Funded by BMZ and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the program brought together 23 participants from 23 different companies. These industry pioneers collaborated to create innovative solutions to improve intercity and last-mile transport services for people and goods in Nigeria, using digital trade as their launchpad.

LoT 17 focused on Nigeria, where the booming e-commerce and logistics sectors are poised for technological innovation. However, challenges remain, especially in terms of transportation quality and the sector's largely informal nature. The program, thus, targeted these specific issues, aiming to bring about real change.

The LoT 17 program collaborated with Seedstars to provide its participants with workshop sessions, mentorship meetings, and check-in sessions. These steps led to the development of five innovative business solutions that were presented during the Demo Day.

The Demo Day marked the culmination of the incubation program, showcasing the top transformative ideas to a panel of seasoned investors and industry experts. Each startup introduced unique, scalable, and impactful solutions, demonstrating the transformative power of technology in the transport sector.

The 5 startups of LoT 17 are the following:

CargoLink - A digital platform that connects nationwide logistics operators for more efficient shipments.

Efotainer - A mobile solar-powered refrigeration device for transporting perishable goods.

MonieMove - A B2B marketplace that increases purchasing power for small and medium-sized logistics service providers.

SHAPP - A delivery management platform that enhances communication between e-commerce vendors, delivery companies, and riders.

Trade Tracka - A review and rating platform that uses AI to build trust between online shoppers and businesses.

"Investment in innovation is crucial for growth. We are incredibly proud of the dedication, resilience, and innovative thinking demonstrated by these startups," said Sheilla Atieno of Seedstars. "Their solutions could truly revolutionize Nigeria's transportation sector."

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH echoed these sentiments. "The Lab of Tomorrow program underscores the vital role the private sector plays in driving sustainable development," Sina Uti-Waziri of GIZ stated. "The solutions presented during this Demo Day embody the spirit of innovation we strive to foster through our program."

We invite interested parties to meet the teams behind these innovative solutions, watch their pitch videos, and book 1on1 meetings here: https://seedsta.rs/lot17. ​​

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ABOUT DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR INTERNATIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, with 23,614 employees. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. Our business volume is around 3.3 billion euros. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and many public and private sector clients in around 120 countries in achieving their objectives in international cooperation. With this aim, GIZ works together with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions.

Pro-Poor Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria Programme- SEDIN is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with a focus on Private Sector Development. SEDIN supports partners in improving the employment and income situations of MSMEs in Nigeria.

The Lab of Tomorrow is a business development programme to solve specific challenges in developing countries and emerging economies. The programme inspires local and European businesses to jointly create new products and services that meet local needs, guided by Design Thinking principles and supported by topic experts and the public sector. The results are viable ventures owned and driven by the private sector that make a strong, self-scaling contribution to reaching the SDGs.

ABOUT SEEDSTARS

Seedstars is a Swiss-based company with a mission to impact people’s lives in emerging markets through technology and entrepreneurship. Seedstars works with the private and public sectors to implement entrepreneurial capacity-building programs in order to create jobs and fuel economic growth.

The group runs Seedstars Programs that are designed to support entrepreneurs in varying stages of growth via training, education, mentoring, and access to resources. The company also partners, operates, and invests in emerging venture capital funds in emerging markets and makes direct co- and follow-on investments in their portfolio companies through Seedstars Capital. To further support the next generation of changemakers, Seedstars Academy, a talent incubator, provides digital skills and startup-based immersive education.

Through these initiatives and partnerships, Seedstars is building a world-class community and network of changemakers in over 90 emerging ecosystems. For more information, visit https://www.seedstars.com/.

CONTACTS

Program

Sheilla Atieno

Program Manger

[email protected]

Partnerships

Doris Clemenz

[email protected]

Media

Michaela Villaroman

Media Relations

[email protected]