The US Chamber of Commerce’s US-Africa Business Center, USAfBC and the American Business Council, ABC, Nigeria have selected three Nigeria-based startups from its Digital Entrepreneurship Competition for a $40,000 cash award and mentorship.
The selection was based on their roles in delivering economic recovery from the pandemic.
USAfBC and ABC, Nigeria collaborated to create a Digital Entrepreneurship Competition which aimed to recognize the best of Nigeria’s digital innovators whose solution has impacted the Nigerian society, most especially during the pandemic.
The three winners were announced during USAfBC’s digital transformation event series third iteration.
The three Nigerian based startup that received the cash award are:
- Healthbotics Limited Health startup helped to increase voluntary blood donation using AI bots.
- Tiny Hearts Technology, another health teach startup that provides solutions to the challenge around phytotherapy treatment shortage for babies born with jaundice.
- Afrilearn International, an edtech platform that leverages teachers, animators and developers to offer affordable, education to Africans.
Scott Eisner, President of the US Chamber’s US-Africa Business Center, commented:
“Nigeria, with one of the largest youth populations on the continent, has long been a thriving hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
The US Chamber is pleased to recognise Nigeria’s budding young innovators and to support their growth.”
Eisner noted that as the entire world makes effort to navigate its way through the Covid-19 pandemic, digital innovations from West Africa is playing a significant role in solving present challenges and mitigating against potential global problems.
The Digital Entrepreneurship Competition received 112 applications but saw only 12 startups emerge for selection to submit a two-minute pitch.
The 12 selected startups faced a panel of judges that consisted of members from academia, Nigeria’s National Information Technology Agency (NITDA) and the private sector.
After rounds of rigorous selection criteria, the top three startups finally emerged, with Afrilearn International coming out tops, Healthbotics Limited taking the second-runner up while Tiny Hearts Technology took the third position.
According to Eisner, the three startups will get a divided share of the $40,000 cash award with respect to their winning positions in the competition.
Also commenting on the awards, Margaret Olele, CEO and Executive Secretary of the American Business Council said:
“The American Business Council working with the US Chamber are committed to collaborating with private sector stakeholders to drive the potentials in the startup innovation space in Nigeria.”
The CEO commended the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami for his role in promoting Nigeria’s digital economy.
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