Demo Africa 2015: Shield Finance Approved to Pitch Again in Lagos

Demo Africa pre-pitching event has produced another group of startup that would showcase its entrepreneurial skill in September. Shield Finance beat five other teams to emerge the most outstanding start-up event held in Nairobi.

Other teams that participated were Lipco, Kuhustle, ENT mobile, Chippp and Briglobe.

Shield Finance is a product that does pay day lending. This enables employees to access pay day loans directly into their mobile phones and mobile money accounts.

Speaking on their win, Josephat Njui, CTO, Shield Investment Company Limited, said that he is excited about having a chance to pitch on the DEMO Africa platform. “I look forward to pitching in Lagos. I am positive that investors will be confident about investing in start-ups like us given the level of creativity that I have witnessed today.”

The event brought together start-ups from across East Africa with key industry players such as Martin Obuya, Mbugua Njihia, Andrew Karanja, Josephine Mwangi, Veronica Ogeto and Mecella Sinda making up the selection panel.

A total of 26 products were assessed by the panel before selecting six teams which had a chance to make their presentation before the audience.

Congratulating the winner, Mbugua Njihia, DEMO Africa’s Nairobi Event Director, expressed enthusiasm on the quality of technology products that are emerging across Africa. “The level of creativity is out of this world, I am now sure that Africa is able to produce world class products that can be easily scalable,” he added.

Harry Hare, executive producer for DEMO Africa, emphasized Njihia’s sentiments, adding that start-up entrepreneurship has taken significant strides. “The enthusiasm of the young people to shoulder this responsibility is stunning.”

Shield Finance will receive a ticket to Lagos and accommodation catered for during the event. DEMO Africa’s pre-screening activities and feedback sessions are expected to raise the standards of the technology products that are produced by start-ups across Africa to ensure that the confidence of various investors is secured.

Start-up application for DEMO Africa is still ongoing to close on June 30. The adjudication of the submitted project will happen in the month of July where a jury of 12 persons will deliver a list of 30 start-ups, which will pitch on the DEMO Africa stage.

The DEMO Africa will stop next in Cairo before the conclusion of the tour in Harare on September 24.

This will mark the end of the pre-screening of projects in East, North and West and South Africa.

Investors, IT buyers and consumers and media are expected to congregate in Lagos, Nigeria on September 24 and 25 for the DEMO Africa event.