This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
10 Startups Selected to Tour Asia with CcHUB and Google for Startups ¶
Co-Creation Hub has selected 10 startups from across Africa to participate in PitchDrive II, a deep tech tour of five Asian cities, in partnership with Google for Startups. The tour, which will take place over 14 days, aims to connect African startups with advanced technology ecosystems in Asia.
Launched in 2017, PitchDrive is a deep tech tour that has taken startups from across Africa to Europe and Asia. The first edition of the tour focused on software and digital technologies, while this edition will focus on Africa's deep technology and hardware sectors, which have seen significant growth and innovation in recent years.
Google's presence in Africa has also grown in recent years, with the launch of its first AI lab in Ghana last year. Facebook has also launched a deep tech-focused accelerator in Nigeria.
The 10 selected startups include:
- AC Group, a Rwandan smart transport solution company
- Access Afya, a Kenyan primary healthcare social enterprise using technology to deliver affordable and effective health access
- CHIL AI Lab, which leverages AI to improve cancer diagnostic services
- Casky, a Moroccan safety IoT device company
- Enova Robotics, a Tunisian company specialising in mobile robot development for security purposes
- Flare, a Kenyan uber-like company aggregating ambulance/emergency options for easy access
- Gricd Frij, a Nigerian cold chain technology for the transportation of healthcare and agricultural produce
- LIFI-LED, an Ivorian energy startup providing electricity and internet connectivity to difficult-to-access communities
- Reliance HMO, a Nigerian health insurance company using a consortium of tools to make health insurance accessible and affordable
- taeillo, a Nigerian furniture and design company leveraging mixed reality to improve customer experience
The tour will begin on August 21, 2019, with the startups meeting at CcHUB's Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda for a two-day boot camp. They will then travel to Singapore, Tokyo, Yokohama, Seoul, and Shenzhen before ending in Hong Kong.
During the tour, the startups will engage with corporate organizations, explore funding opportunities, and form beneficial relationships with the advanced technology ecosystems in the cities on the itinerary.
Stories from the tour will be curated in images, film, and text in partnership with TechCabal, which will follow the founders on their Asian journey.
