In the world of tech startups, the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 is a prestigious platform that offers a golden opportunity for early-stage companies to showcase their innovative solutions. This year, two Ugandan startups, KSOC and Kyuka Ventures, have been selected to compete in this esteemed event, joining a cohort of 16 African startups that have been handpicked from a pool of thousands of applications.
KSOC, an event-driven SaaS platform, is designed to remediate Kubernetes security risks and enforce least-privileged access control. Founded in 2021 by Story Tweedie-Yates, KSOC is a testament to the growing importance of cybersecurity in the digital age.
Kyuka Ventures, on the other hand, is a tech-enabled startup that uses a chemical-free and energy-conserving technology to transform plastic waste into fuel and gas. Founded by Sonko Jamal, Kyuka Ventures is a shining example of how technology can be harnessed to address environmental challenges.
The TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 is an invitation-only event that brings together game-changing early-stage startups from around the globe. The selected startups get the opportunity to pitch their products to investors at the annual TechCrunch Disrupt conference. They also receive training, access to masterclasses, private receptions, communities, and investor meet and greets.
The competition is fierce, with all 200 companies pitching on the Pitch Showcase Stage at TC Disrupt. Following the Startup Battlefield Finalist sessions, a group of finalists, typically between 4 and 6 companies, are selected by judges and TechCrunch editors. These finalists then pitch for a second time to a new group of judges. The top 20 are selected for the final round to pitch on the Disrupt Stage, competing for a $100K equity-free prize and a chance to win the Disrupt Cup.
The other African startups that have been selected for the 2023 TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 include Akowe, Alusoft Technologies Ltd, Appcyclers, Bizzyn, Bus54, Duhqa, Famasi, FinanceGPT, FlexPay, Flowmono, Foris Labs, Genesis360, Lima, and Omnisient. These startups hail from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa, and operate in diverse sectors such as Cleantech, SaaS, Fintech, HealthTech, AI/Machine Learning, and Security and Privacy.