LAGOS, AUGUST 2019 — The second edition of Co-Creation Hub’s Pitchdrive tech tour, PitchdriveAsia, is set to commence on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Ten selected startups utilising hardware and deep technology tools in their businesses will journey across five Asian cities during the two-week tech tour which will run until September 8, 2019. 

The startups will be interacting with deep tech and hardware communities in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, China and Hong Kong, engaging in pitching events and seeking out collaborations, partnerships and potential investment opportunities to help them further grow and scale their businesses.

“We find that there’s a lot of interest from Asia in Africa and we believe there are opportunities for collaboration that could help strengthen the hardware and deep tech ecosystem in Africa,” says Damilola Teidi, Director of Incubation at CcHUB.

The startups were selected from a highly competitive pool of over 200 applications from across the continent. 

The participating startups are: Moroccan safety IoT device company Casky; Rwandan smart transport solution company, AC Group;  Nigeria’s Gricd Frij, a cold chain technology for transportation of healthcare and agricultural produce; Access Afya, a Kenyan primary healthcare social enterprise using technology to deliver affordable and effective health access;  Ugandan CHIL AI Lab which leverages AI to improve cancer diagnostic services; and taeillo, a Nigerian furniture and design company leveraging mixed reality to improve customer experience.

Others include Enova Robotics from Tunisia which specialises in mobile robot development for security purposes; Flare, a Kenyan uber-like company which aggregates ambulance/emergency options for easy access; LIFI-LED, an Ivorian energy startup providing electricity and internet connectivity to difficult-to-access communities, and Nigeria’s Reliance HMO, which employs a consortium of tools to make health insurance accessible and affordable.

Tech-focused media company, TechCabal, will be curating the tour in images, film and text during the tour which will culminate in a documentary production to be aired at the end of the tour. The production will follow the founders’ entrepreneurial journeys as they interact with the technology and culture richly present in Asia. 

To follow the tour, sign up on the Pitchdrive website: http://stories.pitchdrive.xyz/

And follow both CcHUB and TechCabal across all social media channels: @Cc_Hub (Twitter), @CcHUBnigeria (Instagram/Facebook), @TechCabal (across social)

Also follow on YouTube: @CcHUBNigeria and @TechCabal 

The PitchdriveAsia tour is proudly supported by Google For Startups,  Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), ICT and Innovation ministry (Rwanda), German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), TechCabal, Keppel Capital, MainOne, Future Hub, Found8, and CoCoon.

About Co-Creation Hub Nigeria 

CcHUB is Nigeria’s first open living lab and pre-incubation space designed to be a multi-functional, multi-purpose space where work to catalyze creative social tech ventures take place. The HUB is a place for technologists, social entrepreneurs, government, tech companies, impact investors and hackers in and around Lagos to co-create new solutions to the many social problems in Nigeria.

About TechCabal

Created in 2013, TechCabal is a future-focused publication that speaks to African innovation and technology in depth. In addition to high quality articles, reports and expert opinions on the main website, we publish the TC Daily newsletter, the most comprehensive roundup of technology around Africa. The TC Daily arrives in inboxes Monday through Friday at 7 am WAT and can also be accessed on this website. We also manage the Radar forum, which hosts the smartest conversations about technology on the continent.

About Google for Startups

Google for Startups is Google’s initiative to help startups thrive across every corner of the world. We bring the best of Google’s products, connections, and best practices to enable startups to build something better. Our mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

About Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO)

The Japan External Trade Organization, is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Originally established in 1958 to promote Japanese exports abroad, JETRO’s core focus in the 21st century has shifted toward promoting foreign direct investment into Japan and helping small to medium size Japanese firms maximize their global export potential.

About ICT and Innovation Ministry, Rwanda

The Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Innovation has a mission of addressing national priorities for economic growth and poverty reduction through development and coordination of national information technology, communication & Innovation policies and programs as well as citizen’s empowerment. Our core values are summarized in the following acronym: ARISE

A: Accountability

R: Reliable; Result Oriented

I: Innovation; Integrity

S: Sense of Urgency

E: Excellence

About German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)

We develop tailor-made solutions to challenging problems for our clients. As a competent service provider, GIZ supports the German Government in achieving its objectives. 

About Keppel Capital

Listed on the Singapore Exchange, Keppel Corporation is a multi-business company providing robust solutions for sustainable urbanisation, to meet the growing need for energy, infrastructure, clean environment, high-quality homes and offices, and connectivity. As part of the larger Keppel Group, we leverage its extensive network and platform to create, operate and manage different asset classes, from energy and infrastructure to real estate and premium grade office buildings and townships. Keppel Capital has also over the years distinguished ourselves with our local and deep operational insights, strong track record and breadth of experience. Our employees embrace a high-performance culture that personifies the Keppel brand, which is synonymous with governance, reliability and quality.

About MainOne

MainOne is a leading provider of innovative telecom services and network solutions for businesses in West Africa. Our world-class infrastructure enhances the productivity and profitability of our customers. Since its launch in 2010, MainOne has developed a reputation for highly reliable services to become the preferred provider of wholesale Internet services to major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, large enterprises, and educational institutions in West Africa.

About Future Hub

Future Hub is a startup incubator and angel fund focusing Africa. We provide incubation services for African startups including market consulting, local resources, seed fund and traffic support. We help entrepreneurs build future for Africa. Future Hub focuses on disruptive business models of mobile internet and the new economy, including social, entertainment, e-commerce, fintech and education.

About Found8

For innovation-centric organisations who are looking for a supportive work environment, Found8 offers a network of coworking spaces with meaningful programs and communities that unlock opportunities for personal and professional growth.

About CoCoon

CoCoon is in the business of gathering vision, talent, experience and resources. At CoCoon, we are looking for individuals with unique talents such as: entrepreneurs, innovators, designers, engineers, experienced leaders and investors to explore opportunities together to turn ideas into reality. Bringing together different forces, we strive to enable members to get access to complementary partners. Beyond our broad spectrum of ventures, we hold one common thread together: to work and contribute to society and change the world.