Tech News
The Best Ghanaian start-ups Search begins
Global innovation accelerators, Startupbootcamp (SBC), will be hosting a FastTrack in Accra, Ghana, on 22 June 2017 as part of their global tour to find the next big startup phenomenon.
Global innovation accelerators, Startupbootcamp (SBC), will be hosting a FastTrack in Accra, Ghana, on 22 June 2017 as part of their global tour to find the next big startup phenomenon.
A total of 16 FastTrack events are being held across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and startups can now apply until 20 June to present their ideas to mentors and sponsors for pre-application advice and feedback.
“The aim is to find and grow disruptive startups and connect them with dynamic corporates. We are fundamentally changing the ecosystem and seeing tangible results that validate our methodology. The more we engage the more excited we get at how much talent we unearth at these FastTracks,” shares Philip Kiracofe, co-MD of Startupbootcamp Cape Town.
“Over the years, the Ghanaian entrepreneurial space has seen a sharp rise in the number of creators and doers. Ideas aimed at solving basic problems and access to medical information, transportation services and even ideas in the food space have sharply been complimented by technology to give entreprenuers the competitive edge. The provision of services like co-working spaces, business advisory and government intervention through policy is set to position Ghana in a whole new light in terms of entrepreneurship. All these factors are making the Ghanaian entrepreneurship space attractive to not only African investors but global players. The time to invest in entrepreneurship in Ghana is now,” shares Andrew Bimpong (Co-Founder of Workshed Africa).
Beyond the FastTracks
Although FastTrack engagements are not a requirement to apply for the Startupbootcamp Accelerator, it is encouraged to apply. The final deadline for innovators and entrepreneurs to apply online for the accelerator is 9 July 2017.
From a pool of hundreds of applicants, the 10 most promising teams will be selected and provided with EUR 15,000, 100+ highly engaged industry mentors, free office space, access to funding and a network of industry partners, investors and venture capital firms. The 3-month bootcamp kicks off in September 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa, and will be led by seasoned innovation experts, Zachariah George, Philip Kiracofe, and Paul Nel.
Startupbootcamp CapeTown was initiated after a trend analysis found more than 160 applications to the global programme originated from African teams in 2016 alone.
How to apply?
Interested teams can apply to attend a FastTrack here.
Any mentors that would like to help with the FastTrack can apply here
Startups interested in applying to the 3-month Cape Town program can apply here
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Articles
A conference on blockchain and health is scheduled to be held at the Africa Blockchain Developers Call.
The Africa Blockchain Developers Call (ABDC) Pan-African Bootcamp on blockchain technology has declared its intention to hold a weekend conference on incorporating blockchain technology into Africa’s health sector.
In an attempt to execute comprehensive blockchain training sessions and promote the implementation of specially designed applications for different sectors in Africa, the Bootcamp, officially launched on 5 September, has taken on a host of African developers.
The Bootcamp also features virtual weekend conferences on many use-cases for blockchain. These conferences are aimed at encouraging creative and comprehensive discussions on the implementation of blockchain technology in Africa, including platform presentations by businesses and panel sessions on many Blockchain issues. The first meeting, focusing on Blockchain in Finance, took place on September 5. It featured a keynote speech given by Professor Anicia Peters, University of Namibia Pro-Vice Chancellor for Science, Innovation and Development.
The next conference, scheduled to take place on October 3rd, will focus on the theme: Blockchain in Health. The keynote speech will be given by Arnab Paul, President of the Kolkata Chapter in India. Several organizations and startups will also give platform presentations via their representatives based on medical use cases for blockchain technology.
Health
HealthPlus is experiencing a power struggle 2 years after obtaining $18 m from Alta Semper Capital
A press release apparently released on September 25 by the Board of HealthPlus, one of the largest integrated pharmacy chains in West Africa, confirmed that the company no longer needed the services of its founder, Bukky George, as CEO.
The decision to terminate the appointment of George came with the announcement of Chidi Okoro, the interim leader.
Okoro, a renowned pharmacist and management executive, is to take on the position of Chief Officer of Transformation. Okoro, akin to the position of a CEO, can simplify day-to-day management, help the company scale, and achieve profitability.
And a letter that appears to be from the board of HealthPlus to the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) states that George “remains a shareholder of the company, a member of the board of the company, and may engage at board level in the company’s decision-making process.”
Afsane Jetha and Zachary Fond, Managing Partner & CEO, and Director of Alta Semper Capital, respectively, have signed it off.
From investment and partnership to a fight for power
Alta Semper Capital LLP is a private equity (PE) company that invests in Africa-wide healthcare and consumer businesses. In 2017, the PE company invested in Macro Pharma, a medicated cosmetics company in Egypt.
It made deals with HealthPlus and the Moroccan oncology and radiology clinic, Oncologie et Radiologie du Maroc (ODM), the following year.
The HealthPlus investment was $18 million.
HealthPlus, founded by George in 1999, has expanded to more than 90 retail outlets, employing over 850 employees, including more than 150 pharmacists. In Nigeria, the company claims to be present in 11 of the 36 states in the world.
Operating branches in strategically placed suburban areas, airports, and shopping malls are also recognized.
Alta Semper Capital ‘s investment was to help HealthPlus grow its store footprint. In addition, to attract more talent, grow fulfillment centers and pursue initiatives in eCommerce.
The cash inflow, however, is said to have given the PE firm a majority stake in the company, which is one of the reasons why the company is facing problems at the moment.
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A conference on blockchain and health is scheduled to be held at the Africa Blockchain Developers Call.
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