Two of Africa’s most promising software companies are collaborating to help young entrepreneurs around the continent accelerate their businesses.
StartWeb, a Lagos and Johannesburg-based technology startup rendering no-code SAAS to individuals and organisations and Plaqad, a Lagos and Delaware-based software company say they have identified some significant hurdles SMEs around Africa face, and they want to intervene.
The result is ‘#ThatOneThingie’, a social media campaign that calls on entrepreneurs to articulate a particular challenge they’ve faced in business. Through the campaign, Plaqad and StartWeb will call on members of their 50,000+ community to help these entrepreneurs, in addition to providing them with a suite of support or prizes worth over N10m or $20,000.
Thabo Ledimo, StartWeb’s co-founder, says he has worn the shoes, so he understands where it pinches. “I’ve founded several startups and continue to face one challenge or the other. We are not by any means a super company or on our way to unicorn status yet; but we do not want to wait until we have become really successful before we help our community.”
The Startweb and Plaqad prize pool will give G-Suite subscriptions, Plaqad software, StartWeb software, free business incorporation, legal services, public relations support, free domain names, ISP, and other benefits to up to 50 entrepreneurs who demonstrate a passion for their business; commitment to their ecosystem, and can articulate lacking resources that their respective businesses need to thrive and succeed.
StartWeb co-founder Kelvin Orifa adds: “African businesses face a lot of challenges, most of which their counterparts in Europe and America cannot relate with. We are starting this programme as a way to not just bring global attention to these issues; but to also play our part, no matter how small, in fixing them and helping as many people as we, and members of our community can.”
The programme will run from Tuesday, December 22, 2021, to Monday, January 23, 2022.
“We want to hear from everyone,” says Ayeni Adekunle, Plaqad founder. “We have an opportunity to bring these conversations to the centre stage and to use the resources we have – be it cash, tools, or other resources, in making sure the next African SME, startup, or idea does not fail. It’s a common vision StartWeb and Plaqad share, and I believe we are not alone.” he continued.
Intending participants are encouraged to visit https://plaqad.startweb.africa/home or join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #ThatOneThingie.
