Pivot East 2014 Full List of Finalists

m:lab East Africa has announced the 25 Finalists For Pivot East 2014.

The 25 were were picked from the 50 semifinalists picked some 3 weeks ago. The 25 are categorized in 5 categories of 5 each to pitch at the pitching conference which will be held at an undisclosed location in Nairobi Kenya on the 24th and 25th of June.

Pivot East 2014 Finalists

Finance category

• Valuraha (Kenya): It simulates Kenya’s financial ecosystem and enables students to interact with it using virtual money enhancing investor education.
• Chamasoft (Kenya): A group management platform which manages administration of chamas, allowing them to concentrate on investment rather than administration.
• Chura (Kenya): Chura connects a mobile user to all networks and their services from a single SIM card.
• Beyonic (Uganda): Our mission is to eliminate cash by creating the best solutions that enable business to make payments using mobile money – Uganda
• Ensibuuko (Uganda): Leveraging on mobile and web technologies to improve access to finance for small holder rural farmers

Enterprise category

• Thinvoid (Uganda): ThinVoid implements solutions & strategy that accelerate data collection.
• Online Hisab (Ethiopia): Online Hisab is a cloud-based accounting package for Ethiopian SMEs, who are looking for an affordable and easy to use accounting solution.
• Buymore (Kenya): Buymore offers student discounts that enhance user retail experience and push foot fall to merchants.
• ASim Mobile (Kenya) ASim Mobile is a supply chain mobile solution integrated seamlessly with most popular accounting, ERP apps in the world
• Offers Africa (Kenya): Is a digital and dynamic marketing platform for businesses, which benefit from a dedicated platform to manage their marketing activities.

Entertainment category

• Safari Tales (Kenya): Safari Tales is an edutainment android mobile application for children to access Digital African Narratives & learn African Languages.
• Muva Studios (Kenya): Muva Studios develops small engaging games for low-end devices and high end devices to cover the larger market.
• Momentum Core (Kenya): Momentum Core develops simulation and entertainment games for the growing need by the environment around the globe.
• MapJam (Kenya): MapJam brings offline businesses and events online. They make it possible for anyone to perform or to sell wherever they see fit, and to find the things or talents they are searching for, when & where they wish.
• UbongoKids (Tanzania): Ubongo Kids is a multiplatform, interactive edu-cartoon with SMS interaction broadcasting on TV to kids in Tanzania & online for kids around the world.

Utilities category

• Maramoja Transport (Kenya): Maramoja is Kenyan social enterprise dedicated to providing easy access to safe, reliable transport services through your mobile device.
• Gari Sms (Kenya): GARI SMS links car buyer and seller using SMS. The seller registers the car details (including price) via SMS then puts a ‘GARI SMS sticker’ on the car. When the buyer spots the sticker, he knows the car is on sale. The prospective buyer then queries the car details by sending the car’s registration number to an SMS shortcode which then sends the details as per the seller’s description.
• Mavazi (Kenya): Mavazi is an application that provides an easy way for users to digitally organize their closet and plan what to wear by cataloging and selecting from their items. They also get to share the styles they’ve put together with their friends and hear from them.
• Sendy (Kenya): A platform for on-demand errands. With the tap of a button, we instantly connect senders and riders and enable payments via mobile phones
• Mafundi (Kenya): Mafundi is a web and mobile startup that connects home and office owners with broken items to the best technicians around to repair their items by selecting the best rated in their area then contacting them to fix their items.

Society category

• SokoNect (Kenya): SokoNect uses mobile technology and the Kenyan County govt to reduce farmers post harvest losses and maximize profits by eliminating Brokers. SokoNect enables farmers to upload information about availability of their produce for sale enabling buyers to prepare enough package materials.
• Totohealth (Kenya): TotoHealth enables hospitals and organizations to communicate and provide targeted information on antenatal & postnatal care using low-cost phones.
• SokoText (Kenya): SokoText uses SMS based pre-ordering service to make it easier for small fruit and vegetable sellers in slums to get their daily stock. SokoText is a social enterprise based in Mathare slum in Nairobi.
• Zapmedic by Bitways Limited (Uganda): Zapmedia is an online medical appointment scheduling service with a primary goal of improving access to health care by helping patients find healthcare practitioners online in an easy and convenient way
• Moquestions (Uganda): Moquestion is an online question bank with a purpose of connecting learning institutions with people around the world.

The list of finalists was picked by investors ranging from venture capital firms, angel investors to impact investors.

Here is the selection criteria used to pick the 25 finalists:

• The startups’ customer plan as demonstrated
• Opportunity and customer segments
• The solution and it’s fit to the problem
• Revenue model
• Analysis of the competitive landscape

Other metrics that were used to gauge the market potential of the startups include:

• Team composition
• Commitment
• Current market traction
• Projection for Milestones and Key metrics
• Pitch videos and demo videos also played a part in the selection.

Moving onward, the finalists will receive training, coaching and mentorship in the coming weeks to assist them improve vital things like business models and startups positioning for the conference audience. These sessions will also be open to the startups who missed the cut.

More information about the finalists can be obtained Here