A Ghanaian start-up planning to popularise crowdfunding in Africa has been selected as one of the winners of this year’s Apps4Africa competition.
SliceBiz plans to develop a service that will deliver 30-second pitches recorded by entrepreneurs to potential backers over the phone.
It says investors will then be able to transfer cash into the projects they like via their mobiles.
The Apps4Africa scheme is funded by the US State Department and the World Bank,
It gives awards of $10,000 (£6,500) to three selected projects with the possibility of top-up funds if the winners meet set targets.
Crowdfunded cash
SliceBiz was founded by William Edem Senyo, a Ghana-based businessman who previously worked in banking and on a non-profit project, and Heather Cochran, a former social worker from California.
They aim to shake up Africa’s start-up scene by adapting the crowdfunding model that has already proven popular in the West through online services such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe and others.
“Hundreds of start-up founders can’t access credit from banks and other financial institutions,” their competition entry explained.
“People all over the world with some disposable income are about to see how they can deploy their funds to better use.”
After learning of the win Mr Senyo told the BBC: “Less than three months ago no one would have been able to convince me that I would quit my job, find a great partner, start a possibly disruptive company, and to top that win Apps4Africa.
“This is a major validation for our business.”
Investors are asked to provide between $250 and $100,000 depending on how much they earn. Smaller sums can be sent via mobile, while larger ones will still rely on more traditional means.
Unlike some other crowdfunding services, SliceBiz’s model involves recipients giving up a stake in their business in return for the money received.
In addition the Accra-based company will ask for equity in any business that manages to raise capital with its help, and also plans to charge an additional matchmaking fee.
Following the Apps4Africa award Mr Senyo said he now planned a New York launch to further publicise the idea.
However, he acknowledged one potential problem – Ghana’s financial regulator has yet to approve his crowdfunding business model.
Entrepreneur apps
This is the third year the Apps4Africa competition has been run. It is open to any innovator living and working on the continent.
Last year’s event was themed around the idea of software to help farmers and other users tackle issues raised by climate change.
In the latest competition organisers asked applicants for software-based solutions to support entrepreneurs wanting to make the most of business opportunities and create jobs.
“We now want to scale the ideas past the competition to provide additional mentorship and training as well as financial resources to let the winners become successful,” said Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson, speaking on behalf of the Appfrica consultancy which runs the competition.
The other victors this year are Ffene, a Ugandan firm planning to develop a software package to let companies turn data into professional looking reports via tablets, phones and PCs; and Prowork, a Nigerian company creating software to let workers collaborate on projects via an app, text messages and email.
Early adopters
Telecoms consultancy Ovum predicts smartphone shipments to Africa are set to rise from 11.1 million handsets in 2011 to 32.7 million devices in 2014.
These are relatively modest numbers. But the firm says schemes such as Apps4Africa are important to lay the groundwork for wider adoption further down the line.
“Smartphone penetration in Africa is low – even compared to other developing markets,” said the firm’s principal analyst Adam Leach.
“But because there’s not the fixed line infrastructure, it’s seen that smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices will be the first online experience many people on the continent will use.
“For now it’s not about consumer media consumption such as YouTube and downloading music. It’s about helping people run a better business – the equipment must take a pivotal role in their daily life if early adopters are to justify the investment.”