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Cairo-based science start-up Nawah Scientific has won second place at the first edition of Alibaba founder Jack Ma’s Africa Netpreneur Prize, taking home $150,000.
Nawah Scientific has developed a facility of advanced equipment focusing on natural and medical sciences and conducts various research tests on behalf of scientists and universities who normally don’t have access to such resources.
Africa Netpreneur Prize is Jack Ma’s flagship entrepreneur programme led by the Jack Ma Foundation to support the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.
Various experiment requests are received on Nawah's online platform and a courier then takes the sample from requester’s address and sends it to Nawah. A team of scientists in Nawah then perform the required tests and return results online.
Last year, Nawah Scientific had raised $1 million in pre-Series A funding.
Nigerian health tech start-up Life Bank that delivers blood, blood products, oxygen, and vaccines to hospitals across Africa secured the first place, winning $250,000.
The finale event, called “Africa’s Business Heroes,” was held in Accra, Ghana, where the top 10 finalists showcased their businesses directly to a set of business leaders including Jack Ma, Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Group and Ibukun Awosika, Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and Founder/CEO of The Chair Centre Group.
“Africa never lacks talent, resources and opportunities. What we need today is a crop of people to explore, to try and to innovate,” Jack Ma said during a speech at the event.
(Writing by Seban Scaria; editing by Daniel Luiz)
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