Glovo, an on-demand delivery company, has revealed the winners of its Kenyan digital business pitch competition. Glovo launched the Competition in march with Esade Business School, Ashoka Africa, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), to attract early-stage tech startups that provide value to SMEs.
There were two phases to the competition. The first round involved submitting written applications online, which closed on March 31, 2022. A number of local businesses applied in various areas of the economy, and eight finalists were chosen to go to the next stage, a live pitch in front of a panel of judges, which took place at the Capital Club Nairobi.
“We are excited to be part of helping accelerate SMEs in the country on their digitalization journey. We at Glovo recognize the needs of SMEs as a critical part of the community and are committed to helping build the Kenyan ecosystem for digital services,” said Priscilla Muhiu, General Manager at Glovo.
The first prize winners were Bernard Njathi, CEO, and Patrick Ndeda, Co-founder of Lofte Kesho, an Agritech and fintech start-up that enables smallholder livestock farmers to access money against their cattle. They will receive a Mini Business Accelerator package as part of an all-expenses-paid trip to Barcelona, the top IT hotspot in Southern Europe. Meeting with top Glovo executives to get feedback and recommendations on their business, as well as discuss any business prospects and difficulties, will be part of this.
The 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive virtual sessions with Glovo top executives to learn about the company’s journey and brainstorm opportunities and challenges, as well as Fast-Track Access to the eWorks Accelerator program’s Summer 2022 edition and a pro bono consulting session with BCG Kenya.
The idea for the competition was initiated by both Esade and Glovo, and their vision was backed by Ashoka Africa and Boston Consulting Group which came together as collaborators. The organizations think that SMEs are a major driver of a successful business environment and that because we are living in a period of development and change driven by technology, supporting tech enterprises that add value to SMEs would help countless SMEs expand and succeed.
Esade, a global academic organization founded in 1958, has campuses in Barcelona and Madrid and a global presence thanks to collaboration agreements with 185 universities and business schools. More than 11,000 students attend courses organized by three academic units: Esade Business School, Esade Law School, and Esade Executive Education each year. Esade Alumni, a network of 72 international chapters made up of over 67,000 Esade graduates, maintains an international network.
Glovo’s values and continued commitment to supporting SMEs were reflected in the competition, as Glovo has aided in the digitization of various verticals of commerce for SMEs, including restaurants, supermarkets, bookstores, flower shops, and clothing stores, among others, by helping them grow their customer base by reaching more users online and learning about their experiences, as well as improving their business offerings by accessing our data regarding operations and orders.