conran Associates. We have a fully working product range which has been field tested. We have close relationships with manufacturing partners in China.

Revenue

We have a cash-flow prognosis. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
Our customers are stockists, retailers and distributors of solar equipment in Africa. We will sell the majority of our units in bulk, FOB from our Chinese factory. Additionally we will import products into East Africa and sell wholesale via our Tz subsidiary company.

Spacepointe - With eCommerce sales in the Middle East and Africa estimated to grow to about $33 billion in 2014, a few notable startups are chomping at the bit to capitalize on the opportunities that exist with some fundamental misses;
1. Making ecommerce in Africa about the retailers in Africa;
2. Utilizing mobile as crucial to ecommerce success in Africa
3. Leveraging indigenous partners and existing infrastructure to handle the business of logistics
SpacePointe is about driving market adoption by putting key focus on the African retailer’s ability to effectively sell their products across the country and beyond the continent. The business model of SpacePointe puts the complexity on the back-end and focuses on program simplicity on the front-end for the African retailer.
It is an online marketplace technology platform with the distinct focus on enabling the African Retailer sell their products online. The ability to make a revolutionary difference in the lives of the local retailers and ultimately the consumer is the primary driver of SpacePointe. In order for Africa to catch up with the rest of the world in online commerce, it would take much more than creating websites to sell products.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch. We plan to execute a proven concept in a growing market.
SpacePointe\\\’s business model of attaining \\\”true\\\” market adoption of commerce in Africa includes:
1. Simple programs to educate and on board local retailers
2. Leveraging existing logistics infrastructure for product delivery
3. Util

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration. The product is built with open hardware and/or software, so there is no proprietary third-party IP.
Product Status Breakdown by component
1. Customer Portal (100% Complete)
2. Retailer and Vendor Portal (In development)
3. Payment Interfaces (40% Complete)
4. Shipping Vendor Integrations (60% Complete)
5. Fraud Protection (In development)
6. Reporting (30% complete)

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
1. Online Revenue: Small fee per transaction for online transaction processing
2. Offline Revenue: Small fee per transaction processed over a POS/mobile payment device distributed by SpacePointe
3. Fee from partners for online Advertising on spacepointe.com







Jifunza creates language learning tools for African languages. Our first product is an app called Menya for creating and sharing fun educational lessons on African languages amongst your friends , students and the world. Menya is the first dynamic, crowdsourced language education app, designed specifically for the problem of exposing and educating the world on Africa’s rich spectrum of languages. Our goal is to bring African languages online for the world’s benefit. Currently, of the some 3000 languages in Africa, very few are represented in digital media and online.

Idea

We only have a longer pitch. We plan to execute a proven concept in a growing market. This is a high-risk venture that offers potentially high-rewards.
African culture is so complex and varied that crowd-sourcing is the only viable way to build up a substantial and comprehensive representation of it. Our first product Menya applies this concept to African languages for the education market. It helps you learn African languages.

Product

We have a demo or prototype, you can contact us to arrange a demo. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
We currently have a working app in the beta-testing stage amongst parents and kids. We are are going to be releasing on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android initially. The iOS version is primarily targeted towards the African diaspora with children. The product has a live backend.

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
The iPad version of our product, will be a paid download app. This is based on customer validation as well as the standard practice of charging of education iPad apps and leaving them ad-free. The other versions will have in-app purchases for added lesson templates.

Kitiwa - Large financial companies like PayPal and VISA have blacklisted entire African countries, making it extremely difficult for average Africans to transact legitimate business online. Banks and money transfer services like Western Union also slap on huge charges on even the smallest transactions.
Starting in Ghana and Nigeria, Kitiwa helps ordinary Africans send and receive money, cheaply, instantly, using the bitcoin technology.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch.
Kitiwa helps ordinary Africans in Ghana and Nigeria send and receive money, cheaply and instantly, to and from anyone in the world, using the Bitcoin technology. It also helps them bypass the Paypal ban by allowing them to make online transactions using Bitcoins.

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration.
A part of the product is up & running at kitiwa.com. It only allows users to buy Bitcoins in Ghana. Over the next 2 months, we plan to launch a service that allows users to sell Bitcoins for fiat money in both Ghana and Nigeria. We plan to launch this during the DEMO 2014 event.

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We already have revenue from paying customers.
We charge a 10% markup on the price our customers pay for the Bitcoins they buy on kitiwa.com.



Mergims - An online platform that will enable African immigrants, around the world, to pay tuition fees, airtime and utility bills for their loved ones back home; rather than sending money each month – at a high cost of traditional remittance monopoly – money that their family members spend sometimes irresponsibly.
In 2012, immigrants, from around the world, transferred more than $3 billion in East Africa, to meet their loved ones immediate consumption. 30% of that money was spent on tuition fees, utility bills and airtime top-up.
Our costs estimation have been done by following companies CGI-Logica,Orange telecom,Avaya,Heenan Blakie and Burson Marsteller

Idea

We only have a longer pitch. We want you to sign an NDA before we share our business plan.
By connecting directly immigrants to merchants in their countries, MERGIMS guarantees the proper use of funds. Our business model will also share the cost of transactions between users and merchants, thus bringing significantly down the cost.

Product

We have a demo or prototype, you can contact us to arrange a demo. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
Since people\’s money is involved in our business model, we are not able to put online our platform yet because we need a significant amount of money to secure its hosting and start processing transactions.

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
Profitability is based on the collection of service fees from users and merchants partners; Subscription fees for merchants, Advertisement program for merchants ; benefits from conversion of foreign currency and interest on funds available in our bank account.




InstaCare is the MasterCard of healthcare in Africa; it makes access to healthcare as easy as visiting the ATM.
InstaCare aims to enable 24/7 availability & access to quality healthcare everywhere for Africans starting with the over 80% of Nigerians, especially women and children.
Now, with rapidly growing interest within pilot communities in the FCT, and InstaCare providing the ability to reconcile & settle bills and invoices between Health Management Organizations and Healthcare Providers, the major bottleneck that created service gap in the National Health Insurance Scheme will be totally removed.
In 10 years, InstaCare aims to achieve an Africa where mortality rate is no more due to lack of accessible healthcare.
Before developing InstaCare, our Founders successfully built demo 3rd Party ATM application – CashForMe. Even though inexperience & lack of critical contacts limited its success, the attempt provided invaluable lessons.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch. This is a high-risk venture that offers potentially high-rewards.
For 80% of Nigerians, InstaCare makes access to healthcare services as easy as visiting ATM by enabling real-time verification & authentication of beneficiary’s health insurance subscription and, reconciliation/settlement of bills & invoices between HMOs & healthcare providers.

Product

We have a demo or prototype, you can contact us to arrange a demo. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
Using stories, we elicited feedback from prospective customers (citizens dwelling in rural & semi-urban areas, & HMOs) on challenges they have with accessing/delivering healthcare services.
Now, we have a demo app which we used to confirm list of minimal features for InstaCare.

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
Our target is to capture >40% of the rural & semi-urban families (conservatively estimated at 60% of a total of 28.2 million households) in Nigeria. Specifically, each of these 6.8million households will spend at least $1 annually on annual maintenance & transaction fees.



Chura allows interoperability between different mobile networks in a multi-SIM environment. With more than 80% of mobile service users having two or more sim cards, inferior inter-network mobile service delivery is a problem many people face on a day to day basis. Chura helps solve this issue using four services, namely switch airtime, buy airtime, bulk airtime and airtime for cash.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch. We plan to execute a proven concept in a growing market. We want you to sign an NDA before we share our business plan.
With more than 80% of mobile service users having two or more SIM cards, inferior inter-network mobile service delivery is a problem many people face on a day to day basis.Chura allows interoperability between different mobile networks in a multi-SIM environment.

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
We have a working product and Chura services are currently being rolled out to universities so as to have a feel of the potential market.

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We already have revenue from paying customers.
Sales in airtime obtained from our Airtime for cash service.


Cube enables anyone (whether individual or business entity) to accept card payments in person with their existing phone (even a basic phone), anywhere, anytime, real-time without the internet (and can also work with Internet, if preferred).
Cube has great potential to disrupt the current payments markets (especially in developing countries) because the mobile phone is very-popular/everywhere, however, a popular means of making payment (aside from cash), which is the card (debit/credit-cards) cannot be accepted by everyone, in person, just as cash can. With cube anyone and everyone can now accept card payments in person just like they can accept cash, and wthout relying on an internet connection (just like you wouldn’t need internet to accept or pay-with cash). In developing counties, there is poor to no internet coverage in a lot of places; since Cube doesn’t depend on internet to work, accepting card payments with Cube will not be affected. In addition Cube can work with ANY phone (even a basic/feature phone), so an individual/business/entity wouldn’t need to get a new phone to use Cube. Its Revolutionary!

Idea

We have an elevator pitch.
Cube enables anyone (whether individual or business entity) to Accept Card payments in person with their existing phone (i.e. any phone, even a basic phone),anywhere, anytime, real-time, without the internet (and can also work with Internet, if preferred).

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
Currently in final closed field testing, once completed, we will be fully ready to launch to the public.

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
Our revenue model is simple: we currently have our first (of many) product(s), & revenue will be generated from the cost & fees of our service (i.e. our customers will pay for our product(s) and/or services, & that is our main way (amongst others planned) of generating revenue).

Irofit build the ONLY mobile card payment system that allows merchants accept card payments without an internet connection. Our revolutionary technology makes card payments possible in many areas of Africa where Internet connection is poor or absent. Thus, our clients can increase business sales, retain/grow customer base, and better engage their customers.
African economies are growing at a phenomenal rate, and standard of living is on the rise. There is a strong emergence of the middle class with sophisticated tastes and buying habits. The result is an unprecedented explosion in commerce. Africans customers deserve the opportunity to buy with their ATM/credit/debit cards everywhere, every time without being limited by the unreliable Internet coverage and service. IroFit helps them enjoy that right.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch. We plan to execute a proven concept in a growing market.
We provide mobile card payment services that work anywhere, no Internet connection needed, so small businesses can increase sales and engage customers.
The technology is proprietary but the business model has been proven to be rapidly successful by Square(US) and iZettle (Europe

Product

We have a demo or prototype, you can contact us to arrange a demo. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
Our prototype is currently being tested in multiple locations, with positive results. Public launch in Nigeria in September 2014, to scale rapidly over Africa.
We have technical and strategic partnerships to deliver world-class, SECURE card processing services to 1bn Africans.

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
We have 2 revenue streams: one-time sales of card readers, and ongoing transaction charges. Our main revenue driver is transaction volumes.
Despite competitive pricing, we generate cash-flow from the start, and rapidly become profitable even while concurrently scaling the produc

 SmartPesa allows merchants to accept credit card payments using a mobile phone. Comprising a low cost card reader, App and server-side processing, SmartPesa solves the payment last-mile problem whilst fully integrating with existing banking infrastructure. Any local or international card is supported including Chip&PIN and mag-stripe cards. Especially suitable for emerging markets with a cost as low as $40 per mPOS solution versus $200+ for traditional POS solutions.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch. We plan to execute a proven concept in a growing market. This is a high-risk venture that offers potentially high-rewards.
SmartPesa allows merchants to accept credit card payments using a mobile phone. SmartPesa solves the payment last-mile problem with a mPOS device costing $40 (vs traditional POS of $200+) and fully integrates with existing international banking infrastructure.

Product

We have a demo or prototype, you can contact us to arrange a demo. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
Prototype is complete for end-to-end processing of all cards. Final App refinements being completed and testing has commenced. Preparing for EMV Level 2 certification in the next 6-10 weeks (code is complete, certification is outstanding).

Revenue

We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
Revenue share basis with existing financial institutions – preferably a national switch (thereby can support all cards issued in a country) or with one or more national banks / card acquirers. Revenue share would be on transaction processed over SmartPesa’s system



 Feedbackplus lets customers give feedback to different organizations online or through a mobile app either on the spot as each event is taking place or later at each customer’s convenience; and also empowers organizations with a dashboard where they can receive customers feedback, respond, resolve issues and stay in touch with their customers as well as download periodic reports of customers feedback together with feedback analytics for management’s strategic and operational use.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch.
Feedbackplus connects customers to their preferred organisations and enables them to give feedback on any of their products and services, while enabling organisations to receive and resolve customers feedback and download periodic reports and feedback analytics for management use
 

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration. The product is built with open hardware and/or software, so there is no proprietary third-party IP.
The product is already in online (feedbackplus.net) and mobile app formats. We are submitting the app into iPhone, Blackberry and Android stores for free download by customers within the next 2 weeks

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
A. Freemium model for all users, allowing for:
1. Mobile adverts
2. Online adverts
Cash collection will be in advance.
B. Freemium model for organisations with consistent 25% conversion from free to paying plans with our periodic reports and feedback analytics

Foodstantly is an online marketplace for food.
On the Supply Side:
Foodstantly provides Farmers, Food Vendors, Traders, Restaurants, Fast food and Frozen Food Dealers with a Mobile-web platform to set up online shops,accept payments,promote,sell and deliver Food and Farm produce direct to Consumers.
On the Demand Side:
Foodstantly provides Consumers with an easy to use mobile-web platform to discover,shop and take delivery of Farm produce,Foodstuff and meals from Farmers,Food vendors,Food Traders and Restaurants
Foodstantly does these through 3 main products:
i.Ready to Cook :This is an online version of the open air market and online farmers market.Farmers,Traders and Food producer can set up shop,manage their produce,accept payments,sell and deliver direct to consumers who can browse and buy food from their shops and take delivery at their doorstep.
ii.Ready to Eat:This enables Restaurants,Fastfood and Caterers to set up online shops, take orders and deliver food to Consumers .
iii.Farm Produce Aggregation: Through this product Foodstantly will enter into contract with several local and clustered farmers,take exclusive delivery of all their harvest from the farm,convey it to Foodstantly’s sortin centre,check for quality and pack them for delivery directly to Consumers,thereby cutting off multiple middlemen who add to the cost of food in Africa.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch. This is a high-risk venture that offers potentially high-rewards. We want you to sign an NDA before we share our business plan.
Mobile-Web enabled marketplace for fresh farm food produce/food stuffs and for restaurant discovery/ food ordering. It creates a system for farmers,Traders and restaurants to connect, sell and deliver directly to consumers.Foodstantly aims to disrupt the open air market in Africa

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration. The product is built with open hardware and/or software, so there is no proprietary third-party IP.
We commenced stealth operation last week of January,we have over 60 registered Sellers(Farmers,Foodstuff Vendors,Restaurants,Fast food,Frozen Food Wholesalers ) from over 8 states.And thousands of daily visits.We get over 30 inquiries on phone on a daily basis

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
Our revenue model will be premised on the following:
1.Percentage Commission charged to Sellers on any Food sold
2.Delivery charged for any delivery services we offer to support Sellers
3.Profit from sales of Aggregated Farm Produce
4.Profit from Premium Offerrings



 Cribpark is a web-platform powered by a young team of resourceful and dynamic construction professionals with a passion to simplify housing development and delivery in Nigeria.
Cribpark is seeking to be the leading Nigerian platform that provides people with all the information they need on housing, a catalogue of home designs to choose from, a shop to buy their housing items and a project section to offer design and construction project management services . Cribpark brings all the activities in the housing industry to people – online or from a mobile device. They get all the housing information they need at their fingertips.

Idea

We only have a longer pitch. We want you to sign an NDA before we share our business plan.
Cribpark is seeking to be the leading Nigerian platform that provides people with all the information they need on housing, a catalogue of home designs to choose from, a shop to buy their housing items and a project section to offer design and construction project mgt. services.

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
The product is almost completed. just some fine-tuning to be done

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
We host a shop of housing related products and services. Vendors will pay to register on the shop plus we earn a commission from every sale made from the shop. Furthermore, we offer design and project management services that customers can purchase at an affordable prices.

Hutbay is a platform that helps real estate consumers find and share vital information about real estate, mortgages and connect with real estate professionals in Nigeria.

Idea

We have an elevator pitch. We plan to execute a proven concept in a growing market. This is a high-risk venture that offers potentially high-rewards. We want you to sign an NDA before we share our business plan.
Hutbay want to increase access to vital information about properties and mortgages in Nigeria. We work with real estate professionals and mortgage institutions to make these data available across our web and mobile platforms. The market is huge and still in its infancy.

Product

We have a working product and you can request a demonstration. We have developed the product ourselves and own all of the IP for the product.
Hutbay is currently live at hutbay.com with mobile apps for Windows Phone, Windows 8 and Android at the respective stores. We are working on making sure the system stabilises before we embark on massive marketing campaigns to reach out to agents and home-seekers

Revenue

We plan to start by building a community of passionate customers. We will earn revenue from an advertising model. We have a cash-flow prognosis. We plan to monetise our offering in the next phase.
Subscriptions
Commission-based Referrals
GSM ShortCode Service
Advertisements

CONNECT FINANCE

.CONNECT FINANCE allows companies to manage their finances, create invoices, quotations, sales orders, payments etc.
- See more at: http://www.demo-africa.com/news/here-are-the-final-40-the-most-innovative-startups-in-africa-today#sthash.iuupW3LG.dpuf

.CONNECT FINANCE allows companies to manage their finances, create invoices, quotations, sales orders, payments etc.
- See more at: http://www.demo-africa.com/news/here-are-the-final-40-the-most-innovative-startups-in-africa-today#sthash.iuupW3LG.dpuf

.CONNECT FINANCE allows companies to manage their finances, create invoices, quotations, sales orders, payments etc.
- See more at: http://www.demo-africa.com/news/here-are-the-final-40-the-most-innovative-startups-in-africa-today#sthash.iuupW3LG.dpuf

.CONNECT FINANCE allows companies to manage their finances, create invoices, quotations, sales orders, payments etc.
- See more at: http://www.demo-africa.com/news/here-are-the-final-40-the-most-innovative-startups-in-africa-today#sthash.iuupW3LG.dpuf

selected entrepreneurs

selected entrepreneurs