Fourteen South African app companies have been shortlisted in the annual AppsAfrica Innovation Awards, which recognise the most innovative apps on the continent.
The awards, now running for the third year in a row, attracted over 300 submissions from across 31 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa this year.
“The AppsAfrica Awards were originally set up three years ago to celebrate the best in mobile and tech across the continent as many ventures do not get the visibility or recognition they deserve. This year produced a vast array of great entries from exciting new technologies utilising AI, bots and drones to mobile, health and education initiatives scaling across Africa” said Andrew Fassnidge founder of AppsAfrica.com
The finalists are:
Best Social and Messaging Award
Flare – Kenya, Juntos – USA, 1Fetch – SA, Kudi – Nigeria and Wetin Dey – Nigeria
Disruptive Innovation Award
Mastercard 2Kuze – Kenya, Medsaf – Nigeria, What3Words – SA, Trend Solar – Tanzania and Girl Effect – Tega – Nigeria
Best African App
Carter – SA, Asorbia – Ghana, TrueCaller – Africa, BoomPlay – Africa and FeastFox – SA
Enterprise Solution Award
What3Words – SA, Flutterwave – Nigeria, Asoko Insight – Africa, Morpheus Commerce – SA and Snode Technologies – SA
News and Entertainment Award
Bounce News – Nigeria, Jokko Text – Senegal, Vodacom Music! – SA, Vodacom Games! – SA and Sportsie – Nigeria
Educational Award
Mwabu – Zambia, Kukua – Sema Land – Kenya, Snapplify – SA, Xander Education – SA and Praekelt dig-it – SA
Fintech Award
NetPlus / Mastercard – SA, PesaChoice – Rwanda, WeCashUp – Africa, PiggyBank NG – Nigeria and Flutterwave – Nigeria
Social Impact Award
What3Words – SA, Flare – Kenya, Vodacom e-School – SA, WeFarm – Kenya and Medsaf Nigeria
mCommerce
Farmart – Ghana, VConnect – Nigeria, Jumia – Nigeria, Mazady – Egypt and DressMeOutlet – Nigeria
Changing Africa
Jumo – Africa, Mwabu – Zambia, RippleNami – Kenya, Vodacom Mum & Baby – SA and Vodacom e-school – SA
The awards, supported by BoomPlay Music, Basebone, BBM, Content Connect Africa, Mobile Monday South Africa (MOMO) the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), will take place in Cape Town on 6th November.