Ariob, an incubation programme aimed at launching African-centered startups into blockchain ventures, is graduating its first cohort tomorrow (April 4).
The programme, a collaboration between leading decentralised technology solutions provider Input Output and Ethiopian tech incubator and accelerator iceaddis, will graduate eight early-stage ventures, working on sectors like health, savings, and money transfer.
The programme gets its name from the ancient language of Ge’ez, which symbolises the energy and promise of the high potential startups as well as the African continent. The demo day event, which will be streamed on YouTube at 12pm EAT, will feature startup founders representing eight countries, namely Thrift, Hippocrades, Ekival, ABCD, DirectEd, Kaydor, Delivery Chain, and CheCha.
The programme’s inaugural cohort received professional business consulting, training, business, and market linkage opportunities, over a course of six months. Selected from Project Catalyst, the innovative arm of the Cardano blockchain, the startups are either Africa-based or focused on the African market which has shown high potential in solving real-life challenges on the continent.
“Supporting high-potential blockchain startups is the pillar of our industry. The entrepreneurs in this program solve real-life challenges, launch beautifully crafted products and increase adoptions within the market they operate,” said Markos Lemma, CEO of iceaddis.
“The incubation programme only brings the startups to the level where they can be in the spotlight so that others would provide more support to upscale the businesses. This includes further investment, commercialisation, and taxonomies support which are key to bringing the startups to the next level. I believe DEMO day will act as a stepping stone toward building long-term relationships.”
Short and intensive training tailored couples with one-on-one meetings with the entrepreneurs and mentorship meetings were part of the incubation programme, which took off last year. With the bootcamp now behind them, these eight startups are putting the finishing touches on their decks as they prepare to pitch to investors worldwide.
