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Did you know that $1 trillion of development-related aid given over the last 60 years to African charities, organizations and businesses has not reached those it was meant for? Furthermore, the real per-capita income today in Africa is lower than it was in the 1970’s, and more than 50% of the population - over 350 million people - live on less than $1/day, a figure that has nearly doubled in two decades!
Our mission at Jumpstart Africa is to connect people with a passion for Africa directly to the local entrepreneurs who have innovative & creative projects but lack the necessary funds to make it a reality.
We are the first crowdfunding platform to revolutionize the way the world supports Africa by backing innovative tech, business, creative and environmental projects developed by African entrepreneurs.
How We Got Started and Where We Are Now
With the belief that aid given to Africa is not making a real difference in building a better future, we founded Jumpstart Africa in early 2013 as a way to change how the world supports our beloved continent. Our
vision for Jumpstart Africa proposes a new way of giving directly to an
entrepreneur who is going to start a business that will solve a
problem, provide jobs and stimulate local economies in the region. And,
to find and help local African entrepreneurs in making their dreams and
projects a reality, we are building
strong relationships with top innovation centers, incubators, and
associations throughout Africa to help people reach out and support the
Jumpstart Africa initiative.
Essentially, we want
to empower Africa through technology and those who contribute through
Jumpstart Africa will always know exactly where their money goes – to
the African entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses it was meant
for.
How Jumpstart Africa Works
Find and Educate Entrepreneurs about Jumpstart Africa:We have created relationships with incubators and accelerators, plus we are reaching out directly to entrepreneurs to find candidates that will benefit from Jumpstart Africa. This is an on-going effort and the more partnerships we put in place the better.
Vetting
Process and Funding Levels: Each Entrepreneur must meet our
guidelines before fundraising on Jumpstart Africa. The
amount each company/entrepreneur can raise will be in line with their
business model and plans for growth.
Setting
Entrepreneurs Up for Success: Jumpstart Africa will provide
entrepreneurs with how-to guides and counseling to help them craft their pitch,
develop a great video, decide on perks and reach out to potential
funders. We will also feature projects on our e-newsletter that will be
delivered to people that have expressed an interest in helping Africa’s
economies become self sustaining.
Contributor
Communication Strategy: We are going to utilize PR and
Marketing along with Charity Partnerships to build a network of potential
contributors. This network, which we have begun developing, is a group of
people that are passionate about helping Africa and supporting the
entrepreneurs on the Jumpstart Africa platform.
Rewards Based Crowdfunding: Contibutions to the Entrepreneurs on Jumpstart Africa will be in exchange for the product they are selling, an
item of value or simply a donation. An example would be the amazing
bracelets we are offering here!
How You Can Help
Jumpstart Africa needs your support to complete
the development of its revolutionary platform and provide the needed resources
to find and help local African entrepreneurs in making their dreams and
projects a reality. You can help us by
pledging for one of our perks on the right hand side of the page.
Perks
Show Your Support for Africa: When you contribute to Jump Start Africa, we'd like to show our gratitude by sending you one of 13 great perks! No matter your level of contribution, we sincerely appreciate your generosity, and we're proud to call you our partner in jump starting Africa's economy.
Check out some of our great perks below!
Handmade Leather Wallet
Stainless Steel Bracelet
The Riad
Jump Start Africa T-Shirt Design
What are the vouchers? A percentage of your pledge is going to be applied as credit on Jumpstart Africa. This is a real money balance that you will be able to contribute to an Entrepreneur of your choice when Jumpstart Africa is live Q1 of 2014.
JumpStart Africa's Supporters and Partners
Jumpstart Africa has established partnerships with organizations that help young companies develop. Here are a few of the partners that we will be working with to find and fund innovators that can grow Africa's economies.
Charity Partnerships
Jumpstart Africa strives to be a
leader in helping create sustainable growth and boost economies in the region –
our corporate mandate will see us contributing 10% of total profits to chosen
local and international African charities! Here is one of our featured
charities that we have partnered with:
Founded in 2007 by Eugene Nzeribe, ICAfrica is a registered Canadian poverty alleviation charity whose mission is to improve the revenue and well-being of poor families in Africa through micro-finance and business coaching by assisting principally, women micro-entrepreneurs and small farmers to develop their revenue-generating businesses and becoming financially self-sufficient.
For more than
fifteen years now a highly qualified and experienced team has launched
many programs meant to help underprivileged children. Many of these
children suffer from neglect, abuses, economic and sexual exploitation.
Some of them live in the streets of Moroccan cities; other ones are
candidates to illegal migration. Bayti’s mission is to help as many of these children as possible.
African Entrepreneurs that will be raising money with Jump Start Africa!
Jumpstart Africa features
groundbreaking tech, business, creative and environmental projects that will
greatly impact people around the world.
Check out these three Entrepreneurs
that have decided to make a difference in their home countries and across
Africa! These innovators will be raising funds on Jumpstart Africa when
we go LIVE in early 2014.
The Eco-Stove by Rose Twine
The Eco-Stove not only cooks more cost effectively than wood or charcoal, it can also power lights and charge cell phones. Check out this video to see how it works:
Stellenbosch University's Tea Bag Water Filter Project
To ensure a sustainable livelihood, we need water. A lack of adequate, safe and affordable water supplies has immediate and negative consequences, especially on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and the poor. It simply creates a plethora of health, environmental and socioeconomic problems. Professor Cloete and his team at Stellenbosch University have developed a water filter that can make a difference.
The "teabag" filter is designed to fit in the neck of a standard sized water bottle. Depending on the quality of water being filtered, it costs between one and five cents per liter.
"We haven't yet come across a bacteria it can't kill," says Professor Cloete.
Over half a billion (not million) people in Africa lack adequate access to light and energy. This is a major barrier to breaking free from poverty. Current alternatives like kerosene are not only deadly to its users (mostly women and children) but also to the environment. By replacing kerosene with solar we can overcome the social, environmental and economic issues brought on by this gas.
"Through this innovative consumer-focused product and business model, solar is now affordable to the world's poor," Adam Camenzuli (CEO and Founder of Karibu).
The Kenyan Drone by Moses Gichanga
Moses has created a drone that flies on its own for over 2 hours at a time. The Kenyan Drone has been used to patrol wildlife reserves in Africa as well as in the United States. Check out this feature that was done on Moses and his Drone by a Kenyan news channel.
Meet the Jumpstart Africa Team
Ahmed Zrikem, Founder & CEO
Born in Marrakesh, Morocco, Ahmed grew up in the U.S. and is a self proclaimed computer and network security geek. With the belief that aid given to Africa actually hurts Africa, Ahmed came up with the idea for Jumpstart Africa as a way to change how the world supports his beloved continent. His vision for the platform proposes a new way of giving directly to an entrepreneur who is going to start a business that will solve a problem, provide jobs and stimulate local economies in the region. His motto? “Let’s Jumpstart Africa together!”
Othmane Zrikem, CoFounder & CFO
As CFO of Jumpstart Africa, Othmane is responsible for the company’s international setup and ongoing assessment of financial operations. Prior to co-founding Jumpstart Africa with his cousin, Ahmed, Othmane worked for the German startup incubator, Rocket Internet Group, and was involved in helping launch a number of different e-commerce startups within Africa. His main operational focus during this time was acting as Africa Category Manager for JUMIA, the largest e-commerce website in Africa, and a leader in e-commerce within the following countries: Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya and the Ivory Cost. Concurrently, he also acted as Business Developer for Hellofood Africa, the first online food delivery service throughout Africa. Passionate about analyzing the challenges of economic development in emerging countries, especially in Africa, Othmane is regularly published in well-established French and International media such as Le Monde, The Huffington Post (French & African edition), Les Echo or Rue 89
Now it's your Call!
Let's Jumpstart Africa Together!
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