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- May 11, 2013
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GOOGLE LOGO AT THE GOOGLE HEADQUARTERS IN MOUNTAIN VIEW. PHOTO | AFP
Kenya’s Database Management System (DMS) is among six Sub-Saharan Africa IT startups selected for mentorship at Google’s Launchpad Accelerator programme.
DMS seeks to replace informal wholesale markets for millions of small and medium sized food and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) retailers in Africa’s urban markets by providing them with a sourcing and distribution tech-enabled platform.
Google’s SSA developer relations programme manager John Kimani said homegrown mobile web products were the way to go since Kenyans were best placed to address their own challenges by formulating the right mobile apps that they are willing to pay a small fee to use in solving problems.
“Africa’s ICT infrastructure is on the rise and it is encouraging to see Kenyan youth taking up such an opportunity that will expose them to a like-minded elite community of startups around the world,” said Mr Kimani.
Nigeria had three startups; Delivery Science, Gidi Mobile Limited and Paystack selected, while South Africa has two; Flatterwave and Jumo.
The statement said makers of the selected startups will receive a two-week all-expenses paid trip to kick-off training at the new Google Developers Launchpad Space in San Francisco, USA.
Google said it will provide the startups with accomplished mentors to prepare products for the market as well as nurture the owners’ skills on upscaling products.
“The startups also get access to free credits for Google products and marketing (spotlight) opportunities as well as equity-free funding during the course of the six-month programme,” said Mr Kimani.
To qualify for the selection tech startups must have a product targeting their local markets with proven market fit.
The selection process considers the problem the startup is trying to solve, how it creates commercial value and at the same time addresses a real challenge in the startup’s home country.
Launchpad Accelerator, which was launched in 2015, seeks to promote mobile apps development in specific countries where platforms are used to solve known problems with users willing to pay a small fee to access the solution.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/...entorship--/539550-3940814-jb7m7wz/index.html
