DEMO Africa shortlists 35 companies for final vetting

DEMO Africa has today unveiled a list of 35 companies shortlisted from a  pool of 956 corporate applicants in 29 African countries that will undergo the final vetting to launch their products at this year’s launch event in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Pleased with the diversity and quality of applications received, Harry Hare, Executive Director and Producer of DEMO Africa said: “We received a total of 956 applications this year, which is about 20 percent more than last year.” Among the major verticals that filed their applications ranged from health, agriculture, trade and commerce, manufacturing, hospitality and entertainment, banking and finance.

“We received a total of 956 applications this year, which is about 20 percent more than last year.”

Harry Hare, Executive Director Producer of DEMO Africa,

The 35 shortlisted companies are spread over 10 countries with South Africa leading with 10 applicants followed closely by Nigeria which has 9.  Kenya has 7 contestants while two separate applicants represent Ghana and Zimbabwe.  Botswana, Cameroun, Egypt, Senegal and Uganda all have one representative on the shortlist.

Regional Innovation Tours

These startups will now undergo a due diligence process out of which 26 startups will make it to the final. “From this pool, we will pick 26 startups that will join 4 other startups, picked from the regional Innovation tours that ran between March and July this year,” Hare said.

According to Hare interaction encouraged more startups to apply and stand an opportunity to be amongst the top thirty-five who will get a chance on the world class stage to interact with an ecosystem of VCs, investors, tech acquisition specialists, IT buyers and media from across the region and around the globe.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the startups, partners and judges who took part in this process and want to congratulate the startups who have made it this far,” he concluded.