VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update
Two Nigerian startups have emerged winners in the final awards at #LEAP2023, Saudi Arabia, strengthening the country’s position as the leading startup hub in Africa.
Nigeria participated in six categories; and won two out of the six globally categorised pitches while taking the 2nd spot in another category.
Each winner has $150,000 in their kitty to boost their startup vision among other supports that include mentorship and early exposure to wider markets.
Sponsored by Digital Cooperation Organisation, the Nigerian team to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was led by Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
Over 10,000 Startups submitted applications from different countries.
After rigorous scrutiny, the applicants were down to 220, and only 90 startups were selected to pitch their business ideas in the semi-final.
Eight Nigerian Startups participated at the semi-final, and three reached the final stage.
Tech Agro Firm
RiceAfrika Technologies – is a tech-driven agric optimisation startup that deploys IoT-enabled harvester and its FARMEasy mobile app for smallholder farming communities in Africa.
RiceAfrika believes Africa can feed itself and feed the world. It emerged as the global best in ‘The Tech for Humanity Award’ category and is coming home with 150,000 dollars.
Decentralising the Internet
The second winner, Wicrypt – An innovative Tech startup aimed at decentralising the internet globally, has a custom OS and hardware that allows users to share data with people around them and charge an affordable rate.
The firm also won 150,000 dollars after he was announced as the global best in the ‘The Into New World Award’ category.
About 90 global startups fought for the chance to be one of the 15 nascent businesses selected to pitch before a judging panel consisting of Shark Tank India’s Ghazal Alagh, Baroness Karren Brady, aide to popular entrepreneurship tv show owner, ‘The Apprentice’ Alan Sugar, Saudi angel investor Tala Al Jabri, and Dragon’s Den stars James Caan and Steven Bartlett.
LEAP23 is touted as the world’s most visionary and valuable technology event with a prize purse of US$1.54 million for winning-startups.
The event hosted a raft of global celebrities and tech industry luminaries ranging from music icon will.i.am and Carles Puyol to Amin H Nassr, CEO of Aramco, and Jae Sook Evans, Chief Information Officer at Oracle.