Boardroom is a dating app designed for busy working professionals seeking serious relationships. Recognizing that professionals often struggle to find time for socializing due to heavy workloads, Boardroom offers a solution tailored to their needs. Unlike many dating apps that emphasize hookup culture or have low-quality profiles, Boardroom focuses on creating meaningful connections. Founded in Cape Town, South Africa, the app is committed to providing a high-quality, genuine experience for those looking for lasting love, without the typical gatekeeping found in other platforms.

SprintHive is a South African fintech startup offering AI-powered digital onboarding solutions that reduce customer onboarding time from 25 days to under an hour. Their services, including identity verification, biometric authentication, and fraud prevention, enhance security and user experience while minimizing costs. Trusted by clients like Woolworths Financial Services and TymeBank, SprintHive’s AI-driven technology has maintained a 24-month fraud-free track record.

Their innovations, such as DocumentAI and Profile Building Detection, streamline onboarding and prevent fraud. SprintHive’s rapid growth and industry recognition, including the 2024 Customer Onboarding Software Developer of the Year award, highlight their impact in transforming financial services.

Remedial Health is addressing Africa’s counterfeit drug crisis, which causes 100,000 deaths annually, by improving access to genuine and affordable medicines. Starting in Nigeria, they use pharmaceutical procurement innovations, inventory financing, and pharmacy operations management solutions. Their platform enhances health service delivery by streamlining operations for pharmacies, clinics, and health providers, ensuring better access to safe medicines and improved patient care across Africa.

redAcademy is a skills and experiential learning hub focused on bridging the tech talent gap in South Africa. By partnering with businesses, redAcademy trains and prepares talented individuals, known as Sprinters, for careers in IT. Through hands-on experience with real-world tech stacks and collaboration with senior developers, Sprinters gain both technical and soft skills to ensure work-readiness. The academy's Career Sprint program fast-tracks participants' entry into the tech industry, building a sustainable talent pipeline for the future.

Kubik, an Ethiopian green ICT startup, is tackling plastic waste and the affordable housing crisis by transforming hard-to-recycle plastic into durable, eco-friendly building materials. Founded in 2021 by Kidus Asfaw, inspired by his experience with UNICEF, Kubik offers materials that are 40% cheaper, faster to build with, and significantly less polluting than traditional options. Kubik's innovative "Lego-like" design enables easy assembly, reducing the need for skilled labor. In 2023, Kubik raised $5.2 million in seed funding and plans to expand by partnering with real estate developers and municipal governments to scale sustainable construction across Africa.

The start-up must showcase a unique and innovative approach to solving a significant problem or addressing a market need.

The solution should demonstrate potential for wide-reaching impact and the ability to scale effectively across different markets or regions.

The start-up should provide evidence of market traction, including user adoption, revenue generation, and business growth.