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Harry Hare

Top African investors and entrepreneurs to speak at #DEMOAfrica2016

by lanredahunsi August 9, 2016

written by lanredahunsi

PRESS RELEASE

Top African investors and entrepreneurs to speak at #DEMOAfrica2016

August 9, 2016, Nairobi, Kenya: Top African investors and entrepreneurs are set to take centre stage at the DEMO Africa 2016 event to share some insights around business growth and development of entrepreneurial skills.

The event is scheduled from 22nd to 26th August 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The series of events, which include an entrepreneur bootcamp and a series of master-classes will be hosted in collaboration with the City of Johannesburg, the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the LIONS@FRICA partners.

Now in its fifth year, DEMO Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of LIONS@frica and aims to
connect African startups to the global ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the place where the most
innovative companies from African countries get a platform to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed.

The initiative has hosted 150 startups in the past four years raising more than US$14million in both investment and business value. “We have seen series impact in the last 4 years, one of the startups launched in 2014 has since gone to raise more than US$2 million and employed more than 150 people,” said Harry Hare, Executive Director, DEMO Africa.

This year’s event will feature some of the most prominent investors and entrepreneurs from
Africa and the organizer’s hope to see deals being signed at the event. “It will be good to see
some deals being made on the floor of the event. We have created a special area, which we call
the “DealZone” where investors and entrepreneurs can have investment discussions,” said a
source from DEMO Africa.

Some of the speakers who will also provide feedback to the launching startups include:

Marcello Schermer: Regional Manager for Africa at Seedstars World
Arthur Goldstuck: Arthur Goldstuck heads the World Wide Worx research organisation,
Eric Osiakwan: Managing Partner, Chanzo Capital
Lexi Novitske
Marquise Stillwell:Founder & Principal, OpenBox
Ralesheba Moeng: Partner, CVC Africa Capital Partners
Toby Shapshak: Editor/Publisher, Stuff Magazine
Stephen Ozoigbo: Founder/CEO African Technology Foundation
Megan Edmonds
Wim van der Beek: Founder and Managing Partner, Goodwell Investments
Harry Hare: CEO and Executive Producer, DEMO Africa
Yaron Assabi: Founder, Digital Solutions Group
Vincent Kouwenhoven: Foun
Amrote Abdella, Reginal Director, Africa initiatives at Microsoft
der – Investment Director, eVA Fund
Aaron Fu: Managing Partner (Africa), NEST VC
Bunmi Okunowo: National Coordinator,(OIIE),(NITDA)
Thomas Debass: Deputy Special Representative for Global Partnerships
Llew Claasen: Executive Director Bitcoin Foundation & Venture Capitalist
Eghosa Omoigui: General Partner –EchoVC Partners
David van Djik

DEMO Africa 2016 saw over 700 technology startups from 27 African countries apply to launch at the event. They were then narrowed down to 30 start-ups with South Africa having the highest representation of up to 11 startups followed by Nigeria 6, Kenya 5 and Ghana 3.For the first time Morocco will have a representative in the continental faire. Other countries include Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

The 30 finalist startups have products in 11 verticals including logistics, retail, ecommerce, education, banking and finance, media, renewable energy, health and agriculture. Banking and
financial technologies had the highest number of entries followed by media, e-commerce and
education.

About DEMO Africa

DEMO Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of LIONS@frica and aims to connect African startups to the global ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the place where the most innovative companies from African countries get a platform to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed.

DEMO Africa allows start-ups from all over Africa to meet VCs, investors, tech acquisition specialists, IT buyers and media from across the region and around the globe. The Start-ups are given an opportunity to launch their products to a tech eco-system.

August 9, 2016 0 comments

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DEMO Africa releases 2016 list of Top 30 Finalist Startups

by lanredahunsi July 18, 2016

written by lanredahunsi

July 18, 2016 Nairobi, Kenya: Demo Africa, the continent’s premier launch pad for emerging technologies and trends has today released the list of its final 30 startups that will launch at this year’s DEMO Africa conference in Johannesburg, 25th

The finalists were picked from a record 723 technology startups from 27 African countries that applied to launch at the event. Out of the 30, South Africa is represented by 11 startups, Nigeria 6,Kenya 5 and Ghana 3. For the first time Morocco will have a representative in the continental faire. Other countries include Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

“The entries this year certainly kept up with the DEMO Africa spirit to produce innovative and creative ideas that are bound to transform the technology landscape and we are excited by the growth of innovation and technological advancement in Africa as portrayed by our finalists,” said Harry Hare, DEMO Africa Executive Producer while congratulating the finalists.

The 30 finalist startups have products in 11 verticals including logistics, retail, ecommerce,
education, banking and finance, media, renewable energy, health and agriculture. Banking and financial technologies had the highest number of entries followed by media, ecommerce and education.

The adjudication process which began mid-June 2016, involved a series of activities with a continental jury. “The adjudication process involves a review of the documentation submitted by the startups, a review of their online properties, and testing some of the applications that are online, but the judges also look at the innovation, viability and the product – market fit,” said Mbugua Njihia, the Event Director.

“It was difficult to come up with this list,” said Harry Hare, Executive Director, DEMO Africa.
“Any of the short-listed companies could make an impression on the DEMO Africa stage due to the quality and their potential. But we can only have 30 companies. I would like to congratulate all the companies that participated and encourage them to continue building their business,” Hare continued.

The DEMO Africa 2016 conference, which will take place from 25 to attract venture capitalists, angel Investors, investment fund managers tech buyers, entrepreneurs, innovation supporters & media from various parts of the world.

This year’s event is supported by the LIONS@frica Partners, City of Johannesburg, the South African Department of Science and Technology. Other partners include Google, The World Bank, and African Technology Foundation.

DEMO Africa 2016 list of finalist startups

Grid Supply Chain
Loystar
Iyris KO Ltd
Cocktail Insights
Boresha Limited
Ujuzi Software Solutions
MumsVillage Ltd
Strauss Energy
IT Brothers
Nextwi
Solstice HES
WESABI
ArtNigeria
Shuttlers
Rubiqube Limited
SharpHire Global Limited
Vuga Ltd
ConnectMed
Reel Gardening
SolarCap Pty Ltd
RadioVybe
Sortd
ION Comsys
Ekasi Energy
4th Element
K Measure Pty Ltd
Zivo Learning
flexyPAY Intenational
Telescrypts
Lipa Mobile

About DEMO Africa

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of DEMO Africa 2016

July 18, 2016 0 comments

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DEMO Africa 2016 shortlists 131 companies on its first round of adjudication

by lanredahunsi June 23, 2016

written by lanredahunsi

Nairobi, June 22nd 2016, DEMO Africa 2016 has short listed a total of 131 startups during its first round of adjudication.

The 131 applications were narrowed down from 723 applications that were submitted.

The applications were received from 46 countries, a more than 30% increase from last year’s event which had attracted 26 countries.

“We are very excited at the response we received from the startups and startup owners.
This goes to show how DEMO Africa is becoming a critical piece of the entrepreneurship
development agenda in the continent,” said Mr. Harry Hare, Executive Director, DEMO
Africa.

Nigeria had the highest number of applications at 217, followed by Kenya at 154 and South
Africa at 104. Other countries that had a good showing were Uganda at 23 applications,
Cameroon 17, Ghana 16, Zimbabwe 14, Egypt and Tanzania 12, Ivory Coast 8, Ethiopia 7,
Zambia and Rwanda submitted 6 applications each.

This year, DEMO Africa also attracted participation of African diaspora entrepreneurs with those in the US topping the list at 15 applications and Belgium 4.

Applications were also received from other countries outside Africa and these include the
United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, South Korea, Costa Rica and Afghanistan.

“In the past four years, we have been reaching more people and more countries year on
year, spreading the entrepreneurship spirit throughout the continent,” Mr. Hare continued.

Out of the 131 companies the judges will have to narrow down and identify only 30 companies who will then launch their products at the DEMO Africa platform in Johannesburg, South Africa on 25th and 26th August.

Twelve judges from across the continent are currently reviewing the applications and will
later short list 50 startups that will then go into the next round of adjudication.
Speaking on the same, Mr. Mbugua Njihia, Event Director, DEMO Africa said,

“We have developed a 3 tier adjudication process that makes sure we have the companies with the highest potential to have the opportunity to launch their business and products at the DEMO Africa platform.”

The adjudication process will continue until the end of June and the announcement of the
final 30 is expected in the first week of July.

About DEMO Africa

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of 2016 DEMO Africa

June 23, 2016 0 comments