Nigeria tops DEMO Africa 2016 applications as adjudication process continues

Nigeria had the highest number of applications at 217 on DEMO Africa 2016 out of the 723 applications that were submitted from the 46 countries for the 3 tier adjudication process.

Kenya followed at 154 applications while South Africa at 104 applications. Uganda managed to submit 23 applications, Cameroon 17, Ghana 16, Zimbabwe 14, Egypt and Tanzania 12, Ivory Coast 8, Ethiopia 7, Zambia and Rwanda submitted 6 applications each.

African diaspora entrepreneurs also participated with those in the US topping the list at 15 applications and Belgium 4. Applications were also received from other countries outside Africa and these include the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, South Korea, Costa Rica and Afghanistan.

131 start-ups were narrowed down from 723 applications that were submitted during its first round of adjudication.

“We are very excited at the response we received from the startups and startup owners. This goes to show how DEMO Africa is becoming a critical piece of the entrepreneurship development agenda in the continent,” said Mr. Harry Hare, Executive Director, DEMO Africa.

DEMO Africa 2016 got applications from 46 countries, a more than 30% increase from last year’s event which had attracted 26 countries.

“In the past four years, we have been reaching more people and more countries year on year, spreading the entrepreneurship spirit throughout the continent,” Mr. Hare continued.

Out of the 131 companies the judges will have to narrow down and identify only 30 companies who will then launch their products at the DEMO Africa platform in Johannesburg, South Africa on 25th and 26th August.

Twelve judges from across the continent are currently reviewing the applications and will later short list 50 startups that will then go into the next round of adjudication.

Speaking on the same, Mr. Mbugua Njihia, Event Director, DEMO Africa said, “We have developed a 3 tier adjudication process that makes sure we have the companies with the highest potential to have the opportunity to launch their business and products at the DEMO Africa platform.”

The adjudication process will continue until the end of June and the announcement of the final 30 is expected in the first week of July.