This Week In Tanzanian Startups 🔥🔥

Tanzanians shine in 2024 FOYA Eastern Africa Awards.

Dawa Mkononi Secures EUR 200,000 from DEG Impulse.

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Deals & Close Ups 🤑🤑

Dawa Mkononi has successfully secured a EUR 200,000 follow-up investment from DEG Impulse through their develoPPP Ventures program to scale their Research and Development (R&D) efforts. This program, which targets early-stage companies in developing and emerging countries, aims to improve living conditions through innovative business models.

The develoPPP Ventures program, initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), provides a grant of EUR 100,000 for suitable growth investments, operating in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Africa. This funding will enable Dawa Mkononi to further their mission and contribute significantly to the health sector in Tanzania and beyond.

A LinkedIn Post from the CEO

Startup Spotlight🌟🌟

Launch of Mauzo Platform by Tunzaa HQ.

Tunzaa HQ has announced the launch of Mauzo Platform, a business management tool designed to empower entrepreneurs and businesses in Tanzania to broaden their service offerings and reach new heights. Tunzaa, an innovative app that promotes everyday saving for purchases through a "save now, buy later" model, is taking a bold step forward with Mauzo.

What is Mauzo?

Mauzo is tailored for individual entrepreneurs, businesses, and service providers—including financial services and delivery companies—expanding their market potential from "save now, buy later" customers to offering a suite of business services.

Key Features of Mauzo:

  • Vast Market Access: Connect with over 97,000 active paying users within the Tunzaa community.

  • Powerful Marketing Tools: Create and post ads directly within the app.

  • Utilize referral codes to grow your customer base.

  • Efficient Management: Seamlessly manage your stock, sales, and orders.

  • Comprehensive Financial Services:Access a variety of financial tools and services from different providers.

This innovative platform marks a significant milestone in the fintech space, showcasing how integrated solutions can provide multiple functionalities in one digital ecosystem. With Mauzo, Tunzaa is not just enabling savings but also empowering business growth and financial inclusion.

Photo Credit : Tunzaa HQ

Community Highlights 🔥🔥

Bavarian Elite Akademie Delegation Explores Business Opportunities in East Africa.

Last week, StartHub Africa proudly hosted a delegation from the Bavarian Elite Akademie (BEA) in Germany. This visit brought together 15 founders, managers, and researchers, all focused on exploring business opportunities and building valuable connections in East Africa.

The BEA delegation engaged with several key organizations, including the Tanzania Commission for Science & Technology, GIZ Tanzania and EAC, and the Directorate of Innovation at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). Their visit also included participation in a networking event at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and tours of innovative tech startups in Dar es Salaam.

This initiative underscores the collaborative spirit and potential for cross-continental partnerships, aiming to foster innovation, business growth, and entrepreneurial success in East Africa.

Phot Credit Starthub Africa

Anza hosts a second edition of workshops with PesaTech Accelerator.

Anza has successfully hosted the second edition of the PesaTech Accelerator program. This event featured a series of workshop sessions covering various crucial topics, including business model mapping, enhancing operational planning, and personal data protection. The event concluded with a mock board meeting for PesaTech startups, providing them with a valuable, hands-on experience.

One of Anza's notable partnerships is with the PesaTech Accelerator, a fintech acceleration initiative designed to support post-revenue and growth-stage fintech startups in Tanzania. Launched by UNCDF in 2022, PesaTech offers an Investment-Readiness Program (IRP) to help fintech startups attract investment.

Get To Know Anza.

Anza, is a Tanzanian venture, is dedicated to providing startups with personalized and strategic capacity-building services across various business areas. These services include leadership, sales and marketing, bookkeeping, HR, and access to capital through the Anza Growth Fund, which helps startups expand their businesses. Anza also offers a network of mentors, experts, fellow entrepreneurs, and a physical space for startups to work and collaborate.

In addition to the PesaTech Accelerator, Anza supports other programs, including:

  • Business Accelerator: A six-month program designed to help early-stage businesses scale their operations.

  • Climate Launchpad Competition: In partnership with EIT-Climate KIC and Irish Aid, this competition aims to nurture green businesses in Tanzania.

These initiatives underscore Anza's commitment to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in Tanzania.

Awards & Recognitions 🎉🎉

Tanzanians shine in 2024 FOYA Eastern Africa Awards. 

The Founder of the Year Awards (FOYA) East Africa, an esteemed annual event, celebrates young founders who are making a significant impact across the continent by creating sustainable jobs and driving entrepreneurship. This year's awards saw vibrant participation from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, with plans to further expand across East Africa.

Tanzanian Startups at FOYA 2024.

Tanzanian entrepreneurs and business owners shone brightly, clinching top spots in various categories. Their contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape, both locally and regionally, were recognized and celebrated. Competing with peers from East Africa, Tanzanians emerged among the top 3 in multiple categories, showcasing their innovation and determination.

Under 30 Years Category:

Out of 13 categories, Tanzanian entrepreneurs secured top 3 positions in 6 of them. We are proud to announce the winners:

  • Fashionpreneur of the Year (2nd Runner Up): Happiness Mtatiro

  • Hospitality Founder of the Year (Winner): Swalehe Swalehe

  • Social Founder of the Year (1st Runner Up): Enock Isack

  • Techpreneur of the Year (2nd Runner Up): Felix Ntiruzaba

  • Healthpreneur of the Year (2nd Runner Up): Brian George Lwakatare

  • Mediapreneur of the Year (2nd Runner Up): Andrew Katepa

Over 30 Years Category:

In the Over 30 years category, Tanzanian entrepreneurs excelled in 4 out of 14 categories, with a notable presence of women leaders:

  • Techpreneur of the Year (2nd Runner Up): Khalila Mbowe

  • Fashionpreneur of the Year (2nd Runner Up): Dorothy Mhina

  • Edupreneur of the Year (2nd Runner Up): Ngojea Kitinusa

  • Healthpreneur of the Year (1st Runner Up): Sayyeda Bhimji-Karim

Check out the website for more information and nominate a business: FOYA Africa 2025 Nominee Submission

Photo Credits: FOYA Eastern Africa

Afya Lead Limited Received President’s award at Mkapa Legacy Summit.

Afya Lead Limited has received a prestigious award from the President of the United Republic of Tanzania at the Mkapa Legacy Summit, organized by the Mkapa Foundation. This recognition highlights Afya Lead's significant contributions to improving health outcomes in Tanzanian communities through their innovative product Mkanda Salama.

Mkanda salama is a locally made tool designed to stop bleeding among mothers with excessive bleeding immediately after delivery.

Photo Credit: Afya Lead

Think Like an Investor

Understanding Different Types of Angel Investors

Investing in startups requires an understanding of the various types of angel investors who provide crucial early-stage funding. Here’s a quick overview:

  • Family and Friends: These investors are often the first to believe in your vision and provide initial funding.

  • High Net Worth Individuals: Wealthy individuals with a keen interest in entrepreneurship. They bring not only capital but also valuable business insights and networks.

  • Serial Entrepreneurs (Super Angels) : Experienced entrepreneurs who have successfully built and sold businesses. They provide mentorship, strategic advice, and financial support.

  • Corporate Angels (Domain Angels) : Senior executives from large corporations who invest their personal money. They offer industry-specific expertise and potentially valuable business connections.

  • Crowdfunding Investors: Individuals who invest small amounts of money through online platforms in exchange for equity or rewards.

  • Syndicates: Groups of angel investors who pool their resources to make larger investments. Syndicates often have a lead investor who negotiates terms and manages the investment.

Understanding these different types of angel investors can help startups tailor their pitches and build strategic relationships that foster growth and success.

Event Highlight : FoodHack Dar es salaam

Location : MTI Investment Hub, Noble Center 6th Floor
Date: 16th August 2024
Time : 16 hrs

Funding opportunities 🎇🎇🎇

KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator Competition 2024
The Global Tech Innovator competition is helping to accelerate that journey by putting founders and their technology innovations and tech-enabled solutions in the global spotlight. All with the support, guidance and expertise of an extensive network of business professionals during — and after — the competition. 🌍👩‍💻

MEF/UNEP Low Carbon Earth Accelerator (LCE) Program 2024 LowCarbon.Earth is a climate tech accelerator supporting startups that are building sustainable goods and services to solve climate change, nature loss, and pollution. If your venture aims to make a significant impact in these areas, this program is for you.

Hello Tomorrow - Global Challenge

Winners get 1-to-1 coaching & personal introductions with potential investors, partners and clients. Receive the Deep Tech Pioneer recognition & get a chance to be featured in reports and invited to speak at future events. €100K Grand Prize, €25K 2nd prize and €25K pre-VC stage prize – all equity-free, no strings attached.

Innovate Africa Fund
Backing innovators committed to solving rather than merely exploiting problems.

2024 Tanzania Tech Challenge: Win up to USD 250,000

An open competition for organizations to submit applications to support innovative solutions to bolster media literacy as well as support information integrity efforts that enhance civic engagement in local elections. Participants can present tech-based solutions – including, but not limited to, education programs, gaming platforms, fact-checking tools, content-authentication tools, synthetic media detection etc.Deadline, August 13 2024

Y Combinator Winter Batch

Y Combinator Management, LLC (YC) is a technology startup accelerator and venture capital firm.

SAIS Investment Readiness Programme 2025

🌍 Do you run a scalable #AgTech, #FoodTech, #LivestockTech or #ClimateTech start-up operating in #Africa?💡 Check out hashtag#IRP2025 for scale-ready tech start-ups by GIZ GmbH (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)!

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