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Nigerian Startup, Drugstoc, Wins Global Visa Everywhere Initiative 2023

Joan Aimuengheuwa — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 20:00:03 +0000

Drugstoc, an innovative startup that leverages technology to enhance access to health care has been announced as the overall winner of the 2023 Global Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI) – an open innovation program and competition for start-ups and fintech companies, targeted at solving the payment challenges of tomorrow through innovation.

The startup also won the Audience Favorite award.

Chibuzor Opara of DrugStoc with the star prize

The finale was hosted on September 19 during TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, CA where this year’s VEI finalists pitched their payment solution to an esteemed panel of judges.

As a vital component of the program, Visa has made its network available to drive inclusive economic growth with the goal of giving everyone, everywhere, access to the global economy.

Notably, minority-owned businesses have tripled after the pandemic, introducing new ideas for the fintech space.

The 2023 VEI program saw a significant uptick in diverse applicants, with women-led businesses representing nearly half of this year’s entrants.

Techcrunch Distrpt

Last year, ThriveAgric, another Nigerian startup that provides smallholder farmers access to finance, insights, and distribution was crowned the 2022 winner of VEI.

VEI is an open innovation program and competition for start-ups and fintech companies, targeted at solving the payment challenges of tomorrow through innovation.

Oze Selected for Startup Battlefield 200 at Techcrunch Disrupt

Techeconomy — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Oze, the fintech startup building small business management tools with embedded finance products for MSMEs across West Africa, was selected as one of 200 startups to pitch in San Francisco at prestigious Techcrunch Disrupt 2022.

Oze will get a chance to pitch on stage in front of thousands of investors, entrepreneurs, and others in the tech industry.

All 200 startups will receive a free, VIP experience — master classes, pitch deck teardowns, curated receptions, access to investors and international media and more.

https://techeconomy.ng/2022/01/ghanas-oze-raises-3000000-pre-series-a-fund-to-continue-helping-smes-scale/

They will also join the likes of CloudFlare, Dropbox, GetAround, Mint.com and Scoutible as Startup Battlefield alumni.

Oze was selected from thousands of applications and is one of 4 African startups, including Rwandan startup AltSchool Africa and Nigerian startups PressOne Africa, and Shekel.

“Getting selected is an amazing opportunity to showcase the revolutionary tools we’ve been building with and for our customers in West Africa in the heart of Silicon Valley. It’s proof that the future will be built everywhere.” said Meghan McCormick, Co-founder & CEO.

All startups are expected to announce big news during their pitch and Oze is no exception. “We’ve been hard at work this year building something that will help SMEs across the continent go digital in a whole new way. Stay tuned,” said Dave Emnett, Co-founder & COO.