Our 2025 East Africa Finalists
Our 10 Incredible Finalists
SafiDine – Griffin Teddy, Zeinab Mohamed, Fredrick Kariuki
QuickSoaps - Jaden Kyalo
LIBBLIO - Axel Karambizi, Andy Melvin
3D CURE – Eunchan Hwang
AgriCharge – Jaden Kyalo, Aidan Muiga, Kevan Irungu, Ryan Ocheing, Samuel Kariuki
AgroDrone Logistics. – Sam Stone
EcoHeat Pad – Melissa Mukuviza
Brighter Days – Bruce Kibe
WilOp Africa - Cheryl Opiyo, Shanice Wilson
NOYIC KORA RWANDA - Vivine, Orne, Cyusa Travissy, Noella, Joana
We're giving away $2,000!
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Wins
- Cash Prize
- Full Scholarship to a LaunchX Online Program
- LinkedIn Badge
Register for 2025 AwardX East Africa Demo Day
3 Minute Pitch Video
Your video must be 3 minutes or less, anything over will be cut from the video and not considered. Your company or business idea will be judged on the following aspects.
Requirements
- The problem should be well-articulated, demonstrating a deep understanding of a significant and specific market need.
- The solution should be practical, feasible, and innovative, directly addressing the identified problem in a unique way.
- The value proposition should clearly communicate unique benefits and differentiate the solution from competitors.
Requirements
- There should be detailed market analysis with evidence supporting the size, growth trends, and opportunity in the market.
- The revenue model should outline how the business will generate sustainable income, with clear and realistic financial projections.
- There should be a thorough analysis of key competitors, with clear explanations of the business's unique selling points and competitive advantages.
Requirements
- There should be a clear plan for scaling the business, including strategies for market expansion, resource allocation, and scaling operations effectively.
- The operational plan should outline necessary resources, technology, and detailed steps for successful implementation.
- The financial plan should be comprehensive, with realistic financial projections, detailed cost estimates, and potential revenue streams.
Submissions will be judged out of a score of 30 total – up to 3 points for each criteria with an additional 3 points for presentation.
Olive Gachara
IWO Consultancy
Olive Gachara is a dynamic entrepreneur, media owner, speaker, and consultant reshaping Africa’s business landscape. She is the founder of IWO Consultancy, a boutique brand development agency offering individual consultations and corporate training in professional image, communication, branding, and entrepreneurship across Sub-Saharan Africa. Olive is also the visionary behind Couture Africa Limited, an African luxury media and events house that publishes Couture Africa Magazine and develops fashion and lifestyle content and events in the region.
With a strong educational background in entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, and image consulting, Olive continually advances her expertise through executive leadership programs. Her impactful work has earned her recognition, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 Top 35 Under 35 Awards by Youth Agenda Africa in partnership with UNFPA and Kenya’s Ministry of ICT.4o
Pascal Murasira
Joble
Rwandan-Dutch entrepreneur with a strong track record in managing diverse teams across Europe, where I’ve lived since 2017, and Africa, where I was born and raised. I transformed an abandoned school in Kigali into Norrsken Hub, the largest startup hub in Africa. Currently, I am building Joble, an AI-powered collaboration platform based in The Hague, The Netherlands. In my spare time, I teach entrepreneurship and coach early-stage entrepreneurs in Africa and Europe.
I’ve collaborated with various stakeholders, including farmer cooperatives, startups, multinational corporations, developmental organizations, high-level policymakers, and global investors.
My work has been recognized internationally, with features in outlets such as Forbes, CNN, BBC, TechCrunch, Financieel Dagblad, and Devex.
Cathrine Apula Iteyo
Taupis Tours and Travel Ltd
Founder and CEO of Taupis Tours and Travel Ltd, a socially
responsible travel agency where every journey is an opportunity to create lasting memories with
purpose.
With a background in communication, Cathrine excel at connecting people, sharing stories, and curating meaningful experiences that go beyond the ordinary. Passionate about empowering young talent, she believes in the potential of fresh ideas and the next generation of innovators to change the world.
When not leading my thriving travel agency, she is busy supporting social causes, diving into creative projects, and seeking new ways to make a real impact. Whether navigating the world of entrepreneurship or driving community change, Cathrine combines vision, passion, and a bit of fun to make a difference. Always ready to connect, collaborate, and inspire, with a commitment to creating opportunities for growth both professionally and personally.
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Norris Mukembe
Choir Venture Capital
Co-founder of BCX Climate Company, pioneering engineered biochar solutions for mine rehabilitation in South Africa. Currently leading Choir Venture Studios, building startups that address critical challenges in agtech and climate tech across emerging markets.
As an investor at Choir Venture Capital, I focus on early-stage upstream ag-tech startups, bringing over 10 years of experience in fundraising, investor relations, and startup advisory. With an MBA from the Asia School of Business (in collaboration with MIT Sloan), I leverage a data-driven approach to identifying and scaling innovative ventures.
Passionate about discovering transformative solutions that drive positive industry disruption and sustainable impact.
Mohamed Sharif Adan
Dawati
Mohamed Sharif Adan is a seasoned entrepreneur and leader with over 15 years of experience in the EdTech and FinTech sectors. He holds a first-class honours degree in Computer Science from the University of Nairobi and has completed post-graduate qualifications in Project Management, System Integration, Product Development, and Leadership.
As the co-founder of Dawati, Kenya’s leading EdTech platform, Mohamed has been instrumental in serving over 60,000 students across 4,000 high schools in Kenya. Dawati is revolutionizing the education sector by providing accessible, quality learning content to students across the country.
In addition to his work in education, Mohamed is also the co-founder of Afripesa, a pioneering mobile money platform that facilitates seamless cross-border payments by interconnecting African mobile wallets. Afripesa aims to simplify and empower financial transactions across borders in the African continent.
With his vast experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership, Mohamed is passionate about empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. He is now serving as a judge for the AwardX East Africa Pitch Competition, contributing his expertise to identify and support young, ambitious change-makers across the region.
Jesse Casters
Dumari
Jesse Casters is a faith-driven entrepreneur and social innovator with experience in startups, the non-profit sector, and social entrepreneurship. A five-time founder, he now leads Dumari, a global non-profit dedicated to providing every person with an equal opportunity to flourish. Dumari focuses on people and community development in vulnerable regions around the world, working to create sustainable opportunities and lasting impact.
His work is grounded in the belief that entrepreneurship should go beyond profits—it should serve as a powerful tool for making a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most.
