The Pivot East startup competition will return for a sixth edition in June after a three year hiatus, also offering participating startups access to entrepreneurial workshops and business advisory sessions.
PIVOT East, organised by iHub, had been held annually since 2011 until it was abruptly postponed just days after selecting 25 startups from across the East African region to take part in its 2016 edition.
This unexplained cancellation then saw Pivot East disappear from the events calendar for 2017 and 2018, but it is now returning for a sixth edition. iHub said it had refined the programme to ensure maximum value for entrepreneurs, investors and partners, and had also increased opportunities for the public, the private sector and other SME enablers to get involved.
Applications are now open for Pivot East 2019, which will take place on June 27. In all, 25 East African startups will take part in a dedicated programme and conference, which will culminate in them pitching to investors and partners. Pivot alumni have received over US$200,000 from iHub and gone on to raise US$50 million from external investors.
“We’re excited to bring back Pivot East having incorporated invaluable learning on content and structure. Moving forward, learning will be a key component of Pivot East to ensure that the programme remains relevant, exciting and impactful for the ecosystem,” said Nekesa Were, iHub managing director.
Startups can apply to participate in the competition across five categories – Finance, Enterprise, Entertainment, Social Impact, and Utilities.
