For creating a connected object to manage remote water networks to avoid leaks, HydroIQ, a startup in Kenya has been named “Start of the Year in Africa”. The prize was awarded Friday in Casablanca, during the second edition of “Startup of the year Africa” ​​(SOTYA 2018).

The Casablanca Technopark stormed by hundreds of people yesterday Friday. And for good reason, discover the best African startup of 2018 among the 600 applications. Which were selected by starup.info on the basis of the same criteria as the first edition last year.

In particular, to have a legal existence (registration number requested), its seat in Africa to be elected “African Startup of the year” (no geographical restriction for other prizes), a date of creation from 1 January 2010 and an MVP (a minimum product that meets the expectations of the target of the startup) or a prototype.

But, if there were many called, HydroIQ, a Kenyan startup that has set up a connected object to manage the hydraulic networks at a distance to avoid leaks, even to provide a concrete solution to the nagging question of the billing of water that arises acutely in many countries of the African continent. “Leaks are automatically detected on the network and households are billed to the most just via a mobile application,” says Brian Bosire, co-founder and CEO of HydroIQ.

What has doubtless fascinated the 12 000 Internet users who voted via mobile from November 27 to December 22, did not hesitate to set his sights on this startup initiated by two young people from the western regions of Kenya. These have succeeded ThinVoid Tambula, the Ugandan startup that promotes the financial inclusion of unbanked professionals in the transport and agriculture sectors.

Start-ups in French-speaking Africa are losing ground?
And as the winner last year, HydroIQ pocketed 10,000 euros, just like the special OCP prize that went to the Ivorian startup Graci. This one “works for the improvement of the rice production in Ivory Coast”.

The public prize was awarded to Ecodome Morocco, which is building “ecotourism premises based on natural earth in the form of domes”.

But, beyond the awards, the magazine Startup.info supported by the Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP) has set a challenge to the height of the continental context. The aim is to promote young entrepreneurs who, through their entrepreneurial creativity, should breathe new life into the revival of a faltering African economy.

However. This year, there has been a kind of indifference of young entrepreneurs from French-speaking Africa to this noble design. “Half of the applications we received came from English-speaking Africa, whereas just a year ago, the French-speaking part was the most represented,” says Kossi Adzo, founder of startup.info.

A way to invite Africans to participate more in future editions.

Africanews

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CEO AfrikaTech

Comme beaucoup de personnes j’ai connu l’Afrique à travers des stéréotypes : l’Afrique est pauvre, il y a la guerre, famine… Je suis devenu entrepreneur pour briser ces clichés et participer à la construction du continent. J’ai lancé plusieurs entreprises dont Kareea (Formation et développement web), Tutorys (Plate-forme de e-learning), AfrikanFunding (Plate-forme de crowdfunding). Après un échec sur ma startup Tutorys, à cause d’une mauvaise exécution Business, un manque de réseau, pas de mentor, je suis parti 6 mois en immersion dans l’écosystème Tech au Sénégal. J’ai rencontré de nombreux entrepreneurs passionnés, talentueux et déterminés. A mon retour sur Paris je décide de raconter leur histoire en créant le média AfrikaTech. L'objectif est de soutenir les entrepreneurs qui se battent quotidiennement en Afrique en leur offrant la visibilité, les connaissances, le réseautage et les capitaux nécessaires pour réussir. L'Afrique de demain se construit aujourd'hui ensemble. Rejoignez-nous ! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boubacardiallo

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