They are finally here! TechCabal is happy to present to you the first ever contenders in the maiden edition of the TechCabal Battlefield, where the next generation of tech entrepreneurs will compete for the biggest Nigerian technology startup prize ever — $20,000, courtesy of Stanbic IBTC Bank and iROKING.com.
Out of 92 applications and a fiercely competitive shortlist of twenty, we have our final seven. Please meet them, in alphabetical order:
500Shops
500Shops is an e-commerce as a service platform that allows any business owner to setup a complete online store in minutes — www.500shops.com
Adugbo
Adugbo is a digital platform that enables the contextually relevant discovery and promotion of products/services offered by local merchants/small businesses. Via a suite of web/mobile apps offering specific location-based services, Adugbo aims to collectively serve as the “digital interface to your city” — www.adugbo.com
Callbase
Callbase is a telephone system for modern distributed teams that makes it easy, affordable and more efficient for organizations to manage and measure voice communication with customers, partners and others — www.callbase.co
CasaGrupo
CasaGrupo is an online real estate crowdfunding platform that provides exclusive, well curated, safe and profitable real estate investment projects to its members. By aggregating funds over the internet, CasaGrupo is able to reduce monetary exposure per deal to a minimum of N100,000 — www.casagrupo.com
Decoded
Decoded is a music platform that aids in the discovery of African music with a focus on the lyrics. Decoded provides users with the ability to experience the diverse and intricate cultures within Africa through the unique lens of musical and literary composition — www.decodedlyrics.com
Autobox
GoKool Autobox is an online shopping platform offering Nigerians genuine auto parts and electrical accessories, a need which is currently underserved in Nigeria’s growing e-commerce industry. GoKool’s Autobox’s aim is to provide their customers the assurance of high quality in a market filled with substandard products — www.autobox.ng
Prepclass
Prepclass is an online portal that helps students prepare for popular examinations. The startup’s initial focus is on the nationwide JAMB exams — www.prepclass.com.ng
Congratulations to our finalists. But their journey has just begun. Next, the seven startups are going on Battlefield Academy — each will be paired with a mentor from the Battlefield Faculty that will help them think through their product, business and presentations. That Faculty is composed of people you already know — Tomi Davies of the Lagos Angel Network, Editi Effiong of Anakle, Femi Taiwo of INITS, Mark Essien of Hotels.ng and more.
Also, we happen to be fans of Tomi Davies’ POEM framework, and we’ll be recommending that for the startups to use as their base pitch template. Stay tuned for updates.
And speaking of updates, here’s an important one. You might have noticed that we’ve been running a bit behind schedule. That’s because some logistics stuff has made it necessary for us to move things around a bit. The Battlefield finale will no longer be holding on the 19th at Terra Kulture, but on the 21st at Four Points, Lekki. On that day, a panel of five judges, including Jason Njoku of iROKO Partners, Akin Oyebode of Stanbic IBTC, Ayodeji Adewunmi of Jobberman, Gbenga Sesan of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, and one mystery judge to be revealed soon will decide which startup will leave the arena with glory, fame and the ultimate prize of $20,000.
The TechCabal Battlefield is proudly sponsored by Stanbic IBTC Bank, iROKING, Jobberman, Konga, Etisalat, with support from VC4Africa, Ventureburn, Capital Square, Easy Taxi, Ebonylife TV, YNaija and RELOADED Magazine.
