This article is taken directly from the source cited
By Ivy Nyayieka
First published November 29, 2018 22:18
Technology giant Google has announced the 12 Kenya-based enterprises that will get Sh200 million grant funding after beating over 1,000 contestants.
The Google Impact Challenge involved nonprofits and social enterprises that were competing to get funding as well as training from Google. They were selected on the basis of their impact, innovation, reach and feasibility of their projects.
The judges picked three non-profits which won Sh25 million each. The three winners were prisoners’ advocacy program African Prisons Project, Lodwar-based technology skills training campus Startup Lions and agricultural sensors firm Ujuzi Kilimo Solutions.
Digital literacy programme. Lewa Wildlife Marathon also secured Sh25 million when they won the Public Vote category in which Google invited the public to select their preferred nonprofit. “Google has been in Africa for over a decade and we remain committed to investing in developing the digital ecosystem and leveraging technology to improve the lives and wellbeing of our users,” said Country Manager for Google Kenya Charles Murito, speaking at the award ceremony.
Eight finalists won Sh12.5 million. These runners up included pastoralists’ migration guide AfriScout, video platform Kalabars, entrepreneurship program GiveDirectly Kenya and innovation lab Global Minimum InLab.
Other winners of the Sh12.5 million included SMS education platform M-Shule, ICT training programme NairoBits, crossborder trading tool Sauti and business accelerator The Somo Project.
