The Baobab Network backs 5 new start-ups across Africa
Meet Cohort 3, 2022
The Baobab Network, a Nairobi-based accelerator that backs early-stage tech companies across Africa, is excited to announce five new investments.
This new cohort includes companies in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania, and takes The Baobab Network’s total portfolio size to 35. Each of the new companies received $50,000 USD in funding.
Wanjiku Kimani, Admissions lead at The Baobab Network, said that “We are really proud of this cohort. Each team is made of excellent executors who are trying to solve big problems within their markets. We have seen their ability to make exponential progress in a short amount of time and we think that with our support and funding. They are now ready to scale rapidly.”
More details on the five new companies can be found below:
- Medikea (Tanzania) is a patient-centric telemedicine platform that offers full patient autonomy via on-demand consultation, at-home tests and diagnostics enabling individuals to seek care conveniently, spend less money and save time.
- Vutia (Kenya) is a B2B cosmetic marketplace that seamlessly connects informal retailers of cosmetics, beauty, and personal products with top brands and suppliers.
- Tripitaca (Kenya) is a travel tech company building the Shopify with embedded financing for Africa’s 26 million travel small and medium businesses. The platform enables accommodation providers to increase their revenue by improving occupancy rates, as well as providing them with an operating system and access to affordable financial services.
- Messenger (Nigeria) is a last-mile service providing end-to-end logistics and supply chain solutions for clients in cities across Nigeria.
- Swahilies (Tanzania) is an SME book-keeping platform that allows SMEs to record their transactions (sales, spending, debts) and manage their businesses as well as send and receive payments.
Each company received a cash injection of $50,000 USD and a programme of bespoke and expert-led venture support. Through demo day they got access to leading angels and VCs, both in Africa and around the world.
“As The Baobab Network team, we are dedicated to finding the best early-stage startups on the continent before anyone else. This will be supported by our rich insights and overview of the market as well the deep relationships that we have formed with founder networks across the continent,” said Wanjiku.
The Baobab Network’s Head of Ventures, Christine Namara said that, “It will never stop amazing us the kind of talent, vision and focus that founders on the continent come almost pre-loaded with. This cohort has really shown us the hustle and we are already seeing that pay off in the amount of growth and investor interest.”
“For any founders that are looking for a long-term partner to support them through their journey, we’d highly encourage you to apply to our programme. You will join a strong community of the best founders on the continent,” said Wanjiku.
Namara also concluded by saying, “The Baobab Network has always been very clear about its vision. We are here to back great African founders, not only by putting in time but also by opening the necessary doors and coming with the local context. The accelerator reflects this. We are built for African founders and continue to build them.”
The Baobab Network backs 5 new start-ups across Africa
Meet Cohort 3, 2022
The Baobab Network, a Nairobi-based accelerator that backs early-stage tech companies across Africa, is excited to announce five new investments.
This new cohort includes companies in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania, and takes The Baobab Network’s total portfolio size to 35. Each of the new companies received $50,000 USD in funding.
Wanjiku Kimani, Admissions lead at The Baobab Network, said that “We are really proud of this cohort. Each team is made of excellent executors who are trying to solve big problems within their markets. We have seen their ability to make exponential progress in a short amount of time and we think that with our support and funding, they are now ready to scale rapidly.”
More details on the five new companies can be found below:
- Medikea (Tanzania) is a patient-centric telemedicine platform that offers full patient autonomy via on-demand consultation, at-home tests and diagnostics enabling individuals to seek care conveniently, spend less money and save time.
- Vutia (Kenya) is a B2B cosmetic marketplace that seamlessly connects informal retailers of cosmetics, beauty, and personal products with top brands and suppliers.
- Tripitaca (Kenya) is a travel tech company building the Shopify with embedded financing for Africa’s 26 million travel small and medium businesses. The platform enables accommodation providers to increase their revenue by improving occupancy rates, as well as providing them with an operating system and access to affordable financial services.
- Messenger (Nigeria) is a last-mile service providing end-to-end logistics and supply chain solutions for clients in cities across Nigeria.
- Swahilies (Tanzania) is an SME book-keeping platform that allows SMEs to record their transactions (sales, spending, debts) and manage their businesses as well as send and receive payments.
Each company received a cash injection of $50,000 USD and a programme of bespoke and expert-led venture support. Through demo day they got access to leading angels and VCs, both in Africa and around the world.
“As The Baobab Network team, we are dedicated to finding the best early-stage startups on the continent before anyone else. This will be supported by our rich insights and overview of the market as well the deep relationships that we have formed with founder networks across the continent,” said Wanjiku.
The Baobab Network’s Head of Ventures, Christine Namara said “It will never stop amazing us the kind of talent, vision and focus that founders on the continent come almost pre-loaded with. This cohort has really shown us the hustle and we are already seeing that pay off in the amount of growth and investor interest.”
“For any founders that are looking for a long-term partner to support them through their journey, we’d highly encourage you to apply to our programme. You will join a strong community of the best founders on the continent,” said Wanjiku.
Namara also concluded by saying, “The Baobab Network has always been very clear about its vision. We are here to back great African founders, not only by putting in time but also by opening the necessary doors and coming with the local context. The accelerator reflects this. We are built for African founders and continue to build them.”