American multinational technology company, Microsoft, through its 4Afrika initiative, is investing in start-ups that are using technology solutions to improve lives and drive Africa’s digital transformation. The Microsoft 4Afrika, launched in 2013, supports startups in their digital transformation journeys through programmes like MySkills4Afrika and Interns4Afrika.
Some of these startups include MAX, Flutterwave and Riby. They are providing solutions to facilitate mobility, online payment and savings in Nigeria, respectively.
The achievements of the three start-ups since they began operations were showcased at a fireside chat in Lagos.
The Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder at MAX, Chinedu Azodoh, described the enterprise as a platform connecting businesses and consumers to safe motorcycle taxis on-demand in areas known for traffic congestion in Lagos.
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Through the business, he said 500 partner-riders had been trained, employed and financially included into the banking system.
“We provide bikes that can reach anywhere in the city. We document a credit history and create safety scores for our partner-riders,” he said.
Also, Chief Executive Officer of Riby, Salami Abolore, described Riby as a fintech company providing financial management services to cooperatives and helping the groups and their individual members to save, borrow and invest.
“Cooperatives are not recognised because they are not financially included. The unique selling proposition is to digitise the process, validate the cooperatives and issue ATM cards to members,” Abolore added.
Meanwhile, the Vice-President, Product Engineering, Flutterwave Inc, Azeez Oluwafemi, in his remarks said the company provides the infrastructure that facilitates online payment across African and other continents and has achieved about 30 million transactions.
He said the Flutterwave team benefited from Microsoft cloud services, sales training and internship programme, which had accelerated their operations.
“We created a platform to connect people to the rest of the world and facilitate remittances at affordable rates,” he added.
The Microsoft 4Afrika Programme, continues to provide support to startups in their journey towards profitability and enhanced productivity through community events and key ecosystem activities.
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