Kenyan startup company BasiGo, a major player in the country’s e-mobility industry, has won an award at the Global Startup Awards (GSA).
BasiGo was named as the GSA winner of the Best Green Tech Startup at the Global Grand Finale Days 2024 event held in Istanbul, Turkey between September 24 and 25.
BasiGo, while confirming the win, on September 26 said that the African continent continues to lead on the global stage in the fight against climate change effects.
“This recognition affirms that Africa can and is leading on the global stage in the fight against climate change! The future is electric,” said the company in a statement.
The Global Grand Finale Days 2024 event brought together key stakeholders, including venture capitalists, and ecosystem partners, with startups from around the world showcasing talent and innovation.
In the Best Green Tech Startup category, the competition was looking for startups that focus on providing innovative solutions that contribute to environmental sustainability and have a positive impact on energy efficiency and waste reduction.
“This could be implemented in industries such as energy, transportation, sustainable agriculture, logistics, or SCM, with a commitment to reducing carbon footprint and promoting overall environmental well-being,” reads the category description.
Why BasiGo was named as the winner
In the category, organizers were looking for startups with solutions needed to disrupt norms, reduce energy consumption, promote renewables, or optimize processes for environmental benefit.
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Also among the considerations made to determine the winner is positive environmental impact, such as carbon footprint reduction, energy savings, or waste minimization.
In addition, the startup’s solution must have aligned with at least one of the listed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Other African companies that emerged as winners include TechBuzz Hub from Uganda which won the Best Co-Working Space category.
Momint from South Africa won the Global Startup Awards Winner for Best Web3.0 & AI Startup, while Freeziana of Egypt was crowned the Global Startup Awards Winner for Founder of the Year.
BasiGo, an e-mobility company dedicated to revolutionizing Kenya’s public transport system, recently received a major funding boost.
Funding from US
The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) earlier in the year approved a $10 million loan for BasiGo.
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This funding is intended to significantly increase BasiGo’s fleet of electric buses and accelerate the country’s transition away from diesel-powered vehicles.
The funding was approved after the Kenyan startup company reached a significant milestone with the assembly of its first two E9 Kubwa buses.
These 9-meter electric buses are specifically designed for the Kenyan Public Service Vehicle (PSV) market.
As of August 15th, the company had already received over 500 reservations from bus operators in Nairobi, as well as 300 from Kigali, Rwanda, indicating a strong regional demand for electric buses.
The DFC’s financial assistance will allow BasiGo to increase its production from five buses per month to 20 buses per month by 2025, with the expansion expected to result in the production of 1,000 electric buses over the next three years.
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