Lipa Mobile and Yoza were among the five startups selected in East Africa to compete for a $1 million (Shs3.3 billion) grand prize in Washington DC.
The two Ugandan technology startups have beaten off over 3,000 others in competition to participate in the 1776 challenge organised by global incubator and venture fund, 1776.
Lipa Mobile is an online payment platform used to send and receive mobile money across all networks in Uganda.
The platform offers a cashless service with financial management systems and access from which it features a cashless e-wallet pocket money solution for schools and parents which helps students use a card rather than cash at school.
Mr Nicholas Kamanzi, the brain behind Yoza app, said: “You can be able to call a washer to come and do laundry and be able to pay them either with cash or via MTN mobile money,” he explained.
Lipa Mobile and Yoza advanced through nine stages to be chosen to compete on the global stage. They were invited to participate in the Challenge Cup Global finals this month in Washington, DC to compete for over $1 million in prizes, as well as spend time with the investors, customers, media and other key connections that can help them succeed on a global scale.
The two startups beat more than 135 startups in a competition to be selected among those representing East Africa in the challenge.
Each year, 1776, a global incubator and venture fund, hosts a worldwide tournament called the Challenge Cup. This is done together with Startup Federation partners, Revolution, the Global Entrepreneurship Network and over 50 incubators around the world.
