By Adedapo Adesanya
Five Nigerian transport startups have emerged from Seedstars and Lab of Tomorrow (LoT) 17, an innovative programme aimed at transforming Nigeria’s transport and e-commerce sectors.
These are CargoLink, Efotainer, MonieMove, SHAPP, and Trade Tracka. These selected startups will bring fresh ideas for overhauling intercity and last-mile transport services for people and goods in Nigeria.
In a statement seen by Business Post, 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 programme, thus, targeted these specific issues, aiming to bring about real change.
Funded by BMZ and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the programme 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.
The LoT 17 programme 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 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 and; Trade Tracka – A review and rating platform that uses AI to build trust between online shoppers and businesses.
Speaking on this, Sheilla Atieno of Seedstars said, “Investment in innovation is crucial for growth. We are incredibly proud of the dedication, resilience, and innovative thinking demonstrated by these startups.
“Their solutions could truly revolutionize Nigeria’s transportation sector.”
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH echoed these sentiments with Sina Uti-Waziri adding that, “The Lab of Tomorrow program underscores the vital role the private sector plays in driving sustainable development. The solutions presented during this Demo Day embody the spirit of innovation we strive to foster through our programme.”
