Simplifyd, a Nigerian startup aiming to become Africa’s go-to platform for data-free internet access, has received US$500,000 in pre-seed funding and announced the launching of ZeroData, its toll-free internet application platform.
Simplifyd, founded in 2020 by Tomi Amao, Mayowa Amao, Sam Keiru, and Abiola Fajimi, aims to address the issues of obtaining affordable data in the face of the soaring pace of data consumption, particularly among mobile and online app users in growing countries across Africa.
Founder and CEO Tomi Amao noted that ZeroData was born from a desire to address Africa’s pressing data affordability issue, as well as from a goal to promote greater digital inclusion in Africa.
“ZeroData is intended for customers who have active data plans as well as those who do not.” The data plan of customers who have an active data plan is not used while they use the program. “Our software also allows users who do not have active data plans to have continuous access to the internet apps featured on the platform,” he said.
Users merely need to download the ZeroData app, which is accessible for both Android and Windows (macOS and Windows).
This gives them data-free access to the apps and websites on the list. Businesses can also bundle data with their apps on the ZeroData platform to make them more accessible and data-free for those who need it most.
Future Africa and Y Combinator have both given the firm over US$500,000 in pre-seed capital after Simplifyd was accepted for the W22 batch of the renowned Silicon Valley-based accelerator alongside a slew of other African startups.
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