Dakar, Senegal – The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative has selected four winners for its Startup Boot Camp. More than 100 entrepreneurs from 10 African countries participated in the competition. In addition to cash awards totaling USD $4,000, the entrepreneur with the highest score (GIST Transformer) will travel to the U.S. in October 2012 to receive additional training and network with potential investors. Startup Boot Camp partners included CTIC Dakar, LIONS@FRICA and the African Development Bank. Startup Boot Camp winners:
- Amarante, GIST Transformer, $2,000; Amarante has created an application for the internet and mobile phone, Credit Multi Operateur, that allows users to purchase prepaid mobile phone credit from different telephone companies. Moustapha Kane is from Senegal.
- MLouma, Buntunteki Prize, $2,000; MLouma is an internet and mobile phone service which connects farmers to food purchasers by displaying real-time market food prices. Aboubacar Sidy Sonko is also from Senegal.
- eeZydeel ™, Second Prize, $1,500; eeZydeel allows any mobile subscriber to purchase or sell a variety of goods and services through text messages. Entrepreneurs upload their goods and services for consumers to view and purchase. Djack Ouattara is from Cote d’Ivoire.
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Farmerline Ltd., Third Prize, $500; Farmerline Ltd. provides timely agricultural information to rural Ghanaian farmers such as seed prices and how to treat diseased crops. Alloysius Attah is from Ghana.
The GIST Initiative is implemented by CRDF Global and is supported with
funding from the U.S. Department of State. More information on GIST and
the Startup Boot Camp is available at gistinitiative.org.
About CRDF Global
CRDF Global is an independent, nonprofit organization established in 1995 to promote international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources and training. CRDF Global has 16 years of experience managing international research funding programs and supporting emerging science and technology infrastructure in more than 30 countries.
About GIST
The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (
GIST) Initiative forges links at the individual and institutional levels among technology entrepreneurs, angel investors, and the marketplace to improve quality of life through economic prosperity. The GIST Initiative builds entrepreneurial ecosystems in 43 countries in the Middle East, Central & South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, by identifying, coaching and funding promising entrepreneurs through its competitions, start-up acceleration services, online social media platform, and interactive mentorship programs. The GIST Initiative is implemented by CRDF Global and funded by the U.S. Department of State.