This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
On July 1, 2019, Pezesha, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace and credit scoring platform for the unbanked, was crowned the best startup at the Seedstars World Nairobi pitch competition.
The win granted Pezesha a spot at the Seedstars Africa Summit and a possible invitation to the global Seedstars Summit in Switzerland, which takes place in April 2019.
Seedstars Summit is a week-long training program that brings together winners from fast-growing economies, investors, and mentors from around the world. The final day of the Summit features a pitching competition in front of an audience of over 1,000 attendees, with the chance to win up to $1 million in equity investment and other prizes.
According to Claudia Makadristo, Regional Manager for Africa, the competition was fierce, with an all-women jury panel selecting the winner. Nairobi consistently produces high-quality startups, making the competition particularly challenging.
Other notable startups that pitched during the competition included Workpay, which came in second with its employee management and payment solution using biometrics and mobile phones, and Tanda, a fintech startup that revolutionizes access to goods and essential digital financial services for MSMEs across Africa.
Additionally, Ilara Health, Julla, Lentera, Nurse-In-Hand, Pesabase, Shamba Records, Afyachap, Asilimia, and other startups were invited to pitch, showcasing innovative solutions in various sectors.
Seedstars World continues its tour of emerging markets, with its next stop in Accra, Ghana, at the Standard Bank Incubator, to select the best startup in the country.
