The Biggest Startup Pitch Competition in Africa

USD $100,000 was awarded to 5 category winners ($10,000 each) as well as one overall winner ($50,000).

Introducing Creative Economy category to 2024 edition and Special Mentions

GITEX AFRICA Supernova Challenge: AFRICA Edition Categories 2024 

Cybersecurity

The winner’s product or service is in incident response, security protocol implementation to mitigate cyber threats, cyberattacks and data breaches across the sectors of BFSI, telecommunications and government.

AI and Digital Cities

The winner is redefining AFRICA's public digital landscape, ensuring a brighter, more digitally inclusive future. The startup’s product or service explores the limitless possibilities of generative AI and showcases how the technology can drive growth and development across the continent.

Fintech and Blockchain

The winner is a fintech startup transforming the financial landscape in AFRICA, from mobile money to blockchain-based platforms.

Healthtech

The winner is leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI, wearables, and telemedicine to revolutionize healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.

Sustainability and Agritech

The winner is utilizing technology to solve social challenges including energy and environmental fields, or showcasing a product or service in tech-enabled sustainable development.

Creative Economy

The winner boosts the culture and creative industries with a product or service in the arts, design fashion, music, photography, film, video.

Overall GITEX AFRICA Supernova Champion - $50,000

The winner will be based on the most innovative, creative and groundbreaking idea of all startups pitching at the GITEX AFRICA Supernova Challenge.

Special Mention: Young CEO Award

Recognizing an entrepreneur within the age range of 15-35 building a product or service solving for one of the world’s most pressing challenges and digital transformation.

Special Mention: Women in Tech Award

Recognizing a women-led startup building a product or service with high potential for global expansion. The startup has a female founder with a minimum of 50% ownership in the business and is an active Senior Executive.

Pitch Competition Timeline

Application Deadline

22 April

Semi-Finalists Announced

8 May

Pitch Prep Virtual Session

15 May

Semi-Finals Pitch Competition Begins

29 May

Finals Pitch Competition and Winner Announced

31 May

 

2023 GITEX AFRICA SUPERNOVA CHALLENGE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

The GITEX AFRICA supernova challenge, hosted in Morocco on the 1st edition of GITEX AFRICA, saw 6 winner from across Africa and the globe crowned in 5 separate categories along with the overall winner.

Over 3 days dozens of startups pitched their unique ideas to a superstar panel of judges to decide who would go into the finals on the 3rd and final day on June 2nd, 2023.

With a total prize pool of $100,000, this was Africa’s largest ever startup pitch competition.

PROXGY LTD WIN THE OVERALL SUPERNOVA CHAMPION PRIZE

The winners of the overall prize Proxgy Ltd, from India.

At Proxgy, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of blue-collar workers by providing innovative and practical IoT-based solutions. We understand the importance of safety and efficiency in the workplace, and our mission is to create smart wearables and safety products that can make a meaningful difference.

 

Digital Finance and Blockchain – USD 10,000 – NearPay Technologies, Nigeria

Digital Finance and Blockchain – USD 10,000 – NearPay Technologies, Nigeria

Nearpays is a Digital Finance company at the forefront of digital payment solutions for brick-andmortar businesses, offering innovative financial technology services.

Healthtech – USD 10,000 – Promedius, South Korea

Healthtech – USD 10,000 – Promedius, South Korea

Promedius is a MedTech startup, based in Seoul, Korea, focusing on optimizing radiologists workflow of medical imaging interpretation to drive improved patient outcomes. Our platform, AIdant, is providing an AI-enabled medical imaging cloud solution for individual doctors, medical institutions, and teleradiology centers.

Sustainability and Agritech – USD 10,000 – YolaFresh, Morocco

Sustainability and Agritech – USD 10,000 – YolaFresh, Morocco

A Mix of Supply Chain, Data and Tech Our solution is built on creating deep value for the entire supply chain stakeholders - from farmers, to retailers, and benefiting end consumers in the process.

Cybersecurity – USD 10,000 – Nucleon Security, France

Cybersecurity – USD 10,000 – Nucleaon Security, France

Nucleon EDR platform allows an extremely precise vision on your endpoints as well as their activities. A unique platform to detect attacks, respond effectively, and quickly remediate to security incidents.

AI and Digital Cities – USD 10,000 – Meanify, Morocco

AI and Digital Cities – USD 10,000 – Meanify, Morocco

MEANIFY A platform that helps enterprises benefit from readyto-use NLP solutions for Arabic Dialects, both for written text and spoken word.

Special Mention – Women in Tech – MSCAN Uganda, Uganda

MSCAN Uganda

Serves pregnant mothers through extending and enhancing low cost mobile ultrasound devices for low resource regions through innovation and integrity.

What is the GITEX AFRICA Supernova Challenge Pitch Competition?

The GITEX AFRICA Supernova Challenge will be biggest pitch competition in AFRICA, and your opportunity to become the next unicorn!

With $100,000 total cash prize up for grabs, the GITEX AFRICA Supernova Challenge is the most anticipated pitch competition for entrepreneurs displaying groundbreaking innovations and highlighting their value in front of the world.

Who can apply, and how?

To enter the GITEX AFRICA Supernova Pitch competition, you will need to be one of the exhibiting startups attending GITEX AFRICA, 29 -31 May 2024. The startups that apply for the competition will then be required to pitch their ideas, with the semi finalists being announced closer to the time of the event.

To become an exhibitor and to apply to the GITEX AFRICA Supernova Pitch Competition, follow the button below and fill out the form so that one of our team members can contact you directly.

Hear from the 2023 Semi – Finalists  

2023 JUDGES

  • Special Representative Dorothy S. McAuliffe was appointed by President Joe Biden to lead the Office of Global Partnerships in the United States Department of State. Her office directly supports the Biden Administration’s commitment to U.S. global leadership by assembling public-private partnerships to advance key national security and foreign policy priorities.

    Dorothy S. McAuliffe

    Special Representative Office of Global PartnershipsUS Department of State
    Finals

  • Petra Wolkenstein is a General Partner of Startup Wise Guys Africa Fund, which has invested in 17 early-stage startups in the sub-Saharan region. Petra and her team provide training through the SaaS accelerator programme and the key2investors platform. She was awarded Global Startup Ecosystem Hero of the Year 2023.

    Petra Wolkenstein

    General Partner Africa FundStartup Wise Guys
    Finals

  • Alicia Levine is Chief Operating Officer for Chipper Cash. Alicia brings experience running and scaling organizations in emerging markets. She is responsible for overseeing Chipper's efficient and scalable organization growth.
    Before Chipper, Alicia serves as COO of EveryLayer and its Kenyan subsidiary, growing the company to 300K+ monthly active users. She has also worked for GSMA, Twilio, and Dow Corning. Alicia holds an MBA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley.

    Alicia Levine

    Chief Operating OfficerChipper Cash
    Finals

  • Sheel Mohnot is Co-Founder and GP of Better Tomorrow Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital fund investing in fintech companies globally. His own startup experience includes 2 successful fintech exits — a payments company and a high-stakes auction company — and he’s GP of the 500 Fintech fund. He formerly worked as a financial services consultant at BCG and started his fintech career at the non-profit p2p lender, Kiva.  

    Sheel Mohnot

    Co-Founder and GP Better Tomorrow Ventures
    Finals

  • US Attorney and Investor: mergers and acquisitions, real estate, venture capital, securities, franchising/distributorship, and aircraft finance. Jonathan represents clients with acquisition, disposition, sale, leasing, and financing of real property.  

    Jonathan Coury

    US Attorney and Investor Ghani Consulting
    Finals

  • Marcel Dridje, an international advisor to Startup Ecosystems in the EMEA regionMarcel holds different positions as an active investor by being in the leadership of these initiatives: Sophia Business Angels, President Emeritus / European Business Angels Network, Board Member / Mediterranean Business Angels Network, Co-founder / Maghreb Diaspora Business Angel, Co-founder / EuropIA Capital, Board Member.

    Segun Cole

    FounderFund the Gap Alliance
    Semi Finals - AI & Digital Cities

  • Head of Startup Programs at InDrive, managing Aurora Tech Award (global prize for women founders) and Underdog Tech Award (international prize for early-stage startups outside big startup communities and tech hubs). Daria has 15+ years of experience in the tech startup ecosystem and VC, business development, and customer experience. Ex-marketing director of the biggest CIS venture fund and producer of a few international startup events and competitions.

    Daria Shubina

    Head of Startup ProgramsinDrive
    Semi Finals - AI & Digital Cities

  • Marcel Dridje, an international advisor to Startup Ecosystems in the EMEA regionMarcel holds different positions as an active investor by being in the leadership of these initiatives: Sophia Business Angels, President Emeritus / European Business Angels Network, Board Member / Mediterranean Business Angels Network, Co-founder / Maghreb Diaspora Business Angel, Co-founder / EuropIA Capital, Board Member.

    Marcel Dridje

    President Emeritus Sophia Business Angels
    Semi Finals - AI & Digital Cities

  • Janade du Plessis is a 5-time Fund Manager, co-Founder of Launch Africa Ventures and Five35 Ventures. He has invested in over 200+ start-ups. His background includes M&A/Corporate Finance, Management Consulting and Development Finance. He's an entrepreneur, investment banker and human behavioural researcher.

    Janade Du Plessis

    Fund ManagerLaunch Africa
    Semi Finals - Fintech & Blockchain

  • Maha Jouini is an author, founder and African Regional Coordinator of the Global responsible AI hackathon 2023. She speaks about Tech's influence on African economy, and leads campaigns for Free movement and AFCFTA for African youth. She also provides training to African youth.

    Meha Jouini

    Ambassador Techmakers
    Semi Finals - Fintech & Blockchain

  • Csaba Zoltan Moldovan

    Venture Partner HiVentures
    Semi Finals - Fintech & Blockchain

  • Sam leads Founders Factory Africa's Venture Studio, taking a design-led approach to problem solving and creating products, services, and business models that are scalable and sustainable. He has an MBA and BA from Yale and Amherst College, leading to inclusive, imaginative, and impactful businesses.

    Sam Strum

    Chief Venture ArchitectFounders Factory
    Semi Finals - Healthtech

  • Philippine Dolbeau a tech entrepreneur. Youngest entrepreneur in France, Most Innovative Woman of the Year 2017, one of the "50 Women Who Are Changing the World" next to Michelle Obama… The list is long. She is now Head of Communication, Marketing and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem at INSKIP Entrepreneurs, and acts to empower young people and women in launching their dream ideas - no matter how big they are.

    Philippine Dolbeau

    HEAD OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEMSINSKIP
    Semi Finals - Healthtech

  • Karim Konsowa is an Associate at the Dubai Future District Fund, a venture capital fund of funds and direct investment vehicle backed by the Dubai Future Foundation and Dubai International Financial Centre. The fund aims to invest in the Future of Finance and Future Economies to bolster economic development in Dubai, the UAE, and the broader region.

    Karim Konsowa

    AssociateDubai Future District Fund
    Semi Finals - Healthtech

  • Meyssane has been in the semiconductor industry for a decade, starting as an analyst and becoming a functional manager. She is now Director of Strategic Programs and Chief of Staff to the EVP of Global Operations at Micron Technology. She was recognized in 2018 as an emerging leader by the Women in Manufacturing Awards for her role in improving output and efficiency at Intel.

    Meyssane Alj Hakim

    Chief of Staff & Director of Strategic Programs Micron Technology
    Semi Finals - Sustainability & Agritech

  • Karima El Hakim is the Country Director for Plug & Play in Egypt, the global leader in corporate innovation and one of the top early-stage Venture Capital investors in the world. Karima's work revolves around ecosystem building, VC investment and startup acceleration/incubation which was duly recognized throughout her previous work at Fawry, Falak Startups and Orascom Development Holding.

    Karima El Hakim

    Country Director - EgyptPlug&Play Egypt
    Semi Finals - Sustainability & Agritech

  • Ghazi Saddem is a Consultant in Organizational Management and Digital Transformation and Co-Director of Startup Grind Tunis. He has accompanied many startups in the Mediterranean, in the MEA region. Ghazi's mission is to promote digital transformations carried out by innovative startups in society for a better quality of life and a better future of work.

    Ghazi Saddem

    Tunis Chapter Co-DirectorStartup Grind
    Semi Finals - Sustainability & Agritech

  • Lina Naciri is a seasoned professional in the field of innovation and partnerships, responsible for bringing together entrepreneurs, business executives, academics, innovators, investors, tech enthusiasts and media to explore business opportunities. She is also an International Consultant in Innovation & Partnerships.

    Lina Naciri

    AmbassadorAfrobytes
    Semi Finals - Cybersecurity

  • Rohan Goswami manages investments, operations, and investor relations at Nexterra Capital. He assists African entrepreneurs with market research, business and financial strategy, and investor readiness.  

    Rohan Goswami

    Investor Relations Nexterra Capital
    Semi Finals - Cybersecurity

  • Ghita Zniber is a partner at Kalys Ventures, a Moroccan VC fund that focuses on seed and pre-series A startups. The fund has invested so far in 3 companies, in Morocco, Senegal, and Cameroon. She is also a board member of different African startups.

    Ghita Zniber

    Partner Kalys Ventures
    Semi Finals - Cybersecurity

FAQs

Overall GITEX AFRICA Supernova Champion: $50,000 cash prize to selected overall winner
Winner per Category: $10,000 cash prize to selected winner per category

The team will be in touch regarding your cash prize and next steps 1 week after GITEX Africa 2024.

If you are not shortlisted, there are many opportunities to engage with investors and the wider GITEX Africa audience. We will be keeping a waitlist in case of any last-minute changes. Please note that we receive hundreds of applications per category and the shortlisting goes through multiple rounds of review to reach only a final 10 for the semi-finals and 2 for the finals.

To enter the GITEX AFRICA Supernova competition, you must be an Exhibiting Startup. If you are not, please contact [email protected]

Step 1: Login in to the Exhibitor Portal with your personal login details. If you lost this, please email [email protected]

Step 2: Go to the “Marketing Zone” section from the top bar and navigate to the “Participate in GITEX AFRICA Supernova Challenge” form section on the left side of the menu

Step 3: Fill in the questions and uploads and click submit

The deadline to submit on the Exhibitor Portal is 22 April , 2024 by Morocco Midnight time. Any date changes will be announced.

Your Pitch Deck must be in ENGLISH.

Here are two good references for you:
https://slidebean.com/blog/pitch-deck-structure

Your Pitch Video must be ONLY 60 Seconds or it will not be considered.
We recommend to submit your Pitch Video in English.
Please shoot your Video to have a clear shot of your upper body (sitting or standing).
If your Pitch Video is in French, please include English subtitles.
Please submit your video by either a YouTube or a Vimeo URL.

Check out Paul Graham’s advice on story telling when pitching. Reference form Y Combinator Startup Library: “Your goal, and your only goal, is to make investors feel it’s not safe to cross you off. And there is a verb for convincing someone that something is not safe. It sounds dramatic, but your goal is to frighten them. What frightens them? The possibility that you might become really big. They know there are maybe a few companies that will become really big….Before you start meeting investors, put together a rough draft of your fundraising vertebrae. These are the 3-4 points that compromise the narrative of why your company will be really big. Together, if investors believed in any of these points, they’d be afraid not to bet on you. As you do, keep in mind that there is an important distinction between what the business is and how you tell the story of what your business is. Your conversations with investors should influence the latter, not the former. No investor knows your business as well as you do.”

The announcements of the shortlisted startups for the semi-finals will be done by May 8th, 2024 by Morocco Midnight time. Any date changes will be announced.

The general judging criteria is broken down to main areas. Please keep these in mind as you design your pitch deck, pitch video, and semi-finals, finals pitches!

  • Idea: How innovative is this idea?
  • Market Opportunity: Market Size, Competition, Scalability
  • Business Model: Revenue Model, Pricing, Target Customers
  • Traction: Any revenue, customers, investors?
  • Team: Is a skilled team in place for the startup’s success?

Judges will also be considering your years of operation and funding stage when evaluating.

The judging panels for all categories of GITEX AFRICA Supernova will be experts in the respective sectors and will be a diverse panel with investment, commercial, and entrepreneurial background in the sector.

3 Minute Pitch + 2 Min Q&A

At the Elevate Stage at GITEX Africa. Find it on the venue map.

Only 1 person can deliver the pitch on stage.

You will be notified by email that you have been shortlisted including the details to attend a GITEX AFRICA Supernova Pitch Prep online session which is taking place on May 15th , 2024 (1 week before GITEX Africa). Any date changes will be announced.

Your selection email will include the category you’ve been selected to pitch in, location and timing, and presentation requirements.

You will need to have your pitch presentations in 16:9 ratio as a Powerpoint file and a PDF file version. Please share PDFs to make sure your presentation has your correct fonts and formats. If you have any videos as part of your pitch, please send the video file in .mp4 as a separate file. You will be submitting these files by email ONLY if you are shortlisted for the semi-finals and finals which you will be notified about before. Please do not send any files to team members prior to this besides what is required on the Exhibitor portal for the GITEX AFRICA Supernova application.

The team will be in touch if you are shortlisted to move on to the finals. All selection will be made by Day 2 in order to be ready for the Finals on Day 3. Your selection email will include the presentation requirements, location, and timing.

2 Startups are selected per category to pitch in the finals on Day 3.

4 Minute Pitch + 2 Min Q&A per startup

At the 10X stage at GITEX Africa on June 2nd (Day 3). Finalists will receive all the logistics details by Day 2 to know where to go and when.

The judging panels for all categories of GITEX AFRICA Supernova will be experts in the respective sectors and will be a diverse panel with investment, commercial, and entrepreneurial background in the sector.