Ten African startups have been shortlisted for the regional final of the prestigious Latitude59 pitch competition. The ultimate winner from this stage will represent Africa at the main event in Tallinn, Estonia, competing for a remarkable prize pool of EUR 1 million (US$1.1 million).
Techmoonshot reported last month Latitude59 was seeking early-stage startups from across Africa to compete for the chance to pitch at the next edition of its pitch competition. Latitude59, known as Estonia’s premier startup and technology gathering, celebrated its 12th edition in May, drawing an impressive 3,500 participants, including over 900 startup representatives and nearly 600 investors. Earlier, Latitude59 announced its search for promising early-stage African startups to vie for a spot at the global finals, reinforcing its commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship on a global scale.
This year, the competition received an overwhelming 382 applications spanning 37 countries across Africa. Ten standout startups will pitch their ideas at the African regional final in Kenya on November 28, following a rigorous selection process. This event will significantly determine the continent’s representative for next year’s global showdown in Tallinn.
Eight of the selected ventures hail from Kenya, showcasing the country’s vibrant innovation landscape. These include Eco Nasi, a company transforming pineapple waste into vegan leather, and Grekkon, which scales moisture sensors for smallholder farmers. NoMa, a digital platform enhancing school transportation systems, and Paycloud, which empowers MSMEs with financial solutions such as payments and credit, also made the list.
Other Kenyan representatives include Roadrims, focused on cost-effective logistics; Twiva, a social commerce enabler; VunaPay, which facilitates instant payments to farmers; and Zerobionic, a developer of robotic arms designed for students with hearing impairments.
Furthermore, joining them are two startups from Nigeria and Tanzania. Nigeria’s AcemyX is revolutionizing exam preparation with a personalized learning management system, while Tanzania’s Afya Mama provides accessible maternal and reproductive health solutions via SMS and web apps.
| Startup Name | Country | Focus Area | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco Nasi | Kenya | Sustainable Materials | Transforms pineapple pulp waste into high-quality vegan leather. |
| Grekkon | Kenya | Agricultural Technology | Provides moisture sensors to help smallholder farmers optimize water usage. |
| NoMa | Kenya | EdTech/Transport | Digitizes school transportation to improve safety and efficiency. |
| Paycloud | Kenya | FinTech | Builds a neobank to enable MSMEs to pay, get paid, and access credit through payment aggregation. |
| Roadrims | Kenya | Logistics | Offers reliable, efficient, and cost-effective logistics solutions. |
| Twiva | Kenya | Social Commerce | Empowers businesses with a platform to sell and market via social networks. |
| VunaPay | Kenya | FinTech | Provides instant payments to farmers to streamline agricultural transactions. |
| Zerobionic | Kenya | Robotics | Develops human-like robotic arms to support students with hearing impairments. |
| AcemyX | Nigeria | EdTech | A learning management system helping students prepare for exams with personalized tools. |
| Afya Mama | Tanzania | HealthTech | Provides maternal and reproductive health answers through SMS and web apps. |
In conclusion, this regional final is a critical step in showcasing Africa’s entrepreneurial potential and serves as a platform for these startups to gain global recognition and opportunities.
