The call for applications for the Nairobi Innovation Week’s NIW.Startups program ended on 31st January. Over 350 entries enlisted for consideration through the online portal startups.niw.co.ke. 183 startups were shortlisted for detailed evaluation by judges.
The judging criteria which were communicated in advance to entrepreneurs as follows:-
The customer’s pain, The solution and value proposition, Technological Advantage or Innovativeness, Revenue streams envisaged and tested, Analysis of the competitive landscape, Impact and Opportunity Size, Customer Acquisition and Growth Strategy. Team Composition and Commitment, Market Traction and Secondary Achievements, Projections and Next Steps, General Observation.
Over 34 judges were mobilized by among startup ecosystem players on a voluntary basis. The judges’ profiles varied from Angel Investors, Institutional Investors, and program managers at various business incubators and accelerator programs. The judges declared a conflict of interest if any before judging applications. The selection process has been completed and the main thematic tracks emerging among the startups identified for the 100 pitches are as follows:- Agriculture and Food Security Health and Life Sciences Education and Employability Manufacturing and Processing Cleantech and Renewable Energy eCommerce and Business Services Fintech Entertainment and lifestyle.
The List of startups identified for the 100 pitches is available on the NIW.Startups web portal
