MIT and Mastercard Foundation select 10 African startups as finalists for innovation prize

By professo

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to select finalists for the Zambezi Prize.

The finalists have been chosen for the prize’s Innovation and Financial Inclusion award.

The firms selected are: Apollo Agriculture (Kenya), Bidhaa Sasa (Kenya), FarmDrive (Kenya), Farmerline (Ghana), LanteOTC (South Africa), MaTontine (Senegal), OZE (Ghana), RecyclePoints (Nigeria), Tulaa (Kenya), and Wala (South Africa).

“We are pleased to welcome the 2018 finalists into the MIT Zambezi family,” remarked Georgina Campbell Flatter, Executive Director at MIT’s Legatum Center.

“They represent some of the world’s most innovative change agents.”

SEE ALSO:

“The finalists demonstrated strong leadership and innovation in the way they are solving financial inclusion challenges,” said Ali Diallo, Global Programs Manager at the center.

“We also want to thank the hundreds of great startups that applied to this competition and shared with us their inspiring ventures, visions, and insights for advancing financial inclusion.”

“We hope to keep them all engaged through our upcoming initiatives.”

The finalists will attend the 2018 MIT Open Mic Africa Summit, held in Kenya’s Nairobi between 28-29 August.

The winner of the award will be invited to the Zambezi boot camp taking part during the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC) gala in Boston, US, between 5-9 November, as well as being fast-tracked for the IIC global prize of up to $1mn in funding.

Share

Featured Articles

Top 10 most innovative telecom operators in the Middle East

With Dubai-based Telecoms World Middle East in full swing, we chart the most innovative telcos from the region – and look at how they are transforming

Top 10 fastest-growing Indian companies in the UK

Business Chief takes a look at the top 10 fastest-growing Indian companies in the UK, according to the India Meets Britain Tracker from Grant Thornton

Top 10 workplaces prioritising people and planet in the UAE

Sustainable, flexible, collaborative, tech-driven, and amenities-rich, the office of the future considers both people and planet – here are 10 in the UAE

Top 10 female HR execs leading Saudi’s workplace transition

Leadership & Strategy

Top 10 largest asset managers by AUM operating in the UAE

Corporate Finance

Top 10 female CEOs leading Africa’s biggest businesses

Leadership & Strategy