Ugandan Healthcare Startup, MScan Wins $25,000 TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Africa Grand Prize

Christmas came early for Ugandan healthcare startup, MScan, as it has emerged winner of the Techcrunch Startup battlefield 2018. The Ugandan startup carted away the grand prize of $25000 equity-free funding.

And the winner of the @TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is Ugandan Healthcare startup @MScan_UG …..Congratulations!!!
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.#Winner #Techcrunch #TCBatlefield pic.twitter.com/xF4PKgLHZ5

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

In addition to the grand prize, the startup also gets a trip for two to TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco 2019 and the coveted title of “Africa’s Favorite Startup.”

MScan developed portable and affordable mobile ultrasound devices (Ultrasonic probes) that can work on laptops, tablets and mobile phones with 95% accuracy. This is useful in Africa where the mortality rate of pregnant mothers due to complications during pregnancy is very high.

We Are Live at The @TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Africa Competition.
It is in the hunt for its best innovators, makers, and technical entrepreneurs.
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.#StartupBattlefield is one of the world’s most famous startup competitions.#TechCrunch #WeAreTechnext #TCBattlefield pic.twitter.com/jUXXTbSEc2

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

Meet the Panel of Judges For the Event @TechCrunch @JakeRBright @BlueMooneth @BRCKneth @NaspersVentures @brcknet

#tcbattlefield #WeAreTechnext pic.twitter.com/49j9Ht77VG

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

The event took place at at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. A total of 15 startups competed for the prize. They pitched to a live audience of over 500 people ranging from VCs, investors, media, government officials, developers and other startups.

Meet Senegal's Sudapay, the fintech startup allowing municipalities to mobilise more revenue by digitising collection of local taxes and financially including merchants.#TCDisrupt #TCBattlefield #WeAreTechnext pic.twitter.com/vjsYRCmpoq

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

Apollo Agriculture @apolloagri kicking off @TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield Africa in with a great presentation by Ben.

#TCBattlefield #WeAreTechnext pic.twitter.com/gwY8ZXpE0A

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

Other tech startups that participated were;

Apollo Agriculture (Kenya) – an Agrotech startup that provides small scale farmers with high quality farm inputs, crop insurance and training.

LabTech (Uganda) – a urine testing hardware and software solution startup.

Sud-pay (Senegal) – a digital tax collection platform.

Bettr (South Africa) – a virtual banking experience powered by your smartphone and your data.

FoodHubs (Nigeria) – a startup providing mobile cold carts to farm produce traders to store their produce.

Honey Flow Africa (Nigeria) – a startup using IoT to optimize beekeeping process and enhance honey production.

AgriPredict (Zambia) – an agrotech startup that provides farmers with tools that equip them with information that will improve disease management.

The 15th startup for the day is Trend solar. A Tanzanian startup providing homes with solar panels as well as TVs and smartphones for use. @trendsolar_hq @TechCrunch
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.#WeAreTechnext #Techcrunch #TCBatlefield #TrendSolar pic.twitter.com/KoVG4rdffL

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

https://t.co/rvJ54rnWv5 is a Nigerian IoT startup that converts fumes from firewood to electricity. You can charge your devices, its smokeless
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.#tcbattlefield #WeAreTechnext pic.twitter.com/5v0NNTLW4V

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

Others include;

MAX (Nigeria) – a moto-taxi ride hailing startup.

CodeLn (Ghana) – an outsourcing startup helping companies hire capable programmers.

Bankly (Nigeria) – a fintech startup providing cash-digitization payment and savings product.

Powerstove Energy (Nigeria) – A clean cookstove with built-in self-powered IoT System for real-time monitoring.

Pineapple (South Africa)- and insurtech startup providing a fully decentralized insurance network.

Complete Farmer (Ghana) – a crowdfarming platform that enables users to invest in sustainable farms and monitor farming activities.

Trend Solar (Tanzania) – a startup providing access to energy (home solar system), internet and mobile (4G android smartphone) in an all-in-one solution.

5 finalists for the #TCbattlefield,

– South Africa's @BettrFinance
– Kenya's @apolloagri
– Nigeria's @maxidotng
– Uganda's @mScan_UG
– Nigeria's @Powerstove

They are currently pitching for 1st position. Which of these startups will win #TCBattlefield Africa 2018?

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

5 of these startups; Apollo Agriculture, Bettr, MAX, Mscan, Powerstove, got to the final round of pitching after which Mscan emerged winner.

And the runner up of the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is South African Startup BETTR @Betterfinance . CONGRATULATIONS………
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.#TCBatlefield #Techcrunch #WeAreTechnext

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

South Africa’s Bettr finance emerged runner-up at the event.

Fireside chat with @funkeopeke founder and Ceo of @Mainoneservice Anchored by @JakeRBright contributing writer, Tech crunch. About broadband and in Nigeria.#Techcrunch #WeAreTechnext #TCBatlefield pic.twitter.com/JFnGJSZDU9

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

Session:
Building at scale: Taking an idea and delivering cross border success.
Featuring @JasonNjoku (CEO @Irokotv), Kofi Dadzie (CEO Rancard), Emeka Afigbo (Head, Developer programme, Facebook) pic.twitter.com/ZaUYZLbZUO

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

1st Panel session:
"Expats, Repats and Africans" with Kwame Acheampong (@MallforAfrica ), Eleni Gabre-Madhin (@blueMoonEth ) and Lexi Novitske (Singularity Investments/ @SingularityInv2 )#TCDisrupt #TCBattlefield pic.twitter.com/hgTuxjOdJ0

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

"Agritech is the new Fintech"- Eleni Gabre-Madhin, Chief Happiness Officer @blueMoonEth#TCDisrupt #TCBattlefield pic.twitter.com/Aq18KJIkl0

— Technext (@technextdotng) December 11, 2018

The second edition of TechCrunch Startup Battlefield was supported by Facebook. The event also featured seasoned panel sessions that addressed various issues in the African tech ecosystem.