Mary Mwangi, the founder of Data Integrated, tied for the second prize out of six finalists who were chosen from various countries and from a wide field of applicants to compete on Africa.com’s Brilliant African Innovations Against COVID-19, a “Shark Tank” style contest.
She won for her Epesi Trip Planner, an app that allows tuk-tuk passengers to book a ride and pay online ahead of time, thus avoiding densely populated lines to board buses, and the payment of fares electronically, thus avoiding human contact associated with the use of cash.
Source: Africa.com
The other second prize winner was Dr. Wale Adeosun of Nigeria, founder of Wellvis, which uses machine learning to help patients assess their risk for COVID-19, and depending on the outcome, educates patients about the virus, and recommends next steps using a telemedicine platform. The COVID-19 Triage Tool assists the larger medical community, and society, by reducing unnecessary calls and visits to clinics and hospitals.
The first prize was awarded to Laud Basing of Ghana, founder of Incas Diagnostics for his rapid Covid-19 test, which is combined with a comprehensive app that incorporates symptom assessment, data capture of test results, tracking of patient location using GPS signals, and dissemination of all of this information to public health authorities.
Laud Basing receives a $500 prize; mentoring by Harvard Business School Professor of Entrepreneurship, Tarun Khanna; and a $5,000 media package from Africa.com.
The contest judges were so compelled by the strength of the finalists that they decided to award additional prizes to the two finalists who were tied for second place.
Each of the second Prize winners received $250 and a $2,500 media package from Africa.com.
Mary Mwangi won a mentoring session with Adrian Vermooten, Head of Digital Innovation at Standard Bank.
