10 startups to pitch today as 2018 Social Media Week closes
•Consul-general seeks more positive use of social media
ABOUT 10 startups will today pitch against one another as the 2018 Social Media Week (SMW) comes to a close.
The firms will compete in the #Launchedinafrica platform, which is for African-led early-stage startups to showcase products and services that are disrupting industries across the continent.
Some of Nigeria’s most innovative earlystage businesses debuted as featured companies in the #Launchedinafrica Digital Demo space at the programme.
Meanwhile, speaking at the “Citizens, Government and Technology” session at the SMW, the Consul-general, U.S Embassy in Nigeria, John Bray, commended the use of social media platforms in the country.
According to him, the United States of America is excited about the growth of Social Media in the country.
The five featured #Launcedinafrica startups are Aidahbot; Jara Mobile; Soshalife Ltd; Vibeoo Media Limited; Zebullon Developers Network.
Aidahbot is a chatbot-building company that provides a one-click chatbot solution for small and medium businesses to automate their sales, handle inquiries, and receive payment on Messenger. We leverage social media to take sales to where customers are.
Jara rewards consumers with discounts to their favorite lifestyle brands when they make routine bill payments (such as airtime, electricity and cable TV), while helping brands turn those consumers to customers in a measurable way.
Soshalife was founded in 2014 by Omorodion Eguasa, Adetokunbo Akisanya and Oluwole Odulate with the goal of enhancing the way people socialise and share their ideas and passions by bringing those activities to their fingertips.
Vibeoo is an online radio on demand Soshalife Ltd that allows users discover, curate and broadcast great audio shows hosted by amazing creators anytime and anywhere.
Zebullon is a global network of world class developers, designers, product managers and growth hackers, dedicated to closing the technology talent gap globally.
These featured startups have been engaged in rigorous mentoring sessions and office hours with experts including Collins Onuegbu, Claudine Moore, Tomi Davies and Nubi Kayode. Another set of five startups have been chosen from pitch competitions during the weeklong SMW Lagos 2018.
On the importance of the social media, Bray disclosed that it was the accurate information shared on social media that greatly helped stamped out the Ebola virus when the menace was on rampage in the country.
Bray also said that the social media played a significant role in the release of abducted Chibok girls.
The US Consul-general said if the social media can be embraced by the government, it will greatly impact their activities.
“The social media is a powerful tool. With election drawing closer, the social media will be very useful. It can greatly help in the fight against fake news menace,” Bray stated.