Mobile micro-health insurance startup Jamii has been named Tanzania’s best startup at the Seedstars Dar es Salaam pitching competition, and will represent the country at the global finals to be held in Switzerland in March 2017.
Seedstars Dar es Salaam took place at Buni Hub on Saturday (September 24), with 10 startups pitching live for a chance to compete in the global finals; where winning teams from around the world will battle it out for up to US$1 million in equity investment.
Jamii emerged winner of the Tanzanian regional event, with its mobile micro-health insurance product, which makes health insurance available to the low income and informal sector population at US$1 per month.
“Jamii is determined to save lives and enable over 47 million Tanzanians to afford health insurance. Our plan is to fully utilize the exposure, mentorship and potential funding from Seedstars to achieve this mission,” said Lillian Makoi, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Jamii.
Makoi is the first female winner of an Africa-based Seedstars World event to date.
Drone medicine delivery company Colifly came in second position; and EcoAct Tanzania, a company that transforms post-consumer plastic waste into plastic environmentally friendly plastic lumbers, was named third.
Seedstars World has already chosen winners in Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali and Ethiopia.
The next event is set for Kampala, Uganda, on September 30; followed by the Kenyan leg of the event on October 7 – for which applications are currently open, here.
