START-UP ECOSYSTEM ACCELERATOR INNOVATION FUND - GSMA
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02 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 03 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio About the GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator The Ecosystem Accelerator programme is supported by the UK Department for The GSMA represents the interests of mobile The GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator programme International Development (DFID), the operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 focuses on bridging the gap between mobile Australian Government, the GSMA and operators with over 350 companies in the operators and start-ups, enabling strong its members. The views expressed in this broader mobile ecosystem, including handset partnerships that foster the growth of document are not necessarily those of DFID or and device makers, software companies, innovative mobile products and services. These the Australian Government. equipment providers and internet companies, partnerships bring impactful mobile solutions as well as organisations in adjacent industry to the people and places that need them sectors. The GSMA also produces the most, generating the greatest socio-economic industry-leading MWC events held annually impact. In particular, the programme operates in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional an Innovation Fund which supports start-ups from Africa and Asia-Pacific with direct grant “Bringing impactful conferences. funding, technical assistance, and connections For more information, please visit the GSMA with mobile operators. mobile solutions to the people and places corporate website at www.gsma.com. Learn more at: www.gsma.com/ecosystemaccelerator Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA. or contact us at: accelerator@gsma.com Follow GSMA Mobile for Development on that need them most” Twitter: @GSMAm4d
04 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 05 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio THE GSMA ECOSYSTEM ACCELERATOR INNOVATION FUND THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FUND ARE TO Start-ups The Ecosystem Accelerator programme is supported by the Establish partnerships Test business Provide lessons and UK Department for International between operators models with examples for stakeholders Development (DFID), the Australian Government, the GSMA and its members. 1 and start-ups in order to increase the reach of innovative mobile 2 the greatest potential for 3 within the ecosystem, on the ways in which mobile is driving positive growth services socioeconomic change Ecosystem It provides selected start-ups in Africa and Accelerator Asia Pacific with grant funding, technical Mobile assistance, and the opportunity to partner Operators with mobile operators in their markets to help scale their products and services into This catalogue presents the Fund’s portfolio of start-ups across Africa sustainable businesses. and Asia Pacific, for its first, second, and third rounds.
06 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 07 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio IMPACT TO DATE 34 6.3M £188M 25 13 £13.3M start-ups in 23 countries beneficiaries have been in additional funding has start-ups now have of the 17 UN Sustainable of income has been unlocked have been allocated impacted by the portfolio been raised by the portfolio partnerships with mobile Development Goals are through their services, for £6.3m of grant funding start-ups. start-ups, mostly from network operators. addressed collectively by low-income populations and by the programme. commercial investors. the portfolio. local MSMEs.
08 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 09 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio PORTFOLIO START-UPS’ COLLABORATION WITH MOBILE OPERATORS In Kenya, Twiga Foods uses M-Pesa, Safaricom’s mobile money In Ghana, agritech start-up Agrocenta is using a mobile money API service to manage and streamline payment processes for vendors integration partnership with MTN and Vodafone to pay smallholder and farmers. By integrating mobile payments across its supply chain farmers directly and seamlessly via mobile money through its AgroPay platform, Twiga Foods enables the majority of farmers to receive their platform. Both mobile operators are supporting AgroCenta farmers payments through mobile money and information is recorded in real with financial literacy training on the ground. Vodafone Ghana allows time in the field to enable timely settlement of payments. smallholder farmers on its platform to access free voice calls between farmers and discounted mobile devices and bundles. In Pakistan, telemedicine start-up Sehat Kahani is integrated with Jazz’s mobile money service JazzCash. This allows patients to pay for In Indonesia, Telkomsel and eFishery are co-innovating and have various Sehat Kahani services using JazzCash on the app, including created a joint offering through the Telkomsel Innovation Center a consultation with a Sehat Kahani doctor. Jazz also provides Sehat (TINC) and have developed Narrowband IoT (NBIoT) devices for the Kahani with subsidised data rates for e-Hubs across Pakistan. aquaculture sector. Each Smart Feeder needs to have a SIM card and internet access to perform its full functions. Compared to a standard mobile SIM card, an NB-IoT SIM card enables the feeder to connect In Côte d’Ivoire, MTN and recycling start-up Coliba are co-innovating to the internet with minimal data costs, making the feeder more and co-incubating through MTN’s Y’ello Startup, an incubator affordable, especially for those with multiple devices. programme that supports early-stage local tech entrepreneurs. In addition to this initial support, Coliba and MTN are co-branding and cross-selling through a commercial partnership. Households that In Samoa, SkyEye is using a mobile money API integration recycle plastic bottles through Coliba’s mobile app are granted MTN partnership with Digicell and BlueSky’s M-Tala on the SkyEye MAUA data credits, allowing them to access the internet on their mobile app. This enables customers to use their mobile wallet to make and phones. Coliba is able to pay and communicate its recycling collectors accept payments. using MTN’s open SMS and mobile money APIs.
10 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 11 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio ECOSYSTEM ACCELERATOR Round 1 Round 2 INNOVATION FUND Round 3 PORTFOLIO Pakistan Nepal Egypt Bangladesh Myanmar Senegal Ethiopia Cambodia Benin Nigeria Ghana Côte Sri Lanka D’ivoire Cameroon Uganda Kenya Rwanda Indonesia Papua New Tanzania Guinea Samoa Zambia Mozambique East Africa
12 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 13 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio MEET THE PORTFOLIO START-UPS’ 34 CEOS eSewa Ruangguru eFishery Field Buzz Joonaak Karzo Raye7 SafeMotos Twiga Foods Ensibuuko Farmcrowdy Jamii Asgar Ali Adamas Belva Gibran Huzaifah Alexis Rawlinson Soliya Kong Alex Wicks Samira Negm Barett Nash Peter Njonjo Gerald Otim Onyeka Akumah Rayah Ndagire Syah Devara Neh Thit Sehat Kahani Greenovator oDoc Pacific Ads Group Qlue LipaMobile Lynk MaTontine Musanga SudPay AgroCenta Conor Smith Dr Sara Saeed Yin Yin Phyu Heshan Fernando Fredrik Orrenius Raditya Maulana Laban Jemba Adam Grunewald Bernie Akporiaye Njavwa Mutambo Samba Sow Francis Obirikorang Khurram Rusdi SkyEye Biscate Kytabu Optimetriks PrepClass Coliba Eneza Education GiftedMom Kea Medicals Taskmoby Sam Saili Frederico P Paul Mugambi Paul Langlois- Chukwuwezam Genesis Ehimegbe Wambura Kimunyu Alain Nteff Vèna Arielle Ezana Raswork Silva Meurinne Obanor Ahouansou
14 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 15 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 0186D5
16 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 17 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio ASIA PACIFIC START-UPS ESEWA Mobile payment service The problem Mobile operator collaboration In Nepal, only 34 per cent of all adults have “Nepal Telecom believes that eSewa is a pioneer allowing users to make an account at a financial institution, and this and is playing a key role in digitizing mobile online payments, pay utility number is even lower for women (31 per cent) recharge and overall utility of the mobile phones bills, receive money or set and lower income individuals (24 per cent). in Nepal. For Nepal Telecom, eSewa is the ideal ROUND 1 up merchant accounts Financial inclusion is key to reducing poverty and boosting prosperity. Without it, many societies are held back. partner that has been fulfilling our needs by deploying an efficient and productive sales force force, creating new network and opportunities, responding to the market instantly and using the The start-up modern digital technology and digital channel to The eSewa mobile payment solution can be serve our customers in better ways.” accessed either through a mobile app or over the — Dilli Ram Adhikari, ROUND 2 counter through one of 25,000 agents across the country. Users can buy mobile airtime (from Nepal MD Office Manager, Nepal Telecom Telecom and Ncell Axiata), pay bills, deposit funds eSewa has also partnered with mobile network in their bank account or perform cash-in/cash-outs service provider Smart Cell to distribute simcards from their eSewa account. The mobile app can through their agent network. also be used to buy bus tickets, pay for school fees ROUND 3 0186D5 Founders or book trips abroad. The project Impact to date As of January 2020, eSewa serves over 796,000 active customers across Nepal and its Android Asgar Ali (CEO) eSewa received a grant from the GSMA Ecosystem mobile app has been downloaded over 1.6 million Biswas Dhakal Accelerator Innovation Fund in April 2017 to times. Across the country eSewa has over 75,400 Subash Sharma improve the usability of its agent mobile app and agents. expand its services and operations in eastern Country Nepal. Nepal
18 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 19 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio RUANGGURU EFISHERY Digital marketplace for The problem Mobile operator collaboration IoT-based smart fish feeding The problem The project With over 50 million students and four million “Ruangguru has over 10 million registered users Aquaculture is expected to provide close to eFishery received a grant from the GSMA private tutors offering teachers, Indonesia has the fourth largest and Loop — Telkomsel’s youth brand — sees this machines for commercial two-thirds of global food fish consumption by Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in educational classes educational system in the world, but also one as an opportunity to bundle Ruangguru’s product aquaculture 2030, according to the FAO. With an annual February 2018 to extend its value proposition of the lowest performing. It has been claimed on our platform. Users gain access to 2GB of free aquaculture production of more than five million to fish farmers by adding more features to the that over 50 per cent of Indonesia’s teachers are data when surfing Ruangguru’s bundled content. tonnes, Indonesia is the third largest producer service and conducting a pilot project on Narrow insufficiently qualified. Ruangguru has a similar target market to ours in the world behind China and India. However, Band IoT (NB-IoT) with a mobile operator partner. (junior high and senior high students) thus we inefficiencies and lack of skills and data are The start-up can leverage the start-up’s brand awareness and forcing Indonesia’s 3.34 million fish and shrimp Mobile operator collaboration Ruangguru is a freemium learning management customer reach.” farmers to cope with very high feeding costs “eFishery Smart Feeder brings a new business system that helps students prepare for exams — Nastiti Yuniansari, Segmented Community (60 to 90 per cent of total production costs). model and opportunity for Telkomsel. The using content tailored to the national curriculum, Product Marketing, Loop, Telkomsel solution will have a positive impact on Indonesia’s and helps teachers to crowdsource educational The start-up aquaculture industry and inspire other developers content and distribute it to students. It improves Impact to date eFishery offers an IoT-based smart fish feeding and start-ups to work on IoT solutions to solve the learning experiences of students while also As of October 2018, Ruangguru has reached over machine for commercial aquaculture. The feeder Indonesia’s challenges.” improving access to resources for teachers. Access 10 million students registered on its platform. uses sensors to deduce the relative hunger of the — Amelia Kemalasari, General Manager Business to the service is now also being offered through a fish and then feeds them the optimal amount. Development, Telkomsel joint package with the mobile operator Telkomsel’s The sensor collects and sends data (such as feed youth brand, Loop. volumes, feed consumed and transactional data) Impact to date to the cloud where the data is aggregated, stored As of January 2020, eFishery has worked with Founders The project Founders and analysed. The proprietary software also allows more than 23,000 fish and shrimp ponds across Adamas Belva Syah Devara (CEO) Ruangguru received a grant from the GSMA Gibran Huzaifah (CEO) fish farmers to manage feeding in real time from Indonesia. On average, fish farmers using the Muhamad Iman Usman Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in April Chrisna Aditya their phones and control the system remotely, if eFishery solution have increased profits by over 2017 to launch an online marketplace where necessary. 20 per cent. teachers and tutors generate content and students Country access content for free or request personal Country Indonesia assistance for a fee. Indonesia
20 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 21 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio FIELD BUZZ JOONAAK Mobile software to manage The problem version of their last-mile distribution solution for Delivery service providing The problem Mobile operator collaboration According to a BCG study, in Bangladesh SMEs with dispersed sales and delivery agents in Despite a real opportunity for small “As Cambodia’s leading mobile operator, our goal last-mile distribution and traditional retail outlets, or mudir dokan, are rural areas of Bangladesh. logistics for micro and small entrepreneurs in Cambodia to embrace of providing our subscribers with more innovative operations efficiently ubiquitous, with over 90 per cent of the middle e-commerce businesses e-commerce, the country ranked only 119 out products and lifestyle solutions makes partnering class buying groceries from them regularly. These Impact to date of 137 in the 2016 UNCTAD B2C E-commerce with a ‘last mile’ delivery service provider like networks of shops employ millions of workers, As of January 2020, the Field Buzz platform has Index. Logistics is one of the key barriers to Joonaak a natural fit. Joonaak offers an important but are often operated in an informal, inefficient processed more than 4.2 million transactions the development of the sector, as lack of skills, service to the country’s growing e-commerce and non-transparent manner. This creates many in Bangladesh since the launch of the software equipment, time and capacity make it difficult sector that is unmatched by any other player.” systemic issues with cash collection, deliveries in 2015 and has connected more than 3,000 for small online merchants to get their product — Thomas Hundt, CEO of Smart Axiata and inventory management, and makes it field agents to 330,000 micro-merchants and to their customers. impossible for these microentrepreneurs to grow smallholder farmers. Impact to date their businesses efficiently. The start-up As of January 2020, Joonak has supported over Mobile operator collaboration Joonaak provides last-mile delivery services and 200 active small merchants on its platform and The start-up “In July 2019, Field Buzz was one of warehousing facilities to small businesses wanting delivers more than 17,000 packages per month. Field Buzz’s smartphone- and web-based SaaS Grameenphone Cloud Store’s launch partners. to grow their online sales. The service also includes To date over 1,200 users have downloaded the iOS ERP/CRM software helps organisations manage Field Buzz’s software provides solutions for a wide a technology platform for small e-commerce and android app. dispersed activities and transactions in the ‘last range of Grameenphone business customers with businesses to track their sales and generate mile’ in emerging markets, such as tracking field-based activities, making Field Buzz an ideal reports through a proprietary dashboard. distribution to small shops, interactions with partner for Grameenphone. We are glad to see its smallholder farmers, delivery of services to development of smart solutions for digitalization The project Founders low-income households and rural infrastructure in Bangladesh and pleased to have them as a Founders Joonaak received a grant from the GSMA Alexis Rawlinson (CEO) monitoring and maintenance. partner of Grameenphone Cloud Store.” Soliya Kong (CEO) Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in Habib Ullah Bahar — Mohammad Zakaria Haider, Product Manager Leakhena Long February 2018 to expand its operations and The project Cloud Store, Grameenphone customer base through the design and launch of Field Buzz received a grant from the GSMA a mobile version of its web app that offers simple Country Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in Country monitoring and tracking for both clients and end Bangladesh February 2018 to develop a more standardised Cambodia consumers.
22 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 23 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio KARZO NEH THIT Online platform allowing The problem Impact to date Low-income jobs platform The problem The project Despite more than 4,100 small companies As of January 2020, Karzo has built a network of While over 70 per cent of the adult population in Neh Thit received a grant from the GSMA businesses or individuals to operating in the transportation and storage over 3,020 truck drivers who have completed over providing job matching, Myanmar owns a smartphone, a lack of quality Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in request a truck for pick-up sector in Myanmar, small logistics companies 10,412 successful trips through the platform. skills training and employer job boards or platforms means the country’s February 2018 to develop and expand its current and delivery services and independent truck owners are losing transparency 25 million low-income workers do not have platform by improving the system through which money every day from underutilised trucks efficient or dependable ways to find a job. customer relationships are managed for both job and an inefficient marketplace. Meanwhile, Mobile operator collaboration Although reliable statistics are lacking, youth seekers and employers. small businesses, MSMEs and businesses have “Telenor Myanmar is pleased to offer an effective unemployment in the country is considered no reliable, cost-efficient or trackable way to and cost-efficient solution to Karzo to meet the high. Impact to date manage logistics and facilitate deliveries. start-up’s business needs. Pre-paid data SIM As of January 2020, Neh Thit has helped over cards from Telenor Myanmar enables Karzo to The start-up 413 job seekers to find employment while The start-up connect to its drivers’ fleet and run real-time Neh Thit is a job-matching platform for low-skilled several thousands of users have taken its online Karzo is an online marketplace that connects tracking via GPS devices all around the clock. workers in Myanmar. Taking advantage of the high professional skills course. truck owners with businesses and individuals With more than 8,600 network sites nationwide smartphone penetration and popularity of social for efficient and reliable logistics and delivery covering over 300 townships, Telenor serves media in the country, Neh Thit is using a Facebook solutions. In signing up to Karzo’s platform, more than 18 million customers in Myanmar Messenger chatbot to help match job seekers with drivers and fleet owners gain access to orders for through its high quality network supported by suitable employers. The platform also allows users small retail and wholesale businesses on either a 2G/3G/4G technology.” to take online professional skills courses. contract or ad hoc basis. — Shwe Yinn Mar Oo, Manager, External Communications, Founder The project Corporate Affairs Group, Telenor Myanmar Founder Alex Wicks (CEO) Karzo received a grant from the GSMA Ecosystem Conor Smith (CEO) Accelerator Innovation Fund in February 2018 Bo Mee (Head of Customer Success) to expand its operations locally by automating most of its key processes. This automation phase Country includes the launch of a mobile app for SME Country Myanmar customers to place truck orders. Myanmar
24 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 25 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio SEHAT KAHANI GREENOVATOR m-Health services provided The problem of the six clinics acts as a referral point for patients Digital marketplace for The problem The project World Bank data shows that only 0.9 per cent who need further consultation and treatment. Agriculture represents 38 per cent of Myanmar’s Greenovator received a grant from the GSMA by women doctors to of Pakistan’s GDP is spent on healthcare — eight agricultural inputs and GDP, employs 60 per cent of the active Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in marginalised populations times less than what is recommended by the Mobile operator collaboration outputs population and uses close to 20 per cent of the November 2018 to develop a marketplace service through telehealth World Health Organization. Meanwhile, more “At Jazz, we are always trying to revolutionise country’s land. However, Myanmar’s agriculture that provides farmers with information on than 60 per cent of Pakistan’s medical students our products and provide better services to the sector is not as efficient as it could be due to a agricultural inputs and outputs. The service is in are women, but due to socio-cultural taboos people of Pakistan. We’re excited to partner with lack of agricultural information that is limiting turn expected to help reduce costs and increase only 23 per cent of doctors are women, and this Sehat Kahani as it gives us a chance to provide crop yields, creating a disconnect between incomes for farmers in Myanmar. number is even lower in rural areas. our customers with better healthcare through buyers and sellers, and generating additional the touch of a button. This partnership is a step waste due to poor demand projection for Mobile operator collaboration The start-up towards a better, healthier Pakistan where each agricultural inputs. This lack of information Greenovator partnered with Telenor Myanmar to Sehat Kahani provides affordable healthcare to person, no matter what background he or she also keeps smallholder farmers in poverty. gain access to the mobile operator’s SMS gateway. populations in rural areas and urban slums across is from, can get access to health education and As a comparison, a farmer in Myanmar earns As a result, Greenovator can now verify its users Pakistan. The platform connects users to qualified consultations from doctors, anywhere.” about $1.80–$2.50 per day in monsoon season through SMS verification process. This allows users women doctors through virtual and mobile- — Aamer Ejaz, Chief Digital Officer of Jazz compared to $10.00–$16.50 per day in Thailand to access their services via Green Boxes, which enabled consultations. Patients can access the and $7.80 per day in the Philippines. are strategically located at agricultural shops service at community health clinics that Sehat As of December 2918, Sehat Kahani collaborated and provides free WiFi access to users in order Kahani has equipped with tablets and turned into with Jazz to integrate the Jazzcash wallet to download the app. In February 2019, Greenovator The start-up e-health centres. With the Sehat Kahani mobile facilate all financial transactions. also integrated with Wave Money by Telenor, Greenovator’s platform provides information app, users can also access general preventive and which is a payment channel to their marketplace for farmers, such as advice for producing better Founders mental health information. Impact to date Founders platform. This allows farmers to buy materials for yields, local weather, demand projection and daily Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram (CEO) As of January 2020, Sehat Kahani’s 26 e-health Yin Yin Phyu (CEO) their farms through a mobile phone. prices. The solution also allows traders to identify Dr. Iffat Zafar The project centres have facilitated over 120,000 successful Thein Soe Min where to source produce at the right time and Iffat (COO) Sehat Kahani received a grant from the GSMA consultations. To date, over 1,500 female Impact to date provides a way for vendors to project demand for Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in February physicians are engaged with the platform and agricultural inputs. As of January 2020, Greenovator has over Country 2018 to deploy the health technology in six clinics there are over 120,000 registered users using the Country 90,000 users. Pakistan that support 120 community health workers. Each e-health clinics and the mobile app. Myanmar
26 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 27 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio ODOC PACIFIC ADS GROUP Mobile-based telemedicine The problem Mobile operator collaboration Online marketplace and The problem The project According to the World Health Organization, “Through our partnership with oDoc, we Eighty-five per cent of the population in Papua Pacific Ads Group received a grant from the services for low-income there are fewer than 0.9 physicians per 1,000 were able to provide an online video medical service job-matching New Guinea work in the informal economy. GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in earners people in Sri Lanka on average, making access consultation solution to our customers much platforms Small businesses are primarily informal November 2018 to develop a matching platform to doctors and healthcare a serious issue. This faster and more cost effectively rather than operations with marketing channels limited to for local service providers and potential local ratio hides an even deeper disparity between building it ourselves. By combining oDoc’s speed word of mouth (short reach), directory services customers, and to expand the service to five urban and rural areas. with our reach, we have been able to create and (untrusted) and door-to-door (high cost). cities across Papua New Guinea. The platform distribute a market leading product that not only Security issues also make it difficult to reach is expected to allow service providers to better The start-up benefits us and oDoc but the country as well.” new customers. market themselves as trusted businesses, and oDoc is a service connecting doctors with patients — Suneth Haputhanthri, General Manager, later to gain access to financial services, such as virtually using mobile technology (smartphone eChannelling & Senior Manager, Mobitel The start-up credit to expand their business and increase their app, SMS, voice and video) and mobile data to Pacific Ads Group offers several online classifieds income. provide high-quality primary healthcare at an Impact to date across the Pacific, mainly for properties and cars. affordable price. As of January 2020, over 120,000 low-income Users of such platforms often report difficulties workers have access to oDoc’s medical finding local professionals to help with home The project consultation mobile app. projects or maintenance. Pacific Ads Group is oDoc received a grant from the GSMA Ecosystem launching a new digital service to match local Accelerator Innovation Fund in November 2018 professionals with potential local customers. to scale up their service in Sri Lanka to offer low- Founders income earners access to quality and affordable Founders Heshan Fernando (CEO) health services. oDoc will use mobile technology Fredrik Orrenius (CEO) Sohan Dharmarajah to provide health services to low-income earners Nancy Lai Inshard Naizer in factories, construction sites and the transport Axel Peyriere Janaka Wickramasinghe industry, while also providing convenient and Andrew Runawary affordable access for all other users. Country Country Sri Lanka and India Papua New Guinea
28 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 29 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio QLUE 0186D5 SKYEYE Civic engagement app for The problem to actively report or share their neighbourhood Localisation and mapping The problem Mobile operator collaboration According to the World Bank, over half of conditions with city officials or businesses and Samoa, like most other small Pacific Islands, In January 2020 SkyEye integrated with Digicell’s users to report or share Indonesia’s population lives in cities, and by receive an efficient response. solution for transportation has challenging logistical infrastructure due to Mobile Money and BlueSky’s M-Tala (mobile their neighbourhood 2025 this will rise to two-thirds. However, services the lack of a national addressing system. This money) on the SkyEye MAUA app, enabling conditions with city officials resources for city services are often insufficient Mobile operator collaboration makes it difficult for small businesses to market customers to use their mobile wallet to make and or misdirected due to a lack of accurate data on Qlue has a partnership with Telkomsel in the city themselves and to use e-commerce to grow accept payments. or businesses the performance of city departments and the of Jakarta where Qlue offers a bundled smart their business. needs of residents. city solution to the mobile operator. Telkomsel Impact to date offers devices, network coverage, and marketing The start-up As of January 2020, over 1,300 users have The start-up support to support Qlue for offering a platform SkyEye develops services that harness mobile registered on the SkyEye app. Qlue’s mobile-enabled platform offers two- that citizens can use to record civic problems to and geospatial technologies solutions to solve way communication for city residents and the civic authority. Since signing the GSMA grant, logistical challenges in Pacific Island countries. governments. Residents can request government Qlue has expanded its operations and secure services and city governments can respond and more partnerships with telecom operators such The project provide updates on the status of those requests. as Indosat Ooredoo. In February 2019, Qlue raised SkyEye received a grant from the GSMA The data is compiled into actionable reports an undisclosed amount from MDI Ventures, the Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in for city leaders to better manage and allocate corporate venture capital arm of Telkom Indonesia. November 2018 to develop a platform for taxis resources. The reports are also available to the and delivery drivers to receive orders in real time. public and media, improving transparency. Impact to date In the absence of an effective address system, As of January 2020, Qlue has channelled more the platform leverages SkyEye’s GIS expertise to Founders The project than 1 million reports from all Indonesia from over Founders locate pick-up and drop-off points. The platform Raditya Maulana Rusdi (CEO) Qlue received a grant from the GSMA Ecosystem 640,000 registered app users. Sam Saili (CEO) is expected to create opportunities for small Andre Hutagalung (CTO) Accelerator Innovation Fund in November 2018 to Nome Saili businesses and e-commerce players to deliver expand its existing civic engagement platform to their goods and to unlock new income for drivers. three new cities across Indonesia, which includes Country training for government staff and support with Country Indonesia citizen engagement. The platform will allow users Samoa
30 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 31 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio AFRICA START-UPS BISCATE Platform using inclusive The problem The project Data from the International Labour Organization Biscate received a grant from the GSMA mobile technologies to shows that nine in 10 people in Mozambique Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in April connect skilled workers work in the informal economy, one of the 2017 to expand its service in Mozambique and from the informal sector highest ratios in the world. It is estimated develop a feature to link workers to relevant ROUND 1 with customers that 80 per cent of those under 35 lack stable employment, with many struggling to meet day- to-day living costs. training centres for skill building and certifications. Mobile operator collaboration “We as an operator provide one link of the chain. The start-up The Biscate team has the right expertise; they Biscate, or ‘odd job’ in Portuguese, is a service co- know how to brand the service and reach the branded with Vodacom Mozambique that allows community of users. With Biscate, Vodacom ROUND 2 informal and often uncertified skilled workers throughout the country to register and advertise wants to support a local success story.” — Director, Vodacom Mozambique their services with any basic mobile phone using USSD technology. Biscate offers potential Impact to date customers access to a register of workers sorted As of January 2020, over 33,505 workers and by trade, location and experience level. Once a job close to 75,000 users are registered on th Biscate’s ROUND 3 Founders has been completed, customers can rate workers. platform. Over 11,120 tasks and jobs have been completed on the platform (as of January 2020). Frederico P Silva (CEO) Tiago Borges Coelho Ioannis Pannagiotou Country Mozambique
32 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 33 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio KYTABU OPTIMETRIKS EdTech platform that leases The problem The project Agile Sales Force The problem 2017 to improve the user-scoring mechanism, In Kenya, the cost of school supplies and Kytabu received a grant from the GSMA Research by AT Kearney shows that in Kenya, design customised training materials and deploy out textbooks through apps learning materials are inflated due to Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in April Automation software about 70 per cent of the population do their the service in Kenya and Uganda. supply chain inefficiencies and trade issues. 2017 to make its existing mobile app available to manage Africa’s daily shopping in open markets and through Textbooks can cost up to a third of a middle- on multiple platforms, create additional digital informal distribution other informal channels. The absence of reliable Mobile operator collaboration class household’s income, but these costs content and upgrade the capacity of the service. socio-economic data in emerging markets is a “Optimetriks is a relevant technological solution disproportionately affect the poorest families big obstacle to making good policy decisions. that gives us real-time insights from our mobile who can spend over half their income on Impact to date This is also a problem for the private sector, money agents across Ghana, which we then use education. As of October 2018, Kytabu has over 7,810 users on where a lack of basic market data and customer to influence the performance of Tigo Cash. Their its platform. feedback creates a barrier to investment for 55 end-to-end solution is easy to deploy, agile and The start-up per cent of brands in Africa. reliable.” Kytabu is a leasing app for textbooks, which — Carl Eli Pomeyie, Head of Mobile Financial are downloadable from an online library on any The start-up Services, Tigo Ghana internet-enabled device or pre-installed on a Optimetriks helps FMCG companies operating Kytabu tablet. By breaking textbooks down into in Africa better understand their sales presence Optimetriks regularly collaborates with MTN leasable lessons, the aim is to make educational and performance, either by conducting field Uganda, Orange Mali, Orange Senegal and Orange content more accessible and affordable to visits to collect insights or by digitising the main Guinée Bissau to collect retail insights. They low- and middle-income families and improve distribution process with their CRM software. It deploy their Sales Force Automation software to educational access across Kenya. relies on a user friendly Android app used by field monitor the street marketing activities and Agent sales, the distributors and the retailers for the data Management activities for Vodacom Mozambique. Founders Founders collection and real time reporting dashboards for Paul Mugambi (CEO) Paul Langlois-Meurinne (CEO) the management. Impact to date Tonee Ndungu Marc de Courcel As of Januaury 2020, Optimetriks processes The project 200,000 sales transaction per month. Optimetriks received a grant from the GSMA Country Country Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in April Kenya East Africa
34 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 35 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio PREPCLASS RAYE7 Digital tutoring marketplace The problem The project Culturally sensitive digital The problem Mobile operator collaboration At over 80 million, Nigeria has the world’s third PrepClass received a grant from the GSMA In Cairo, traffic is a serious health, economic “We believe that the integration of SMS API is just that connects learners and largest population of under 15s, comparable to Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in April carpooling solution for daily and security issue. Vehicles are responsible for a start of many initiatives between Orange Egypt teachers the entire population of the European Union. 2017 to increase the number of tuition sessions commuting 26 per cent of air pollution, and Cairo traffic and Raye7 to deliver a unique service to both Yet, in terms of quality and enrolment rates, its completed through the platform by connecting alone costs Egypt four per cent of its GDP every Orange Egypt’s and Raye7’s customers and to school system from primary to higher education more learners and tutors via a web and mobile year. Unfortunately, public transportation is not work coherently to solve, at least part of, Egypt’s is ranked very low at 120 out of 135 countries. app. currently a reliable alternative, especially for traffic problems.” the 86 per cent of women who report feeling — Peter Kaldas Marketing Sr. Supervisor, The start-up Impact to date insecure. Orange Egypt PrepClass is a tutoring marketplace that connects Between its launch in 2013 and January 2020, students and tutors through an online platform. PrepClass has matched close to 147,049 learners The start-up Impact to date A pool of curated teachers who have been and teachers’ - over 41% of which are female users. Raye7 is a mobile-based carpooling service As of January 2020, Raye7 has built a community interviewed and thoroughly vetted offer their for daily commuting that relies on the trust of of over 55,000 registered ride sharers (both drivers services to learners, providing a source of income community networks. Users receive cost-effective and riders). Over 20 per cent of these users are for tutors while supporting the education of transportation while drivers generate additional women. Over 197,000 trips have been completed Nigeria’s students. PrepClass also launched a daily income to offset the cost of their car, through the platform since the service launched in mobile app called PrepTest, which provides tutors insurance and fuel. The service offers women the late 2015. with a platform to upload learning content and for option to choose to only ride with other women learners to watch detailed video solutions. from their community. Founders Founders The project Chukwuwezam Obanor (CEO) Samira Negm (CEO) Raye7 received a grant from the GSMA Ecosystem Olumide Ogunlana Accelerator Innovation Fund in April 2017 to scale up their B2C business with large homogeneous communities (e.g. universities, business parks) Country Country who have long daily commutes from residential Nigeria Egypt areas.
36 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 37 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio SAFEMOTOS TWIGA FOODS Localised and safety- The problem The project Mobile-based supply The problem The project Although low- and middle-income countries SafeMotos received a grant from the GSMA Agriculture accounts for over a quarter of Twiga Foods received a grant from the GSMA focused ride-hailing have only half the world’s vehicles, they have 90 Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in April platform for small- and Kenya’s GDP (or around half if other related Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in April platform for motorcycles per cent of the world’s road traffic deaths. Africa 2017 to develop its existing product to provide medium-sized fruit and sectors are included), and over 75 per cent 2017 to build a mobile solution that enables has the highest rates of traffic fatalities, making drivers with more digital services, improve the vegetable vendors of the country’s population makes some part vendors to place orders via feature phones and its roads the most unsafe in the world. customer experience with ordering and paying for of their living from agriculture. However, the smartphones, and to launch a blockchain-enabled the service, and increase the number of trips per Kenyan agricultural sector can be inefficient financial services platform. The start-up month. and complex, and food waste is high due to SafeMotos is a safety-focused ride-hailing service inefficient handling practices. At the same time, Mobile operator collaboration for motorcycle taxis in Africa. The mobile-based Impact to date small- and medium-sized fruit and vegetable Twiga Foods uses M-Pesa, Safaricom’s mobile platform improves road safety and enables more As of October 2018, SafeMotos has built a vendors often lack access to a reliable supply of money service, to manage and streamline their transparent interactions between motorcycle taxi network of over 150 active drivers in Rwanda and affordable and quality products. payment processes for vendors and farmers. drivers and customers. Drivers can differentiate completed over 350,000 trips since it launched in Through M-Pesa, Twiga Foods makes about Kes themselves from the competition and get more 2015. The start-up 25,242,000 (approx. $250,000 USD) payments to trips as customers know they are monitored Twiga Foods runs a mobile-based B2B platform farmers per week. via smartphone sensors for their driving habits. that supplies fresh fruits and vegetables sourced In return, customers have access to safer from farmers in rural Kenya to small- and medium- Impact to date transportation options. sized roadside vendors. The mobile-based cashless As of January 2020 Twiga Foods platform has platform allows Twiga Foods to offer higher prices moved 400 tonnes of produce allowing the 8,900 and a guaranteed market to farmers, and lower farmers registered on the platform to boost their Founders Founders prices and a reliable supply to vendors. It also income by over $50 per month. Barett Nash (CEO) Peter Njonjo helps to reduce post-harvest losses and waste as Peter Kariuki it matches demand with supply. Consumers also benefit as they are able to buy fresher products at lower prices thanks to a more efficient supply Country Country chain. Rwanda Kenya
38 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 39 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio ENSIBUUKO FARMCROWDY Cloud-based core banking The problem The project Online platform for The problem The project According to the World Bank, over three million Ensibuuko received a grant from the GSMA Agriculture represents 23 per cent of Nigeria’s Farmcrowdy received a grant from the GSMA software customised people across Uganda are using the country’s Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in individuals and businesses GDP, and while smallholder farmers produce 90 Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in for Savings and Credit 6,000 Savings and Credit Cooperatives February 2018 to design, build and integrate to invest in farming projects per cent of the country’s agricultural output, February 2018 to develop a mobile solution aimed Cooperatives (SACCOs) (SACCOs) to access financial services. Most a mobile banking platform into their existing they have little access to credit to sustain and at allowing farmers and sponsors to interact while SACCOs still rely heavily on rudimentary group banking software platform to improve the grow their businesses. Between 2009 and 2013, also delivering other services to farmers, such as manual management of financial information. quality and range of financial services available to less than three per cent of all annual credit information, electronic payments and training. Inefficiency, human error and fraud have SACCOS in Uganda. issued by deposit money banks in the country become typical of these institutions and are went to smallholder farmers. Impact to date undermining their ability to deliver financial Mobile operator collaboration As of January 2020, Farmcrowdy has helped services to the underbanked. “We value Ensibuuko’s business and we are The start-up over 25,800 farmers across 16 states in Nigeria to confident and hopeful that Ensibuuko will Farmcrowdy’s digital platform connects investors receive over $18,148,000 in sponsorship for the The start-up continue to touch and support the community to farmers through sponsorship packages that purchase of agricultural inputs. Ensibuuko uses mobile money and the cloud, in through the provision of quality and dependable fund higher yields for a share of the returns. The collaboration with Airtel and MTN, to help SACCOs services.” service allows the sponsors to browse and select in Uganda mobilise and manage savings to offer — Jeremiah Kasirye, Head of Network screened agricultural opportunities by produce credit efficiently. Its customised software, Mobis, Infrastructure, Airtel Uganda type, funding amount, contract duration and enables SACCOs to gain better insights from their expected returns. data, manage transactions and credit efficiently, Impact to date and make data-driven decisions. As of January 2020, over 230,900 end users have Founders benefited from Ensibuuko’s service through their Founders Gerald Otim (CEO) respective SACCOs. Onyeka Akumah (CEO) Opio Obwangamoi David Akindele Phillips Tope Omotolani Jimoh Maiyegun Country Country Uganda Nigeria
40 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 41 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio JAMII LIPAMOBILE Mobile microhealth The problem Mobile operator collaboration Xuldime is a school fee The problem The project Less than 30 per cent of people in Tanzania “The partnership with Jamii is rather exemplary Households in Uganda typically pay 100 per cent LipaMobile received a grant from the GSMA insurance product for Africa currently have access to health insurance. and we are positive we will replicate the same in management and payment of the costs for pre-primary education, 76 per Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in The remaining 35 million, who often work in other countries where Vodacom is present in a system for parents cent for secondary and 70 per cent for tertiary. February 2018 to consolidate and expand the the informal economy, must pay for health bid to serve the underserved through a cashless However, according to the World Bank, just 16 Xuldime service in Uganda, with a key focus services every time they need them. Due to high and paperless microhealth insurance product.” per cent of adults keep their savings at formal on rural Uganda where most parents have low administration costs, large insurance companies — Vincent Ndekana Polycarp, Head of deposit-taking institutions (banks, microfinance incomes. rarely serve small enterprises or Tanzanians m-Commerce Product Development and institutions or savings and credit institutions), making less than $100 a month. Marketing, Vodacom Tanzania which means managing and paying for school Impact to date fees and school-related expenses is a major As of October 2018, two secondary schools The start-up Impact to date challenge for most households. have been enrolled on the school fees payment Jamii is a mobile management platform for health As of January 2020, over 11,750 people have been component of the Xuldime service, and 1,382 insurance policies that performs the administrative covered by health insurance offered through Jamii. The start-up students have been enrolled to pay fees via this functions of an insurer while providing access to LipaMobile’s Xuldime service is an integrated module. low-cost microhealth insurance policies for MSMEs. cashless platform for parents, school The policies are ordered and paid for on mobile administrators, and school canteen vendors and phones via USSD and mobile money in partnership suppliers to pay for school fees, supplies and with Vodacom Tanzania. services. The product is aimed at parents with no fixed earnings for whom lump sum payments of The project school fees can be difficult. It also offers a savings Founder Jamii received a grant from the GSMA Ecosystem Founder platform where parents can periodically load Rayah Ndagire (CEO) Accelerator Innovation Fund in February 2018 to Laban Jemba (CEO) money and set payment dates for direct deposits increase the adoption of microhealth insurance into the school’s bank account. service by MSMEs in Tanzania by facilitating mobile-only onboarding of users. Country Country Tanzania Uganda
42 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 43 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio LYNK MATONTINE A digital platform that The problem The project Solution to digitise The problem The project According to a World Bank report, the informal Lynk received a grant from the GSMA Ecosystem UNCDF data shows that only 25 per cent of MaTontine received a grant from the GSMA connects households and sector accounts for close to 83 per cent of Accelerator Innovation Fund in February 2018 to traditional savings circles adults in Senegal have access to a bank account Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in businesses with informal Kenya’s employment, which for millions of develop a worker-facing mobile app to enhance (tontines) and facilitate of any kind, and this rate drops below 10 per February 2018 to scale the digital platform and workers, artisans and workers means uncertainty, low pay and few worker engagement with its job matching and access to credit and cent in rural areas. As most of the population incorporate a credit scoring functionality to opportunities for career advancement. Good e-commerce platform. This in turn aims to enhance are unable to access any form of credit, they facilitate small loans and other financial services tradespeople financial services work does not necessarily mean more work or the scalability and efficiency of the platform by instead rely on traditional, informal rotating like microinsurance from third-party providers. higher pay, and positive feedback and a strong reducing Lynk’s manual operating processes. It savings circles called tontines, usually managed track record of work do not generally translate also empowers workers to manage their own by women. As these saving circles are operated Impact to date into borrowing power or the ability to start a profiles as small businesses, manage multiple jobs, manually, the risk of fraud and disputes is high As of January 2020, MaTontine has built a formal business. widen their offerings and boost their incomes. and limits their potential. community of over 5,150 active members - over 90 per cent of whom are women - across twelve The start-up Mobile operator collaboration The start-up regions of Senegal. To date, over quarter of million Lynk’s core offering is to connect informal workers In February 2019, Lynk started a new collaboration MaTontine offers a mobile-based automated million dollars has been saved through MaTontine to suitable jobs. Users submit their service request with Safaricom’s e-commerce platform, Masoko, to platform for tontines using SMS, USSD and mobile services. on the platform, which is then forwarded to launch a pilot to cross-sell Lynk services. money technologies. By allowing users to build available service providers via SMS. Interested their credit scores over time, MaTontine makes it service providers can bid for the job by replying to Impact to date possible for them to access financial services, such the job message. Once users select their preferred As of January 2020, over 45,000 jobs have been as small loans and insurance. The community- worker, the job is delivered onsite. Customers pay booked and completed through Lynk’s platform, focused platform is deployed and run by tontine Founders via mobile money or card, and are prompted to creating jobs for over 1,300 active registered Founders managers who generate some revenue through Adam Grunewald (CEO) provide a service rating. worker users. Lynk has to date transferred over Bernie Akporiaye (CEO) this activity. Johannes Degn 4.5 million (USD) to its registered workers. Tosan Oruwariye Country Country Kenya Senegal
44 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio 45 GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund: Start-up Portfolio MUSANGA LOGISTICS SUDPAY Mobile platform to send The problem The project Mobile solution for small The problem The project While youth make up almost two-thirds of Musanga received a grant from the GSMA In Senegal, up to 70 per cent of local taxes SudPay received a grant from the GSMA parcels through a network Zambia’s working-age population, almost 25 Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in merchants to pay taxes go uncollected due to fraud and lack of Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund in of independent cyclists, per cent are unemployed. Meanwhile, local small February 2018 to expand their operations and to municipal authorities transparency at different stages of the collection February 2018 to set up and roll out TownPay in riders and drivers businesses and shops face simple infrastructure platform in three cities across Zambia. The end transparently process. This missed income in turn prevents several municipalities of Dakar to assist with tax challenges, such as timely delivery of packages goal is to empower microentrepreneurs (drivers, municipalities from improving public services collection and increase the budget available for and inventory. riders) who will in turn support local small (mainly healthcare, schools and roads), which local public services. businesses and shops. has a direct impact on the local population. The start-up Impact to date Musanga is a delivery service for packages in Mobile operator collaboration The start-up As of January 2020, nine municipalities have Lusaka. Packages are delivered within one to “This is an exciting opportunity for us to add TownPay is a solution developed by SudPay to signed up for the service. More than 24,000 three hours and instant proof of delivery is value and help our people. I am a firm believer in allow municipalities to automate, and later digitise, merchants have been enrolled since April 2018 and provided. It enables small businesses and shops Africa’s potential in the platform economy. Well the collection of local taxes from MSMEs to reduce more than half have already paid their taxes using to lower their logistical costs and enables informal done to the team at Musanga. We are on your fraud and improve collection rates. The solution the solution since tax collection started in late microentrepreneurs with underutilised assets like side.” initially equips municipal tax collectors with June 2018. motorbikes, bicycles or trucks, to fulfil last-mile — Charles Molapisi, CEO, MTN Zambia proprietary mobile terminals and municipalities deliveries through Musanga’s mobile platform and with digital dashboards to track tax collection. earn extra income. Through a collaboration with Impact to date MTN, Musanga is also aiming to offer its customers Between April and October 2018, over 48,000 and drivers access to a set of mobile financial kilometres have been driven by Musanga’s Founders services. network of drivers and bicycle riders (whose Founders Njavwa Mutambo (CEO) average age is under 28) to complete deliveries Samba Sow (CEO) Emmanuel Kwenda through the platform. Ngom Pathé Faye Country Country Zambia Senegal
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