Mama Money Among The Top 5 Most Exciting Startups in South Africa
The Heavy Chef Foundation, a prolific organisation driving the startup ecosystem in South Africa, recently announced the Top 5 Most Exciting Startups in the country at an award ceremony hosted in Cape Town.
“This award is meant to cast a celebratory light on the sector as a whole, as well as give an insight into the breadth, depth and ‘good news stories’ of what’s happening.”
“We don’t take into account revenue targets and pitch decks, market size or investment. From past results, we’ve seen that the winners generally are the ones who have generated the most amount of buzz and excitement in investment circles,” said Louis Janse van Rensburg, chairperson of the Heavy Chef Foundation.
Over 600 companies were nominated for the award with only 12 making the final list. The top five were then selected by a panel of judges who are all highly prominent in the venture capital and startup sectors.
“Africa remains the most expensive region in the world for money transfers with low-income earners being hit the hardest by the high fees. Mama Money has brought this cost down to an average of 3%, and we’re incredibly proud to support the millions of hard-working foreign nationals in South Africa who send money home to their loved ones,” said Mathieu Coquillon, co-founder of Mama Money.
“It took us four years to build Mama Money to where we are now, and we’ll always be grateful to our customers for trusting us to get their money home safely,” added co-founder Raphael Grojnowski.
Congratulations to all the amazing companies that made the final shortlist, the competition was tough and shows that there is no shortage of incredible talent in South Africa’s startup ecosystem.
The 12 startups that made the final list are:
- 3X4 Genetics is a health company that combines advanced genetic testing, nutrigenomic education and a global network of accredited practitioners to help people make better daily choices to live longer, healthier lives.
- DigsConnect is South Africa’s largest student accommodation marketplace.
- Digital Online Retail Products, or DORP, is an online retail market in South Africa that’s creating great South African products that will be recognised globally.
- FinChatBot develops chatbots that help financial service providers acquire and keep customers using AI-powered conversations.
- Franc is an app that makes investing simple, affordable and accessible for everyone. With the Franc app, anyone can now invest in leading cash and equity funds in just a few minutes.
- LULA connects corporate commuters to private shuttles on their way to work, offering an affordable, convenient and productive way to get to work to workers as well as to companies who need to get their staff to and fro.
- Mama Money is a money-transfer service that provides a modern, safe and low-cost way for foreign nationals to make international payments.
- MyFanPark allows customers to get a personalised video from your favourite celebrity, all through an online marketplace.
- OfferZen is an IT talent marketplace that offers a transparent recruitment process that lets you, the candidate, be in control the entire time.
- Pineapple is the first peer-to-peer insurance platform in South Africa.
- Trusted Interns is a platform for first-time job-seekers and early-career professionals to explore opportunities and get discovered by employers.
- Quicket is a versatile platform that facilitates transactions between event organisers and ticket buyers seamlessly.
Follow Mama Money online via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn to keep an eye out for opportunities to join our fast-growing family!
