Dr. Dave Ojika - Afrikan Heroes

Introducing the Fresh Faces of African AI Startups Handpicked by Microsoft

September 26, 2023

Flapmax, a trailblazing data and AI technology firm, unveiled its selection of twelve promising companies for the second edition of the FAST Accelerator startup initiative. This program, forged in collaboration with Microsoft, aims to bolster and amplify Africa’s digital landscape. Following a rigorous two-week Online Bootcamp, featuring participation from over 60 tech firms and mentorship by seasoned experts, the 12 startups of FAST Accelerator are gearing up for a comprehensive five-week acceleration experience set to take place in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, commencing this October.

Dr. Dave Ojika, the visionary founder and CEO of Flapmax

“Our vision is to empower startups in their journey to scale their enterprises and generate fresh employment opportunities, with AI as the driving force,” said Dr. Dave Ojika, the visionary founder and CEO of Flapmax. “Through partnerships with industry giants like Microsoft and Intel, we are assembling a unique fusion of cutting-edge AI technologies, business development strategies, and global-scale growth prospects for Africa and emerging markets. Our goal is to accelerate the growth of startups and underrepresented entrepreneurs, fostering sustainable expansion and job creation through the transformative power of AI.”

Mame-Fatou Gueye, SME Program Manager at Microsoft Africa Transformation Office, expressed Microsoft’s unwavering belief in the potential of African startups and SMEs to become the cornerstones of the African digital economy. Gueye explained, “Participation in the FAST Accelerator program will provide these entrepreneurs with the tools to harness growth opportunities and extend their market presence.”

The FAST Accelerator program received an impressive 1,200 applications from 35 African countries, spanning diverse industry sectors such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Agriculture, Transportation & Logistics, Clean Technology & Energy, and Creative Media & Entertainment. These applicants offered an array of cloud-based products and services designed to address critical challenges, enhance efficiency, and foster innovation through AI across various domains within the continent.

The FA23 cohort consists of the following innovative startups:

Zeeh Africa (FinTech): Utilizing AI to establish an open banking platform connecting businesses to financial data.

Sumundi (eCommerce): Pioneering an intelligent eCommerce platform tailored for African retail businesses.

Cotrust Equity (FinTech): Revolutionizing micro-lending in Africa, akin to the “Uber for micro-lending.”

Trucki (Supply Chain): Leveraging AI to create a comprehensive haulage infrastructure connecting cargo stakeholders.

Orange VFX (Creative Media): Delivering high-quality animation and visual effects to boost African businesses.

10mg Pharma (HealthTech): Using AI to drive cost savings on medications for chronic pain patients.

Wallx (FinTech): Providing payment and business solutions catered to small business owners.

Moosbu (FinTech): Empowering SMEs with AI-driven tools for sales and financing.

KCG Aquatec Fish Farming (AgTech): Establishing sustainable aquaculture infrastructure for fish farmers.

Aibanc (FinTech): Offering AI-powered banking for High Earners Not Rich Yet (HENRY).

Zendawa Africa (HealthTech): Enabling neighborhood pharmacies to sell online.

Greenbii (FinTech): Deploying AI-driven asset financing and software management for SMEs.

Commencing on October 23, the FA23 cohort will embark on a multifaceted journey, encompassing training, AI integration, business development, fundraising, and a range of events. Collaborating closely with Intel and Microsoft on co-innovation projects, they will receive support in sales and marketing, enabling them to reach broader audiences. Moreover, the Flapmax engineering team will provide guidance in optimizing Large Language AI models (LLMs), along with scaling and fine-tuning these models on Microsoft Azure and Intel platforms.

Previous participants of the Online Bootcamp program shared their experiences:

“It is inspiring to learn what is happening in the AI and tech space across sectors and to interact with cohort members and speakers who are experts in their fields.” — Cohort member HealthX Africa

“This [will] provide us with mentorship, networking and fundraising opportunities with global startups. This is a huge one for us and we are more than excited to embark on this adventure!” — Dataleum.

“It was such a great privilege participating in the FAST Accelerator program! Thank you for the phenomenal classes and the opportunity to build new cross-national networks with other amazing entrepreneurs creating global solutions to local problems with one single aim to make the world a better place for everyone!” — Ricard Oboh, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Orange VFX Studios

Flapmax has also announced the launch of its digital matching platform, FAST Portal, designed to connect investors with startups. FAST Portal will facilitate introductions between investors, partners, and startups within the FAST Accelerator community. Corporate partners and organizations are invited to join in on the mission to empower entrepreneurs and innovators in underserved markets worldwide.

FAST Accelerator, a global initiative by Flapmax in partnership with Microsoft, links international entrepreneurs and startups with opportunities for business development, AI technology integration, funding, and community building, all geared towards fostering rapid and sustainable growth. Graduates of this program have secured millions in startup funding, created hundreds of jobs in their communities, and are utilizing technology to advance global economic and sustainable development goals in healthcare, agriculture, supply chain management, and climate justice.

Flapmax is a data and AI technology company collaborating with leading technology providers worldwide to identify and accelerate sustainable technology solutions that enhance communities across the globe. Their mission revolves around empowering and transforming lives through the widespread adoption of AI technology. Flapmax is facilitating collaboration across borders, connecting entrepreneurs and innovators with digital transformation solutions, advanced AI models, and global partnerships.

African AI startups African AI startups African AI startups

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Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard

FAST Accelerator Launches Second Cohort of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program to Boost African Startups

July 11, 2023

Microsoft backed Flapmax , a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company on a mission to enrich the lives of everyone on the planet through innovation, has announced the launch of the second FAST Accelerator program. It is designed to support and fund the next generation of innovative companies and entrepreneurs throughout the African continent. Building on the success of the inaugural program, FAST Accelerator 2023 offers a transformative experience for startup founders seeking to scale rapidly and sustainably. More than 800 startups from 25+ countries applied to join the inaugural program.

“FAST Accelerator represents our commitment to supporting ambitious entrepreneurs who are driving sustainable innovation across the continent of Africa and emerging markets,” said Dr. Dave Ojika, CEO of Flapmax. “Through this comprehensive program, we are dedicated to connecting startup founders with a global community, industry-leading technology, and the essential startup funding necessary to forge the path towards local, sustainable, and AI-powered technological solutions of the future. Together, we unite in building a brighter future for Africa and the world, fueled by the transformative power of technology and innovation.

In partnership with Microsoft, the FAST Accelerator initiative combines business development, technology integration, funding opportunities, and community building to empower startup companies based in Africa and emerging markets to deliver sustainable solutions. It also provides dedicated venture funding and invaluable mentorship opportunities. The top ten FAST Accelerator 2023 startup participants will be selected for a five-week program in Silicon Valley, California, to forge relationships with industry experts, potential investors, and global partners through Flapmax’s vibrant ecosystem of over 600 corporate partners.

Startup leaders are encouraged to apply to FAST Accelerator this July. To be eligible, startups must be based in Africa, prepared to scale or expand throughout the continent, and have demonstrated established product-market fit and revenue generation. The program is prioritizing business-to-business startups for this cohort, with the areas of healthcare, fintech, Edutech, and industrials/agtech of particular interest. Sustainability and deeptech startups are also encouraged to apply.

Program participants must be available and committed for the entire duration of the program, which includes a two-week virtual bootcamp in August 2023, followed by a five-week accelerator program in October in California. The journey begins with an intensive virtual bootcamp designed to validate startup ideas, refine business models, and prepare founders for the next stage of growth. Next, the top startups are selected to join a five-week accelerator program on the ground in Silicon Valley to experience unparalleled acceleration, networking, and fundraising opportunities, while immersing themselves in the dynamic startup ecosystem of Silicon Valley.

“As a HR technology company dedicated to building world-class software solutions for businesses, we are delighted to have participated in the transformative FAST Accelerator program in 2022,” stated Lekan Omotosho, co-founder and CTO of Pade. “The technology and business masterclasses offered through Flapmax Learn were truly exceptional, and the invaluable network of mentors and advisors has played a significant role in our growth. With the successful raise of $500,000, we are poised to scale our cutting-edge HCM solutions across the continent, catering to both SMEs and large corporations.”

“At Snark Health, we are pioneering a novel approach to healthcare payment solutions, and our collaboration with FAST Accelerator has been instrumental in driving our growth,” said Edwin Lubanga, co-founder and CTO of Snark Health. “Through FAST’s support, we have gained access to critical infrastructure, enabling us to deploy our services at scale. Working in conjunction with Microsoft and Azure services and partnering with hospitals in Kenya, we are determined to deliver equitable and affordable healthcare to tens of thousands of SMEs and health centers across Africa, creating a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape.”

“Our collaboration with FAST Accelerator has opened doors to an extraordinary opportunity, one that I fully endorse,” said Innocent Orikiiriza, founder and CEO of KaCyber Technologies. Guided by FAST Accelerator, we have developed a comprehensive sustainability framework that now underpins our business operations, emphasizing the vital importance of sustainability in the public transport sector. Additionally, we have achieved a major milestone of processing 11 million travel tickets to date, amounting to a transaction value of 200 billion Ugandan shillings, immensely bolstering our revenue pipeline. With major corporate partnerships underway, we eagerly anticipate unlocking even greater possibilities with FAST as we work towards realizing a seamless and sustainable mobility experience throughout Africa.”

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Flapmax Launches Second FAST Accelerator Program to Empower African Startups

Flapmax, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company, has announced the launch of the second FAST Accelerator program. This program aims to support and fund innovative startups and entrepreneurs across Africa. Following the success of the inaugural program, FAST Accelerator 2023 offers an opportunity for startup founders to rapidly scale and sustain their businesses. Over 800 startups from more than 25 countries applied to join the inaugural program.

Program Overview:

In partnership with Microsoft, the FAST Accelerator initiative combines business development, technology integration, funding opportunities, and community building to empower startup companies based in Africa and emerging markets. It provides dedicated venture funding and mentorship opportunities. The top ten startups selected for the FAST Accelerator 2023 program will have the chance to participate in a five-week program in Silicon Valley, California. This program offers networking opportunities with industry experts, potential investors, and global partners within Flapmax’s extensive ecosystem of over 600 corporate partners.

Organizers and Experience:

Flapmax, a leading AI company, is the driving force behind the FAST Accelerator program. They have a strong commitment to supporting ambitious entrepreneurs who are fostering sustainable innovation across Africa and emerging markets. The program is not the first of its kind, as it builds upon the success of the previous program. Flapmax’s CEO, Dr. Dave Ojika, emphasizes the goal of connecting startup founders with a global community, industry-leading technology, and the necessary funding to create local, sustainable, and AI-powered technological solutions.

Program Benefits:

The FAST Accelerator program offers participating startups a transformative experience. It provides access to business development support, technology integration, funding opportunities, and a vibrant community. Startups can benefit from dedicated venture funding and invaluable mentorship. Additionally, the program offers a chance to participate in a five-week accelerator program in Silicon Valley, providing acceleration, networking, and fundraising opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the FAST Accelerator program, startups must meet the following criteria:

Be based in Africa.
Demonstrate a readiness to scale or expand throughout the continent.
Have established product-market fit and revenue generation. The program prioritizes business-to-business startups, with a particular interest in healthcare, fintech, Edutech, and industrials/agtech. Sustainability and deeptech startups are also encouraged to apply.

Application Process and Deadline:

Startup leaders interested in the FAST Accelerator program can apply during the month of July. Details on the application process can be found on the Flapmax website (https://Flapmax.com/). The deadline for applications will be announced on the website.

Additional Information:

The program includes a two-week virtual bootcamp in August 2023, followed by a five-week accelerator program in October in Silicon Valley, California.
The virtual bootcamp is designed to validate startup ideas, refine business models, and prepare founders for the next stage of growth.
Testimonials from previous program participants highlight the benefits they gained, such as exceptional technology and business masterclasses, access to a valuable network of mentors and advisors, successful fundraising, and the opportunity to scale their innovative solutions across Africa.
Specific examples of startups that have benefited from the program include Pade, a HR technology company; Snark Health, a healthcare payment solutions provider; and KaCyber Technologies, focused on sustainability in the public transport sector.
The program aims to create a lasting impact on various sectors, including healthcare, sustainability, and mobility, through the power of technology and innovation.

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Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard