THINK Announces Top 10 Finalists for Investment and
Incubation in Rwanda
Digital companies selected from competitive applicants in 14
countries
26 March 2015, Kigali, Rwanda, Tech
incubator think announced today the top 10 finalists for its second cohort. Selected finalists
are in the running for investment and incubation from Tigo and its parent
company Millicom at the state-of-the-art think
incubation site.
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The second cohort will
build on the success of think’s first cohort comprised of Rwandan company
TorQue and Nigerian company Cribpark, who both received investment, access to
key networks, assessment of growth, and office space.
Think received highly
qualified applications from 14 countries, and the finalists represent six
African nations: Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, as
well as the US. A committee of top tech investors, including executives from Millicom,
Tigo Rwanda, the African Entrepreneur Collective, and leading regional tech
entrepreneurs, are in the process of selecting up to 5 companies. The chosen
businesses will join think in May,
receiving $15,000 in equity investment, strategic consulting services, and a
tailored growth-training curriculum, as well as access to Tigo resources and
global tech mentors.
The think top 10 include early
stage companies that provide a variety of IT Solutions, addressing diverse consumer
needs throughout Africa, with an ability to scale rapidly:
Bitnexa, Uganda
Product: A bitcoin exchange for merchants and individuals,
using mobile money to exchange local currencies with bitcoins.
Get
It, Rwanda
Product: Text-to-order sales and distribution platform
delivering household items to last-mile consumers.
GutsHaven, Nigeria
Product: Web platform
that connects a local community of freelancers to those who need small projects
completed.
Howxit,
South
Africa
Product: A mobile app for real-time communication via text,
voice and video.
Malaika Travel &
Tours, Rwanda
Product: A travel app designed to crowd-share rides and
excess luggage allowances.
Mergims, Rwanda
Product: A mobile application that allows Rwandan migrants to
pay airtime, tuition fees, and utility bills efficiently.
SeedBox, Uganda
Product: An interactive online mentorship platform, connecting
young African entrepreneurs to those around the globe
SoftProviders, Burundi
Product: A multi-function, adaptable mobile payment platform,
leveraging patented M-PAY technologies.
THE
Exchange Visionary Labs, United States
Product: Contact lenses that display an augmented reality.
Think 3D Google glass.
Two4one, Kenya
Product: A mobile platform incentivizing people to eat out,
go out, and hang out more often.
Tongai Maramba,
General Manager of Tigo Rwanda, said: “We are excited about the promising top
10
finalists. Investing in the final selected companies
from among this group is a hallmark of Tigo’s commitment to innovation and to
growing the IT startup environment across Africa.”
About think:
think, the “technology incubator
in Kigali”, launched in 2014 in Rwanda for tech startups seeking to create
digital solutions with the potential to scale across Africa. Africa IT News rated think as one of the top
tech startup incubators to watch in 2015. With a young and dynamic population and significant
government investment in the country’s ICT infrastructure, Rwanda provides a
unique opportunity as a platform for technology startups. Millicom, operating
under the Tigo brand in Africa, is the angel investor behind think.
For more
information:
Pierre KAYITANA Like us on Facebook: thinkrw
Tigo Public Relations Follow
us on Twitter: @thinkrwanda
T: +250 722 123 113 Visit
our website: www.think.rw
Email: pierre.kayitana@tigo.co.rw
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