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The 30, the Mighty, the Future:
Unveiling the Top 30 Startups Revolutionizing Innovation in Three African Countries
Africa‘s talent pool is constantly evolving with a myriad of innovative solutions from its younger population. UNDP’s Meet the Toshikas, one of the many revealing efforts to promote sustainable growth through innovation across the region opened an opportunity for young entrepreneurs in South Africa, Zambia, and Angola. We are excited to introduce the top 30 startups from the Meet the Toshikas program from a total of 256 applications received. 10 startups that demonstrated exceptional potential and innovation in addressing crucial issues were drawn from each of the following three countries.
Today, the veil is lifted on the 30 most promising startups selected from a highly competitive selection process. These groundbreaking ventures, spanning critical sectors like mobility, logistics, agriculture, fintech, and healthcare, are brimming with the potential to revolutionize our world.
After weeks of independent, rigorous, and competitive selection process, the top 30 startups that demonstrated unique strengths and solutions were chosen to attend the intensive training Bootcamp and their startup facilities were visited by the Meet the Toshikas team during the Field Trip and Ecosystem events which featured UNDP officials, government agencies, Double Feather Partners - Key implementation partner, and local partners: Acelera Angola in Angola, Grindstone in South Africa, BongoHive in Zambia, and Japanese investors: Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, Samurai Incubate Africa, and TSI Japan. The 30 selected startups participated fully in the “UNDP Meet the Toshikas -Startup Ecosystem Events” in their respective countries and pitched in front of key stakeholders, including local investors. A total of 210 people from three countries attended that event.
These 30 startups are not just about profit; they are driven by a deep desire to create a better future. They represent a generation of passionate entrepreneurs committed to solving real-world problems and making a positive impact on society. The UNDP congratulates the top 30 startups and expresses her luck to remaining startups that could not make it into the top 30 list.
These top 30 startups will further be screened and examined thoroughly to select the top 6 – 2 from each country. The selection committee’s participation in the field trip and the ecosystem event, and their visit to each startup, together with the feedback on each startup from the BootCamp Training will be key grading metrics for deciding the top 6 for an intensive investment readiness support program which will include a visit to Tokyo, Japan.
Stay tuned as we share more about these remarkable startups and their journeys through the Meet the Toshikas program!
For now, here are the standout startups from Zambia, Angola, and South Africa that made it to the Top 30.
