Incubation hub think expands to meet demand by entrepreneurs for fast-track support
Tech incubator think today announced four new entrants to its incubator as part of a new think Accelerated program. In addition to think’s signature 6-month “core” program, the company has developed a high-intensity 3-month offering. This new track will allow more opportunities for pan-African start-ups to benefit from a faster, more immersive course in Rwanda, and for accelerated financial matching services with investors.
think Accelerated offers the opportunity to fast track talented tech entrepreneurs – particularly those digital companies from across the Continent who want to return quickly to their home markets after intense incubator services in Rwanda by providing space, internet and business development services.
think is pleased to announce the first round of think Accelerated businesses joining the program in June 2015. Each team will receive financing, strategic consulting services, and a tailored growth-training curriculum, as well as access to Tigo resources and global tech mentors. These teams provide a variety of IT solutions across Africa that meet diverse consumer needs, each with an ability to scale rapidly:
Asuqu, Nigeria
The signature product from multi-prong company GutsHaven, Asuqu.com is the first Nigerian
marketplace of more than 300 trusted freelancers and businesses offering high quality creative and professional services at an affordable price. (www.asuqu.com)
Esaja, Zimbabwe
This B2B marketplace connects companies across Eastern & Southern Africa to each other,
creating a truly African marketplace of goods and services. The founders, passionate about a unified African economy, are leveraging technology to bridge borders and magnify African trade zones for the good of small business development. (www.esaja.com). Clinton Mutambo founder of Esaja.com has been recently profiled by Inc. and Forbes Africa named him one of Africa’s 30 under 30. Esaja.com is also one of the Kairos50 global startups 2014/5.
SafeMotos, Rwanda
Using a sophisticated algorithm to pair proximity and safety metrics, this “Uber” for African motor taxis is providing new levels of convenience and safety for Rwandan commuters. Users love it for the increased knowledge about their drivers; drivers love it for the ease of attracting riders who pay easily with mobile money. (www.safemotos.com). The first African company to be invested in by SOS Ventures. They are also finalists in Pivot East Africa 2015 and their application is live on google play and operational in their first market Kigali.
Team Tigo, Rwanda
Riding the wave of “intrapreneurship” this Tigo team is comprised exclusively of Tigo staff mainly from Commercial, Marketing and IT business units. Tigo has committed resources to support a think Accelerated course for 3 months, while developing digital solutions for rollout across Tigo platforms.
Paul Soko, Investment Manager of think, said: “think Accelerated, enables us to attract a wider range of entrepreneurs and tech start ups who will benefit from a fast-track incubator offering, keeping Africa at the forefront of innovation. This new program is a hallmark of Millicom’s commitment to innovation and to growing the IT startup environment across Africa.”
About think
think, the “technology incubator in Kigali”, launched in 2014 in Rwanda for tech startups seeking to create digital solutions with the potential to scale across Africa. Africa IT News rated think as one of the top tech startup incubators to watch in 2015. With a young and dynamic population and significant government investment in the country’s ICT infrastructure and conducive regulatory environment Rwanda provides a unique opportunity as a platform for technology startups from across the world. Millicom, operating under the Tigo brand in Africa, is the investor behind think.
