Nairobi, Kenya – 21/03/2016

(For immediate release)

GrowthAfrica has announced their selection of high-impact entrepreneurs from 19 promising startups who made it into the new acceleration programmes in Kenya and Uganda.

• GrowthAfrica, the region’s leading accelerator, has announced their current cohort of innovative and scalable startups: out of nearly 500 applications, 8 startups in Kenya and 10 startups in Uganda were selected to participate in the two acceleration programmes in Kenya and Uganda respectively (Details about each of the selected startups follows at the end of this press release).
• GrowthAfrica has been working with startups and entrepreneurs in Kenya since 2002. With its’ 9^th accelerator programme it is expanding to Uganda, one of many more African countries to come over the next 5 years.
• The cohort-based acceleration programme in Kenya started on March 9, the one in Uganda on March 15. Both programmes will be 6 months and equip entrepreneurs with skills and knowledge on business and growth strategies, business models, and access to investment. The programmes will be led by experienced facilitators that were carefully selected out of GrowthAfrica’s vast pool of industry specialists, who understand the dynamics of running a business and can provide valuable insights to the selected entrepreneurs. Once advanced to GrowthAfrica’s alumni network, the entrepreneurs will continue to receive individualized support and strategic advice.
• The cohorts selected this year come from a variety of sectors such as agribusiness, ICT, fashion and cosmetics. Around half of all businesses participating in the accelerator programmes in Uganda and Kenya are run and/or founded by women.
• The entrepreneurs accepted into the programmes were selected after a rigorous multi-phase selection process which focused on the viability of their businesses, the strength of the teams, and their potential to solve challenges through innovative products and creative solutions.

For the 2016 GrowthAfrica accelerator programmes in Kenya and Uganda, the selected startups are:

FOR KENYA

• Luxury Leather Kenya creates luxury leather goods of outstanding quality for the global market, creating a high value chain addition to the local economy.
• Africartrack International offers an asset tracking, control and management system that helps monitor, track and manage assets at all times.
• Mboga Masters is a green grocer that specializes in wholesome foods and ethical farming methods that are combined with practical recipes and nutrition tips, to promote healthy eating.
• WAYO Company collects feedback, tracks performance and measures service delivery across various service points in real-time, helping service based organizations to operate more effectively.
• Marini Naturals is Kenya’s first natural and organic haircare line made out of finest ingredients and by African women, for the African woman.
• Haller Farmers App is a social enterprise teaching proven, pioneering, sustainable farming techniques to smallholder farmers in Kenya via mobile phone platform and was developed to scale and disseminate best agricultural practices.
• ZikoAfrika is a contemporary accessories brand made in Kenya by ethically certified workshops, and reflects both European and African styles for a modern take on traditional forms and materials whilst empowering small scale artisans.
• Ichaka Products produces the Bogani yogurt, a premium, high quality Greek and flavoured yogurt as well as cheese products that promote healthy living to the growing healthy-conscious middle class.

FOR UGANDA

• Amagara offers a wide range of natural skin care products enriched with 100% natural extracts from fruits, vegetables and other plants, all sourced from Ugandan farmers.
• SEB Engineering produces produces affordable and locally adaptable cooking stoves for households and institutions in Uganda and the Great Lakes region.
• Trans African Clean Energy and Agriculture Solutions (TACEAS) is a last-mile on demand sales and distribution company that enables renewable energy, and agriculture finance companies that have products for the base of the pyramid households, delivered at an affordable price.
• Tursam Investments produces fresh fruit juice made from purely organic raw materials for school kids.
• Clinic Master International provides an innovative web and mobile platform for health care institutions to manage their client information as well improve their patient care processes.
• Crested Superior produces mozzarella and cheddar cheese for the growing hospitality industry in Uganda with milk supplied by local dairy farmers.
• Pure Products produces safe, clean and affordable drinking water for many urban and peri-urban households in Uganda through its micro-franchise model.
• Yoza is a location-based laundry service app that helps users with dirty laundry find washers in any location.
• Round Bob is an online travel booking platform that makes it possible for users to afford travel through an integrated cost management tool that allows users to pay in instalments or save monthly towards a travel budget that users set.

About GrowthAfrica

• GrowthAfrica strategically supports high-impact, high-growth businesses that innovatively contribute to Africa’s social and economic progress in different sectors through cohort-based programmes, strategic advice and access to funding. Since its’ founding in 2002, GrowthAfrica has worked with over 1,800 local and international businesses, helped them raise USD 42 million and create 24,000 jobs in East Africa.

Tags: entrepreneurs, Innovation to Impact, Kenya, start-ups, uganda