- 3 months ago
Africatech Awards
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TechTranscript
00:00Good afternoon, so we are here for a moment which is quite exceptional because we are celebrating the start-ups
00:11in Africa and this is something which is extremely dear to my heart because since the inception of VivaTech I
00:23absolutely wanted to have Africa celebrated
00:28for their start-ups, the energy of the entrepreneurs and everything which goes with when it comes to this ecosystem
00:41which is so critically important for the future.
00:44Maktar Diop is with me this evening and Maktar has been absolutely essential in the definition and the reality of
01:00this event.
01:01Maktar Diop is the managing director of IFC and he has been instrumental on making the Africa Tech award happening.
01:17Maktar, maybe first a few words about yourself. You have been with World Bank, you have been investing in a
01:27lot of areas and now you are concentrating on the start-ups. Why?
01:35Thank you so much Maurice and it's a huge pleasure to be here with you because start to bring solutions,
01:42very adapted solutions to the continent.
01:46Our primary goal is to ensure that we are solving people's problems and it's not obvious in the context and
01:54in the ecosystem which are very different from where those solutions have been elaborated to make them efficient.
02:01So, first of all, I would like to thank you because at that time nobody really believes in Africa Tech,
02:06you are the one who called me and said Maktar, we need to do something.
02:09So, also credit, go to Maurice. I have nothing to do with that. So, please, a round of applause to
02:14Maurice for his really leadership on it.
02:16And the reason why is that we need to solve problems and Africa doesn't have a time to waste.
02:22So, when you look at financial fintech, for instance, everybody was worrying how you can do financial inclusion in Africa.
02:31And if you want to follow the traditional way of doing it with banks, etc., we take a lot of
02:37time.
02:38M-PESA was created, people tested new regulation and now we know that M-PESA is very known worldwide and
02:46it's been exported outside the continent.
02:48The same applications are now being developed in various sectors.
02:52But more importantly, countries now are becoming more and more aware that they need to do more of it in
02:59West Africa, in East Africa.
03:01So, we are seeing a movement in that area.
03:05Maktar, we are building this partnership since more than a year.
03:12And I remember when we had that discussion at the time of the pandemic.
03:17You remember there was a time where there was a pandemic and we had to speak through videos.
03:25Why have you accepted to deal with VivaTech? Because we are such a small thing.
03:34You know, Maurice, saying that VivaTech is a small thing is like saying a dinosaur is a gazelle.
03:42Okay, you are really the…
03:46You mean that I am a dinosaur?
03:48No, I say that you are the reference point when you talk about technology.
03:54And more importantly, Paris is a place in a…
03:58Actually, I just want to tell you that I am putting a hub here of IFC to work on tech.
04:03Because this is a place to be if you want to be in Europe and develop an ecosystem.
04:09And what is the beauty of Paris and the VivaTech and the Station F and all these activities is that
04:16there is a point of connection between different places.
04:20Middle East and Europe, Africa and Europe, United States and Europe.
04:26And I think that this is where we will be able to mobilize resources.
04:30Second thing, after this, and I'm going back to big investors in Africa.
04:37And I'm telling them, you need to put money in startups.
04:40I love that because I have heard you yesterday saying that African billionaires, African entrepreneurs should invest in Africa startups.
04:54Absolutely, because what is happening today…
04:56No, I repeat it.
04:57Making sure that they are listening.
05:00And I look at the camera.
05:01Big money in Africa invests in startups.
05:06Because…
05:09And why is it important?
05:12Because today you are seeing more and more fans from the US, from Europe, scanning the continent and looking at
05:20the innovation of a young startup in Africa
05:25and taking those businesses and evaluating it much more.
05:29So what in fact is happening in an area where Capex is very small, like the Capex, your Capex is
05:36your brain in this area.
05:37We are very well placed to develop this sector in Africa.
05:43And look at the solution that we are talking about.
05:46We are talking about people about genomics.
05:49We are talking about health.
05:51We are talking about climate change.
05:53We are talking about e-waste.
05:54We are talking about a lot of things.
05:55And I think that Africa can really make a big difference.
06:00We just need to believe in this crowd of very young people.
06:04Lastly, you guys in startups here, in France, it's important to connect with the ecosystem on the continent.
06:14Because you'll be surprised with the new ideas that are coming from startups in Africa and what you can learn
06:21and how you can enrich your ability to provide products much more adapted to the reality in France.
06:27When we look at Africa, there is a lot of issues which are even more critical than in the developed
06:41market.
06:42When it comes to global warming, when it comes to energy, the scarcity of resource are such that the problems
06:52are much bigger than in any other country.
06:57How startups can help solving those issues?
07:01Let me give you an example.
07:03Efficiency is even more important for Africa than for the rest of the world.
07:06Because they don't have abundance of electricity.
07:09They don't have abundance of a lot of products.
07:12So being efficient in Africa, this is the only way to provide service to the largest number of people.
07:18But let's take that problem of giving more resources to the largest number of people.
07:24Applied is a context in Europe where people, because of climate change, want to make sure that we don't waste
07:31as much of energy,
07:32we don't waste as much water, we don't waste a lot of things.
07:36So we have a developmental problem to address in Africa on poverty and so forth.
07:41And this helps solving another problem in Europe, in the US of being on zero emission, net emission, zero net
07:51emission path.
07:52So I can see here a very nice combination of purposes.
07:57The experience I have with a lot of startups is that in fact the most important thing that they need
08:05is confidence.
08:07And that confidence is given by three things.
08:12Are you going to provide what to them?
08:29I will try to provide that, what you just said.
08:31But in addition to it, one of the obstacles that we face in the expansion of the development of startups
08:37is the regulatory framework.
08:40Often there can be solutions that are new solutions and the regulator just doesn't know about it.
08:45A good example was FinTech and M-Pesa in Kenya.
08:48The regulatory framework didn't allow it.
08:51But at the time our governor decided that they will have some sandbox regulations that allow to test this solution.
08:59And we know what it will be.
09:00So the first message to the policy makers, be open to sandbox solutions.
09:06Sandbox regulation.
09:08Because startups and innovators are far much ahead of what is existing in the country,
09:14that a regulation existing doesn't respond to their needs.
09:17So don't be afraid, afraid of testing of having sandbox regulation.
09:22Second, we need to use our convening power.
09:26And you have such a great convening power, Maurice.
09:29And what you're doing is fantastic, just bringing all these people together
09:33and telling them a little bit what is happening in the continent
09:36for people to say, yes, you are starting to become a solution.
09:40Third, to bring them the money.
09:41And as I said, the money will come from investment fund in the developed countries,
09:47but should come also from big money in Africa.
09:52I can't agree more.
09:53We have to stop now because there is two very important things which are going to happen.
10:00First, the session for Africa Tech Awards.
10:06And there is some people who are impatient to get their prize.
10:14And second, right after that session, there is a special event.
10:20I cannot say anything about it.
10:23But you should stay in the room because it will be quite exceptional.
10:29Maktar, we are going down now and we leave the floor to the Africa Tech Awards.
10:36A rose of applause for Maktar Diop.
10:39Thank you.
10:40You are a gentleman and a great guy.
10:50Thank you, Maktar.
10:51Thank you, Maurice, for this opening discussion.
10:54Now, before starting the awards ceremony, I'd just like to briefly go over the process of this challenge.
11:02Sponsored and supported by more than 100 ambassadors,
11:06including ecosystems and startup incubators throughout Africa.
11:12We received more than 300 applications representing 47 African countries,
11:21which is a phenomenal success for a first edition.
11:25And I think that merits a round of applause.
11:32So Deloitte, our knowledge partner, reviewed the 300 more applications
11:39to select 15 of what they consider to be the most promising startups by category.
11:47Climate Tech, Health and FinTech.
11:51Now, congratulations to the 45 startups in this ranking.
11:55Once again, we can applaud them too.
12:00There's going to be a lot of applauding over the course of the next few minutes.
12:04Then a jury composed of our partners and experts in the Africa Tech space,
12:08reviewed the applications and agreed on the nine finalists
12:13that we announced a few days ago during the Viva Tech press conference.
12:19Some members of the jury are with us today.
12:22And we can't wait for them to come on and obviously thank them for their commitment
12:26and support for this very first edition.
12:30Here we are.
12:31We can see all of these fantastic jury members.
12:35And another, if we can all, another round of applause for the nine representatives
12:40of the finalist startups who are with us.
12:47So it's Bekia, Easy Matatu and We Center are the finalists in the Climate Tech category.
12:56Click2Shure, Duca and Imalipay are the finalists in the Fintech category.
13:04Aviro Health, Chefa and Walla Digital Health are the finalists in the Health Tech category.
13:11Now these finalists came from all over Africa to exhibit at the Africa Tech Lab
13:18and three of them will receive the awards today on this very stage.
13:23In fact, in just a few moments.
13:25But I'm not going to keep you any longer, don't worry.
13:28To open this very first Africa Tech Awards, I'm delighted to welcome to the stage
13:33Bill Sunborn, Senior Director at IFC's Disruptive Tech and Funds.
13:50Thank you, Haley.
13:52It's been a true pleasure to co-sponsor with Viva Tech, the inaugural Africa Tech Awards.
13:59We've worked on it for over a year.
14:02And it has been also a pleasure to meet so many unbelievably talented entrepreneurs
14:07from the continent of Africa in the process.
14:10Truly a joy.
14:12The other day, I was able to tour Station F.
14:16And when I think about Africa, I think about the challenges of access to capital,
14:21digital skills, regulatory changes as Mokhtar discussed.
14:25And I think what Africa needs is 54 Station Fs.
14:29And that's why Paris is becoming an innovator in the context of thinking about how to support young startups.
14:37People that come from backgrounds that aren't quite the same.
14:41And I think that's a real opportunity.
14:44You know, Africa last year raised about $5 billion in venture capital.
14:49That's twice the year prior.
14:51But that pales in comparison to Europe.
14:55It's 1 50th on a per capita adjusted basis to Europe.
14:59And 1 100th on a per capita adjusted basis to the U.S.
15:03More African billionaires need to invest.
15:06And more of all of you need to invest in the continent.
15:09So join me as we go into the Africa Tech Awards in celebrating the winners.
15:14And with that, I'd like to introduce Francoise Lombard, General Manager of Rubarco.
15:19Thank you.
15:36Thank you.
15:37And good afternoon to all.
15:39I'm very, very happy to be here with you today for these major events.
15:45I'm very honoured to speak after Mr. Maurice Levy and Mr. Magda Diop.
15:51Proparco, as the private sector arm of the French Development Agency, AFD,
15:57has been working with IFC very closely for many years now.
16:02Especially in fragile countries and difficult contexts.
16:05And I know we share the same vision of our role in terms of financing and supporting entrepreneurs on the
16:14African continent.
16:15The digital sector that brings us together today is one of the main vectors of development on the African continent.
16:24Job creation, the fight against climate change and access to essential goods and services will necessarily involve innovation and entrepreneurship.
16:37Africa is particularly well equipped in this regard, with an enterprising, large and innovative use.
16:46The continent is now benefiting from real breakthroughs, allowing people to access more practical, simpler and less expensive services, daily
17:01services, thanks to digital entrepreneurs.
17:03IVD Group is very committed to supporting these innovations, from which we can also draw inspiration from our own country,
17:14our own continent.
17:15Our goal is to make digital technology, technology transfers, cross innovation some assets to achieve sustainable development goals, while reducing
17:28inequalities of access.
17:29The growth of startups, both in number and size, observed in recent years on the African continent, is facilitated by
17:40the emergence of digital services and solutions that make it more accessible to create an innovative company with startup-reduced
17:50capital.
17:54But, while creating startups has never been easier, financing growth and scaling up is still a hard and expensive job.
18:06The dynamism of the sector is ampered by a significant financing gap, and this is particularly the case in Africa.
18:15Despite constant growth, venture capital investments remain much lower in Africa than they are on other continents.
18:25The comparison with India is particularly striking.
18:29While populations, GDPs and mobile internet penetration are quite close, venture capital is eight times lower in Africa than it
18:40is on the sub-Indian continent.
18:42The reasons behind these deficits are numerous and well known.
18:50Among them, an ecosystem that is still to be structured to support innovation, more difficult access to talent, and a
18:59perception of a higher risk.
19:01From support for public policies endorsing the entrepreneurial ecosystem, to financing and supporting this emerging industry, the role played by
19:13AFD Group is that of a catalyst for private investments, and also African private investment.
19:21That was one of your points, Mr. Jobb and Mr. Levy.
19:26This role is absolutely essential.
19:30The round of venture capital funds currently launching in Africa are made up of more than 50% development finance
19:40institutions capital.
19:41These funds could therefore not see the light of day without our support.
19:48Proparco's venture capital investment strategy targets both direct investments in relatively major start-up, which are already generating revenue, but
20:01which are not yet necessarily profitable, as well as in venture capital and even seed capital investment funds.
20:10Proparco has committed more than 70 million euros since 2008 to the benefit of African start-ups.
20:18The needs remain huge and the funding gaps large, which is why our ambition and our commitments have grown even
20:28further in recent months.
20:30Thanks to the integration of digital Africa within Proparco announced at the new Africa-France Summit last October, we will
20:41now be able to intervene at all stages of start-up development.
20:47Digital Africa will allow to step up its support at the very early stage, and also to finance small tickets
20:58up to 500,000 euros.
21:02In total, these are 130 million euros that will be committed between 2022 and 2025 to support African digital start
21:12-ups.
21:13That is a doubling compared to the previous period.
21:17Proparco is therefore proud to be associated with this first edition of the Africa Tech Awards.
21:23This competition is a great way to honor projects and also to boost their growth by connecting them with venture
21:32capital funds operating in Africa.
21:35By choosing financial inclusion, climate and health, Africa Tech highlights three sectors that are at the heart of the continent's
21:48development challenges.
21:49Proparco supports startups in each of these sectors, and we can attest to both their potential and their concrete impact
21:59on the ground.
22:00For the real economy, it is crucial to contribute to the emergence of a generation of entrepreneurs who will motivate
22:09other entrepreneurs to get started.
22:12First, success stories will drive more success stories.
22:16We must, therefore, encourage them and also make them known.
22:23We wish the 45 selected start-ups great success.
22:29Thank you and good luck.
22:30And thank you.
22:33This is Françoise Lombard.
22:35Thank you for your support, of course, on these awards, and thank you for everything that Proparco does for African
22:41start-ups.
22:43So, we are now going to move on to the award presentations, and we will start with the Climate Tech
22:50Award.
22:51And in order to present this award, I call Mr. Julius Mujini, Country Director, New Energy Nexus Uganda, who sponsored
23:00this very award.
23:18Thank you, everyone.
23:21Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
23:22My name is Julius Mujini.
23:24I'm the Country Director of New Energy Nexus Uganda.
23:29Over the last couple of days, you know, I've seen quite a number of amazing technologies and solutions that are
23:40solving problems in Africa, and they're developed by Africans.
23:46This is such an inspiration that, you know, with all the stress that can usually sometimes come with working in
23:54the clean tech and climate energy space, I'm so incredibly inspired by these technologies.
24:01New Energy Nexus is the world's leading ecosystem of funds and accelerators that supports clean energy entrepreneurs that are diverse.
24:15Since 2004, we've been supporting a lot of these technologies and a lot of these start-ups, and we've been
24:22able to support over 600 of them over the same period.
24:26We've been able to leverage over 1.5 billion US dollars, and we've also been able to support them to
24:35be successful.
24:39The last couple of days have really inspired us to make sure that we support these entrepreneurs because of the
24:46enormous challenges that we face.
24:50We know there is no shortage of solutions, especially in Africa.
24:56And all this support, all these entrepreneurs need basically is the right resources at the right time.
25:02And this is why New Energy Nexus chose to sponsor this award.
25:09We'd like to shine a light on the African technologies and the African solutions being developed, and we hope that
25:19over the next couple of years, we'll be able to support over 100,000 entrepreneurs working in the clean tech
25:26and climate change space.
25:29With this said, I am happy to announce the winner of the Climate Tech Award.
25:38The winner of the Climate Tech Award is, I think there's a jingle.
25:41We'll be able to announce the winner of the Climate Tech Award.
25:42And the winner is, We Center.
25:52Bravo, We Center from Kenya.
25:55Congratulations.
25:57Please join me.
25:59Here is your trophy, and here is the very own NFT token that you've won.
26:06There we go.
26:07And if you've got a free hand, here's the microphone.
26:11There we go.
26:11Congratulations.
26:12A round of applause, everyone.
26:13Bravo.
26:19Good afternoon.
26:20I'm humbly accepting this award on behalf of the We Center.
26:25We manage electronic quest in Africa.
26:28This is a big win for Climate Tech in Africa, and we hope we will be pioneers for other startups
26:37that will also be doing climate change.
26:39So to all our partners, investors, friends, well done.
26:42This is your award.
26:43Thank you.
26:46Congratulations, We Center.
26:47I'll take the microphone.
26:49Thank you very much.
26:51And as I said, in addition to your prize, I also offered you the NFT exclusive and designed by Obvious
27:00Limited to only 13 copies in the world.
27:05Right.
27:05Let's now move on to our next award.
27:08This is, of course, for Health Tech.
27:10In order to present this award, I'm honored to call to the stage Mrs. Asma Anaifa, Director of CRSR Communication
27:20and Orange Digital Center at Orange Africa and Middle East, partner of this award.
27:26If you'd like to come to the stage.
27:27Thank you very much.
27:28Thank you.
27:40I'm very happy today because it's a great event and I would like to thank the Africa Tech Awards, our
27:54partner and the World Bank,
27:56pour organiser cet événement et pour nous donner l'opportunité
28:00de soutenir la categorie de la compétition de la health tech.
28:06Nous sommes convaincés que la technologie digitale peut aider les entrepreneurs
28:11à trouver des solutions locales pour faciliter l'accès à des services essentiels comme la santé.
28:19Indeed, mobile technology and digital innovations can have a considerable impact
28:27on improving the quality of care.
28:31In Africa, we cooperate in healthcare with institutions and others funding providers
28:38such as Gavi, UNAIDS, USAID or Global Fund on the follow-up of HIV patients,
28:47family planning and vaccinations.
28:51We have also invested in the Dabadoc platform which has already proven itself
28:57in Morocco, Ivorakost, Algeria and Tunisia by offering people to identify doctors
29:06available in their city and make an appointment in few clicks.
29:10You also know that Orange is really involved in the support of the startup ecosystem,
29:18especially in Africa where we have two main initiatives.
29:23The Orange Social Venture Prize will reward since 12 years now
29:29the business proposition that make a positive social and environment impact.
29:36the Orange Digital Centre programme deployed in all our affiliates
29:41to support innovation, entrepreneurship and employability in the countries.
29:48For all these reasons, we are proud to announce tonight
29:53the Africa Tech Awards winner of the Health Tech category.
30:02The winner is Shifa.
30:10Congratulations, Shifa.
30:16Shifa.
30:17Thank you.
30:18Thank you.
30:19Thank you.
30:20Thank you.
30:20Very good.
30:21There we go.
30:21There is your award.
30:23You've come all the way from Egypt today and that's your NFT and the microphone.
30:28Now, can you just tell us about how your solution answers the difficulties the continent is facing
30:33on health issues?
30:34Well, you all know that chronic illness drives the growth of pharma market
30:38but what you don't know is that the many regions in Africa probably have the highest burden
30:43of chronic illness worldwide and the key two pillars of compliance for a chronic patient
30:49are accessibility and affordability and the key for a good quality of life for a chronic patient
30:55is good compliance and that's what Shifa is focusing.
30:58We are very patient-centric, tackling the compliance of chronic patients through a comprehensive
31:03approach, tackling both accessibility and affordability.
31:07Our end game is for chronic patients across Africa and many regions to improve their compliance
31:13and have the best quality of life, turning them into productive citizens of society.
31:18Joining us in this ride.
31:20Well done.
31:21A huge round of applause for Shifa for winning the Health Tech Award here.
31:26Thank you very much and congratulations and thank you.
31:32Now, last but not least, it's time to announce the last prize of the day.
31:38It is, of course, FinTech Award.
31:40Now, in order to present this award, I'm delighted to invite to the stage Mr. Darlington Mandevenga,
31:47CEO of Sessai FinTech, part of Cassava Technologies, partner of this award.
32:07Good afternoon.
32:09At Cassava Technologies, we envision a future that is digital and that leaves no African behind.
32:18And we achieve this through the provision of digital infrastructure and digital services.
32:25It is in the digital services side where we house our interest in FinTech, where we envision
32:33a financially inclusive future that leaves no African behind.
32:38In Africa, there's a proverb that says that if you want to go fast, go alone.
32:45But if you want to go far, go together.
32:49But what we have seen in most cases is that established companies are partnering with already established partners.
32:57What about the startups?
33:00Who is going to partner with them?
33:03So, in our case, instead of despising startups, we actually embrace startups.
33:08Because if it is not us, then who?
33:12And if it is not now, then when?
33:15So, we are actually quite privileged to be a partner to IFC and everybody else who's invested
33:22in this program and we are excited because we believe in the future of startups.
33:27Because if we are truly serious about financial inclusion, we have to go together.
33:35That's why we are here.
33:37At this stage, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to announce the winner
33:43in the FinTech category.
33:47And the winner is...
33:49Drum roll.
33:55Click to shore.
33:58Congratulations, Click to shore.
34:00We'd like to come to the stage to collect your award and, of course, your very own NFT.
34:06Thank you so much.
34:08Click to shore, of course, from South Africa.
34:11Thank you.
34:11Thank you, sir.
34:12There we go.
34:13Big round of applause for Click to shore.
34:16Here's the microphone.
34:17Thank you.
34:18Hello.
34:19So, just tell us a bit more about this brilliant solution that is Click to shore.
34:24Yeah, thank you so much and we're privileged to be here today.
34:26Click to shore is a full stack digital insurance platform that enables partners to offer high
34:31volume, low value insurance products to its customers, thereby impacting millions of people
34:39in Africa.
34:40Thank you.
34:41Thank you very much and congratulations.
34:44A big round of applause to all of today's winners of this very first edition of the Africa Tech
34:50Awards.
34:51Now, I'll call on all of the winners and the partners of this first edition to join me on stage
34:58for
34:59a group photo.
35:02Now, on behalf of Viva Tech and our co-host, IFC, thank you for joining this event.
35:09And thank you to all of you for taking part.
35:12Thank you for being here.
35:14And congratulations to all of you.
35:17And we will see you next year.
35:19But as I said, if anyone who has any partners and anyone that took part in this very first
35:26edition of Africa Tech Awards, please come to the stage for a group photo.
35:31Ladies and gentlemen, a huge round of applause to everyone that's made this happen.
35:37Thank you.
35:44Mr. Diop, please come in.
35:48Is everyone in?
35:49Anyone?
35:50I'm going to be really brash about this.
35:51Is anyone, any partners or anyone who's taken part not in this photo?
35:55No?
35:56Yeah?
35:56Not on this stage.
35:57Please come up on stage.
35:58If you're a partner or if you took part, come up on stage.
36:04If you're a partner, fantastic.
36:11The group just keeps on getting bigger.
36:13We might have to make like a second row along here.
36:17Okay.
36:17There we go.
36:19Fantastic.
36:20Everyone in.
36:23You're going to have to squeeze in, I think, guys.
36:25Okay.
36:25Move in.
36:26We're going to have to make two lines.
36:28Right.
36:28I have to sort everyone out.
36:29Come on.
36:29Who's going to go front?
36:30Front and back.
36:31Let's go two rows here.
36:32All good?
36:33Right.
36:34I will let you get on with that.
36:47Well done to all of you.
36:49Thank you so much.
36:51Thank you.
36:52Thank you.
36:52Thank you.
36:53Thank you.
36:53Thank you.
36:55Congrats.
36:56I'll let all of you take your seats and celebrate, hopefully, for those that won.
37:05All right.
37:06That's off the table.
37:07Nothing for the moment.
37:10No transition.
37:11Okay.
37:11We got a team.
37:11Thank you.
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