What you need to know about the 20 most promising digital start-ups in Africa

These start-ups would be the first set to take part in the XL Africa residency program, which was started last April 2017. According to the business accelerator, the founders of these enterprises will have the opportunity to learn from mentors and peers as well as increase their access to corporate investors and regional visibility.

“We are pleased by the interest infoDev and XL Africa have generated across the continent in just a few months,” said Klaus Tilmes, World Bank's Director of the Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice.

“XL Africa attracted firms with high-growth potential; many have female co-founders, have already raised early-stage investment, and have demonstrated significant market traction. The number and quality of applications received are a clear testament to the competitiveness of African start-ups and the key role they play in Africa’s growing digital economy.”

XL Africa will assist these start-ups to attract an early stage capital between US$250,000 and US$1.5 million. These tech start-ups are listed below:

1. Aerobatics - South Africa

Aerobatics is a data analytics company based in Cape Town, South Africa. It helps agriculture in aerial imagery and machine learning algorithms to predict weather condition and boost output.

The start-up has already raised about $619,925 in funding from many investors including 4Di Capital, Savannah Fund and Startupbootcamp InsurTech London among other venture capitalists.

2. Asoko Insight – Ghana and Nigeria

Asoko provides superior data on Sub-Saharan African companies and investment environments. It stands as a one-stop shop for updated information on private and public companies in Africa.

According to Crunchbase.com, the firm has raised over $163.5 million in funding from major venture capitalists including Singularity among others.

3. Coin Afrique - Senegal and Benin

Coin Afrique is an online e-commerce platform for both B2B and B2C. It is the first time Coin Afrique will pitching to attract major investors.

4. Jamii – Tanzania

Jamil is a mobile health insurance product Insurance, seeking to integrate the informal sector into the country’s financial system.

The start-up was a combined initiative of Vodacom Tanzania Ltd, the Jubilee Insurance of Tanzania Ltd and Edgepoint Digital Ltd.

5. Electronic Settlement Limited - Nigeria

Electronic Settlement Limited is a financial technology start-up, with a multiple payments options to meet the need of small businesses in Nigeria.

6. Lynk Jobs Ltd - Kenya

Lynk Jobs Ltd is a Job profiling company that has helped to connect over 1.1 million residents of Kenya connect with needed jobs.

7. MAX – Nigeria

MAX is a Nigerian based express delivery company with operation based in Lagos. The firm deploys technology to ensure pickups and deliveries in 3hours even with high congestion in Lagos.

The tech company was reported to have US$960,000 in 2016, and also acquire another food tech start-up Easyappetite.

8. ogaVenue – Nigeria

ogaVenue is an event management tech company, and provide virtual visits to proposed event centre of purpose from the comfort of one’s office or bedroom.

The company also raised $45,000 from Spark and Hotels.ng in 2016.

9. Ongair – Kenya

Ongair is a Kenyan startup which helps small businesses and SMEs to talk to their customers on WhatsApp, WeChat, and other messaging apps.

The company raised $125,000 seed investment from Nest in 2015.

10. Pesabazaar.com – Kenya

PESABAZAAR.com is a leading insurance comparison platform in Kenya. It also raised about $396,000 to launch insurance price comparison services in 2016.

11. Prepclass - Nigeria

Prepclass is an educational tech startup matching tutors with students that needed their services. In May 2017, the tech startup raised about $322,000 from GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund.

12. Printivo – Nigeria

Printivo is a publishing company that uses technology to offer quality printing services to SMEs in Nigeria. The company offers a one-stop shop for printing products, and all are based online.

13. Rasello Company Ltd. – Tanzania

Rasello is a software solution offering an across enterprise automation, unified communication systems and business intelligence (BI) platforms.

14. Rensource – Nigeria

Rensource is Nigeria's leading provider of power-as-a-service. It is an alternative-energy company.

15. Sendy Ltd – Kenya

Sendy Ltd is an On-demand express delivery service company in Kenya.

16. Snapplify - South Africa and Kenya

Snapplify is electronic library and bookshop offering students and learners opportunity to access needed text.

17. Sokowatch - Kenya

Sokowatch is also an express delivery company in Kenya.

18. TalentBase – Nigeria

TalentBase is a corporate finance and investment banking human resources training start-ups. It has helped develop a pool of finance professionals for Nigerian finance industry as well as for Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Godman Sach.