Tech startups set to win millions in Safaricom contest

For the last three months, 13 startups have been undergoing nurturing at Ibiz Africa, Strathmore University’s incubation centre.

Each group of three is in the running to be this year’s Safaricom Appwiz challenge overall winner.

The AppWiz challenge is an annual competition the telecom firm initiated in 2011 to support an entrepreneurial and innovation culture among the youth.

The teams have developed mobile technology-based business solutions across various themes ranging from communication accessibility, transportation, education, safety and business management.

A panel of judges will Thursday vet their ideas and select the best teams to be awarded at a gala dinner on December 4. The overall winner will receive Sh1.7 million to fund their business while the runners up will walk away with Sh1 million.

Each category winner will get Sh200,000. Ibiz Africa manager Bernard Chiira told Digital Business that the participating teams had each been trained on the fundamentals of having a successful startup.

This includes coming up with the right business models as well as fine-tuning financial management and marketing aspects.

“Most startups fail within the first five years because they lack the support system that would enable them to build a business the right way,” said Mr Chiira.

“That is why they need incubation to provide them with an environment that also inspires innovation.”

He added that the most common challenge that leads to the collapse of many startups, is the development of products not tailored for a specific market need.

Others are businesses flop because they chase capital funding without first securing their market base.

Startup teams, Mr Chiira, should not only have the right fit with a broad talent base to ensure sustainability they should not only focus on the innovation side of a business, but also business development.

A total of 100 individuals applied to take part in the AppWiz challenge and forty five of them were shortlisted and split into 15 teams.

The shortlisted startups stand to benefit from a $1 million angel fund which Safaricom launched on Wednesday.

“We are currently developing the criteria for the selection of the startups that will benefit over the next 24 month,” Joseph Ogutu, Safaricom’s director of strategy and innovation, said in an interview.

“If we can get two or three startups that have a good model and product that can go to market, then they will definitely benefit.”

The shortlisted startups include:

Magazine Reel

This news site allows university students to access credible information about the happening in their campuses. Its objective is to bridge the information gap between administrators, student leaders and students.

Guide Rig

It uses geolocation to enable customers find their way around to a particular location and within buildings. A chat feature allows users within a common location to share experiences or speak directly to management.

Xoxo

The social site is built around an individual’s activities and their network of friends. It helps people know what others are engaged in, comment and view their photo galleries. Xoxo users get notifications when an individual in their network is involved in a particular activity.

Smart Travel

This app provides motor vehicle drivers with voice alerts about road signs, speed limits and road conditions in a bid to promote road safety and prevent accidents.

It also prevents driver from getting distracted by responding to a phone call or text during travel.

The blood alcohol content calculator allows drivers to perform self-tests and disqualify themselves from driving if their intoxication levels are above the legal threshold.

Sema

The mobile application does word translation, offering travellers’ much-needed continence when they visit foreign countries.

Sema allows users to search for a word in English and translate it to any other native language, including offering the correct pronunciation.

Ujirani

Its build around the Nyumba Kumi initiative that requires neighbours from every 10 households to have a rapport in a bid to enhance safety.
Ujirani users can raise issues about residential area and discuss their concerns.

A panic button integrates different emergencies—medical, security and fires —allowing relevant authorities to respond to your precise geolocation.

Ultipedia

The app name is derived from the words ‘ultimate encyclopedia.’

It is an interactive game that aims to make revision fun for pupils preparing for their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams.

Ultipedia integrates the questions and answers of the six main examinable subjects. Students are given thirty seconds to respond to each question and voicing out the right answer in a failed attempt.

Bizzacc Ninjas

An accounting software that helps small and medium enterprises manage and analyse their financial records. Business owners are able to record their expenditure and income transactions as they occur.

Metro Jav

The app provides commuters with navigation information on various routes and their terminal locations, fares as well as the duration of the commute.

Metro Jav allows passengers earn points and receive rewards for contributing to traffic information and completing a commuter related trivia.

Mopos

The Android application has features that help in stock management, recording of expenses and calculations of sales made with a certain time frame.

Budget Siku

Budget Siku helps users plan their expenditures on a daily, monthly and annual basis and gives a graphical analysis of the collected data including charts of how the money was spent.

Magic Books

The electronic book reader, mainly targeting your learners, uses visual aids and sound effects that help teach children how to read in their respective languages.

My Duka

The smartphone application allows small businesses to determine whether they are making profits or losses at any particular time.

The sales section allows for registration of products issuance of receipts to customers via text messages or Bluetooth while monitoring stocks. Users can also find product suppliers from any location and compare pricing.