The winner of the CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa 2021 competition is Emata, a Ugandan fintech that provides farmers with digital and affordable financial products.
14 fintech startups were chosen from 163 applicants from 29 countries for the 2021 edition of CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa.
The following 14 startups were chosen for The CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa 2021:
- Emata (Uganda)
- Mosabi (Sierra Leone)
- Nokwary Technologies (Ghana)
- Moja Bank (Ivory Coast)
- AWABAH (Nigeria)
- Mipango (Tanzania)
- Igugu Global (Nigeria)
- Chromepay (Israel)
- Kotani Pay (Kenya)
- Juakali (France)
- RePay.Africa (Kenya)
- Crop2Cash (Nigeria)
- Asilimia France (France)
- Vooli Insurtech (Kenya)
Every #CATAPULTAfrica startup is a winner, and joins a family of alumni we're incredibly proud of, but 1st place this year goes to…
🏆 @Emata_UG – Congratulations team! 🎉
Well done to runners up @mosabi, @nokwary, and the rest of the cohort who ALL impressed the jury. 👏 pic.twitter.com/h17A257whv
— CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa (@CTPInclusion) May 27, 2021
CATAPULT’s runner-up: is Mosabi, a fintech/edtech hybrid founded in Sierra Leone, unlocks financial potential through innovative learning.
Nokwary Technologies, a Ghanaian startup that develops voice-based interfaces for financial services with the goal of facilitating financial inclusion for the technologically illiterate, came in second place.
The LHoFT Foundation organized and conducted the ten-day online bootcamp, which was sponsored by Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs’ Directorate for Development and Humanitarian Affairs and supported by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) and other key strategic partners.
Bamboo Partners, TLG Capital, ZedCrest Capital, Rising Tide Africa, Outlierz, Angaza Capital, Anza Capital, Baobab Group, Beyond Capital, Advans, CRE VC, DRK Foundation, AfricInvest, Triodos Capital, and Sherpa Africa Partners supported the fourteen ventures this year, focusing on investment readiness.
The digital bootcamp came to a close with an online final pitch session that drew all of the program’s partners and supporters, as well as an audience of 100 people, where the fourteen companies gave their final pitches, based on the feedback they received from the program’s partners, experts, and mentors over the course of the ten days.
The LHoFT awarded Emata €5,000 in prize money, as well as free admission and lodging to the forthcoming “African MicroFinance Week” in October 2021. (provided by ADA).
More also, The LHoFT provided a one-year complimentary membership to all fourteen fintechs who participated in the bootcamp.
CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa 2021 sought to help fintech startups improve financial inclusion on the African continent. The bootcamp functioned as a business bridge between Africa and Europe, allowing fintechs to engage with a global network of investors and venture capitalists.
Business model mapping, investment preparedness, fundraising and capital raising, social impact, scaling strategy, team building, operational management, and pitch development were among the subjects covered during the CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa bootcamp.
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