Microsoft in partnership with GreenHouse Capital, has selected 13 startups across East and West Africa to actualize their initial announcement; supporting 10,000 start-ups in Africa over the next 5 years.
With this in mind, Microsoft alongside its partner has selected 13 startups for its current edition of Scale-up Accelerator Program.
Subsequently, the selected 13 startups participating in this program will be granted pre-series access to investments. These investments will also provide access to new markets, technology, infrastructure, technical skills and funding opportunities.
In any case, the program will feature six males and seven females. Greenhouse Capital is certainly big on gender balance and one of its mission is to help close the gender financing gap common in African countries.
Admittedly, Oluwadunni Fanibe, Program Manager at GreenHouse Capital, reveals that gender balance is a key part of its program. This is what he has to say;
“The gender funding gap in Africa is abysmal. Surely, this is partly attributed to unspoken biases during recruitment and due diligence processes that favor male founders over female founders. I am immensely proud of the diversity of this program in terms of participants and facilitators and hope many others in the ecosystem follow suit and are more deliberate about their processes.
Regardless, the program will run for 6 weeks and features a demo day for sessions. As a result, these sessions will definitely attract global investors who will meet with the startup founders.
Microsoft’s Chosen 13 Startups and Their Founders
In no particular order, they include:
- Ourpass: Founded by Samuel Eze
- One Health: Founded by Adeola Alli
- BuuPass: Founded by Sonia Kabra
- GetEquity: Founded by Jude Dike
- Gobeba: Founded by Lesley Mbogo, Peter NdianguI
- Oystr: Founded by Ifedolapo Lawal
- Afya Bora: Founded by Reginald Victor Runyoro
- Chekkit: Founded by Dare Odumade
- Zydii: Founded by Joyce Mbaya
- Eight medical: Founded by Ibukun Tunde Oni
- Herconomy: Founded by Ife Durosinmi-Etti
- Pharmarun: Founded by Teniola Adedeji, Lola Aderemi
- Mobiele: Founded by Ife Akintaju, Sayo Owolabi
The Microsoft Scale-up Accelerator Program Rundown
Undoubtedly, the program rundown will involve twelve (12) instructor-led sessions, ten (10) workshops and three (3) panel discussions.
In addition, some of the rundowns will also include:
- Strategy
- Fundraising for Growth stage Companies
- Market Expansion & Operations
- Culture & Employee Benefits
- PR & Communications
- Marketing & Growth
- Sales and Business Development
- Technical Workshops
