In early February 2020 the Tuverl team won the Georgetown African Business Conference Pitch Competition, held at the Georgetown University’s McDonough Business School in Washington DC, USA. GTABC and Young African Professionals DC Network partner each year to put on a pitch competition in conjunction with the conference. The competition brings in startups from across the African continent and the Diaspora, giving them the chance to present to a panel of judges.
The Georgetown’s 5th annual Africa Business Conference – both a signature event of the University and a unique student-led collaboration between the McDonough School of Business and the Walsh School of Foreign Service’s African Studies Program. Each conference has built upon the ones before it, bringing together business and policy leaders, mixing in the dynamism and innovation of students and startup founders, and helping shape conversations around business across the African continent.
The goal has always remained the same; showcasing the growth and impact of the private sector across the African continent and facilitating a discussion on the opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed to continue this success.
There were 5 finalists that included Tuverl represented by the CEO Hope Ndhlovu, BatteryXchange represented its CMO Aubrey Yeboah, HealthCare Mobile represented its CEO Jennie Nwokoye, MedPay represented by its Co-Founder Jose Zefu Kimpalou, and Nutritional Energy represented by its Founder: Batel Teka.
BatteryXchange is a mobile application that helps cellphone users stay connected and fully charged by locating nearby kiosk machines that dispense portable batteries for users to rent while on-the-go.
HealthCare Mobile is a USSD application that allows users to register, connect, and pay for available Community Health Workers within their communities to provide home based primary care services.
MEDpay is a safe and secure medical payment platform to ease health remittances between money senders (diasporas) and care providers to support family members and relatives in their home countries.
Nutritional energy bar that incorporates teff—an ancient grain native to Ethiopia that is high in protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. It’s a unique, incredibly delicious, and satisfying snack with a mission to donate 10% of profits towards education in Ethiopia.
Each venture was rated on the following on a scale from 1-5 with 1= poor and 5= very good. Each pitch will be five minutes followed by three minutes of question and answer period from judges. Judges include practitioners in Emerging Markets Impact Investing and Serial Entrepreneurs focused on building inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Business Description: Clearly details the venture, what it does, and its sustainability.
- The Solution: Solves the stated problem, is viable and practical.
- Market Analysis/Product/Service: The product or service is innovative and has a unique value proposition compared to products/services in the market.
- Revenue: The presenters provide an adequate financial overview, addresses the resources required for the venture, and offers a reasonable and long-term profitability.
- Customers: Target market is specific, reachable, and right for the solution.
- Presentation: Pitch was clear, concise, compelling, and delivered within the time limit.
The First Place Prize was US$5,000 and included 3 months of I/O Spaces coworking membership. The Second Place Prize was US$2,500. The People’s Choice included 2 round trip Air Maroc plane tickets + free membership to Mansa Colabs peer-to-peer mentoring group and 3 hours of free coaching
Sponsors of the Conference and Pitch Competition included YAP DC,
Afrexim Bank, Kosmos Energy, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Moroc, Corporate
Council on Africa,