The first ever DEMO Africa was held this week in Nairobi and was a big success. Here’s a summary of things that occurred, this is a cross-post from blog.appfrica.com.
On October 24th, 2012 Hillary Clinton announced the 3rd Apps4Africa competition at DEMO Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. Her pre-recorded video address to the audience was one of the many highlights of the DEMO Africa which brought investors and 40 of Africa’s finest startups together for rapid-fire 6-minute pitch sessions.
The Apps4Africa Team! From L to R: Thomas Genton (Senior Advisor, Bureau of African Affairs at U.S. Department of State), Jonathan Gosier (Founder, Appfrica), Bahiyah Robinson (Executive Director, Appfrica), Barbara Birungi (Director, HiveColab), Emmanuel Addai (Apps4Africa 2011 Winner), Marieme Jamme (CEO, SpotOne Global), Eric Mutta (Apps4Africa 2011 Winner), Thomas Debass (Director, Lions@frica)
The announcement also marks a big change in the Apps4Africa model. This year the competition is targeting startups and businesses through competitive funding, offering a non-diluting path to venture capital, mentorship and other forms of support. Our goal is to catalyze the growth of Africa’s early-stage startups to address the issue of youth unemployment across the continent. Africa needs to create at least 120 million jobs by 2012 to maintain it’s current trends of a growing middle class. Those jobs are not going to come from government mandates or multi-national corporations, they are going to come from successful startups and entrepreneurs. With Apps4Africa 2012, Appfrica and our partners at the State Department, Lions@frica, and the World Bank are demonstrating our commitment to addressing this problem now and in the future!
We’re greatly appreciative for the remarks of Mrs. Hillary Clinton and the continued support of our friends at the State Department!
At DEMO young companies are offered 6 minutes to demonstrate their app’s utility, their business model and their case for investment. It’s very fast-paced and exciting for the entrepreneurs.
Keeping with that theme, we’ve selected 6 photos that capture the experience of the conference
Emmanuel Addai (Co-Founder, Farmerline) was one of two entrepreneurs representing the Apps4Africa 2011 Winners at DEMO Africa 2012. Farmerline came in third in the 2011 Climate Challenge.
DEMO Africa 2012, the Launchpad for Emerging Technology and Trends
One shot at 6 minutes in front of investors, journalists, and other technologists. Would you be ready?
Intermixed with the pitches were panels and real-time feedback ‘sage’ sessions from seasoned entrepreneurs and investors. Some ideas passed their test, others were shot down right away for not being investable.
During the pitch sessions, the exhibition hall at DEMO Africa 2012 was relatively empty, but after, this was where deals were made and startups got their second or third chance to pitch investors one on one.
Our team was all over the place at DEMO! From left to right, Marieme Jamme of SpotOne Global and Africa Gathering, Thomas Genton of the U.S. Department of State, Barbara Birungi of HiveCoLab, Jon Gosier and Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson of Appfrica.
