By Dele Ogbodo
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said its participation at the October 2018 GITEX is a platform to attract investors
into Nigeria through showcasing 14 ready start-ups to international investors.
The participation of the startups at the annual event, the agency averred will afford them networking opportunities, partnerships and access to witness emerging technologies that are changing the world.
Mrs. Hadiza Umar, who is the Head Corporate Affairs and External Relations, admitted that the selection of the 14 startups was rigorously carried out in three stages with judges drawn from Government MDAs, Technology Hubs, academia, investors, professional associations and the ICT industry.
She said: “In the first stage, idea stage startups were disqualified, resulting into the short listing of 143 startups with technology products or technology enabled enterprises for the second stage.
“The second stage of the selection was a critical review of the successful stage one pitch decks based on criteria such as innovativeness, the startup is solving a real life problem, business model, traction, competitive advantage and team structure.
“ In the third and final stage, online pitching was conducted for two (2) startups from each region and the best six (6) startups emerged and represent the 6 geopolitical regions.
She listed the successful startups as: Arone (SE) – A technology, transport and logistics company to solve the problem of lack of accessibility to medical supplies. Beepower (NE) – The product allows the use of one single source to power up multiple devices with different power requirements.
Domenium (SS) – A solution designed to help police obtain evidence for crimes. Max (SW) – A technology, transport and logistics company that makes moto-taxis safe, efficient, and accessible to users in West Africa. Off-k.com (NW) – An online platform that helps students conveniently locate and securely pay for accommodation off campus.
Wattlinq (NC) – A power technology with a website which provides services that monitors and manages energy availability and usage in homes.
The startups, according to NITDA will undergo a one week bootcamp with seasoned resource persons in the ecosystem to equip them with state of the art skills to get the best of GITEX. To ensure continuous support of the ecosystem, the story for startups who did not make the GITEX list does not end there, 10 startups from the GITEX submission were selected to participate in Startup Friday, Abuja, which will take place on 30th October 2018. Twenty (20) more were selected for eNigeria, scheduled for 5-7th November, 2018.
“Both events will also provide startups opportunities to pitch to investors, sponsorship for incubation, training on key entrepreneurship skills, access to network and a cash prize for the best startups.” Umar said.