Accounteer, KoloPay,Two Others Pitch to Investors at First Ever Itanna Demo Day

Four months after it launched, Nigerian startup incubator, Itanna has held its first ever demo day event marking the end of its four month startup accelerator programme. Held last Friday in Lagos, investors and tech enthusiasts alike were privy to the solutions and services developed.

The #ItannaDemoDay2018 in four pictures. Honeywell executive director, Obafemi Otudeko, says three principles is driving @itannaAfrica: disruption, collaboration and enterprise. These companies — @kolopay, @tradebuza @accounteer, @PowercubeNG — embody the principles. pic.twitter.com/XUHI7OIfRI

— Mayowa Tijani (@OluwamayowaTJ) November 30, 2018

Launched by Nigerian blue-chip company, Honeywell Group, Itanna was first announced in December 2017.

“Itanna was conceived to be a place where Africa’s top talent can bring their ideas, visions, expertise, and resources to create a new wave of businesses,” says Honeywell chief, Obafemi Otudeko.

But after a rigorous startup selection process, the incubator launched in August 2018. Four startups were selected to take part in its inaugural four month accelerator programme. They include:

Accounteer – providers of online accounting services for SMEs across Africa. Accounteer is already reputed for winning the MEST Africa Challenge.

KoloPay – a cashless target savings mobile and web application.

TradeBuza – an online platform for managing and brokering commodities sourcing and outgrower scheme.

PowerCube – providers of an affordable power supply using renewable energy.

🇳🇬 And we have come to the end of #ItannaDemoDay18. A big thank you to @ItannaAfrica and the cohort of @accounteer, @kolopay @PowercubeNG, TradeBuza for allowing us join you on this journey! #Strongertogether #innovation #Entrepreneurship pic.twitter.com/8VQGAyY1rt

— MEST Africa (@MESTAfrica) November 30, 2018

Over the last couple of months, these startups have received support and mentorship to grow and position their solutions. Mentorship involved advice from experts on issues ranging from user interface design to legal and marketing issues. Also, as a cohort, each of these startups received $25,000 initial funding from the incubator.

This is awesome! @ItannaAfrica @TomiOtudeko @MESTAfrica @jorn_lyseggen https://t.co/2UI6N8rNtT

— Franklin Olakunle Amoo (@FranklinAmoo) November 30, 2018

Now the Demo Day event gave them a chance to showcase these solutions to a budding crowd of high network investors, venture funds, entrepreneurs and other partners from the Itanna network.

The Itanna Demo Day gave the startups a chance to pitch their solutions and, if lucky, receive funding from these gathering.

The Demo Day event also effectively marks the end of the first round of cohorts for the accelerator programme. Now plans are reportedly underway for the second set of cohorts for the programme.