Kenya’s MoDe named IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year

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IBM has announced that MoDe was named the IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year. Based in Nairobi Kenya, MoDe provides instant nano-credit for pre-paid mobile phone users across the African continent.

Nearly 80% of mobile phone users in growth markets do not have access to traditional banking loans and credit. MoDe’s innovative payment services ensure that people have access to mobile airtime when needed, while helping telecommunications companies increase efficiency and build brand loyalty.

“Being named the IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year is a tremendous honour and will accelerate our ability to create new markets,” Julian Kyula CEO and co-founder, MoDe. “The access to clients and potential investors that we have had through the SmartCamp program would have taken our company 10 years to achieve on our own, with IBM it took less than six months.”

IBM SmartCamps connect startups with seasoned and successful venture capitalists, investors, and innovative business leaders, giving them the tools and insight needed to excel in their often nascent markets. Past participants have partnered with IBM to deliver new solutions to clients and have expanded into new markets. In addition, past participants have gone on to generate more than $90 million in investments from the venture community.

“Every day we are working with startups around the world to grow markets in big data, cloud and mobile computing,” said Jim Corgel, general manager of IBM’s Entrepreneur Programs.  “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with MoDe as we bring new mobile solutions to our clients around the world.”

After qualifying in one of the more than 20 local SmartCamp events around the world, 8 finalists from 7 countries were selected for the Global Finals event. The finalists pitched their businesses to an audience of venture capitalist, serial entrepreneurs, academics and leaders in business and technology. After 2 days of mentoring and networking, a panel of judges selected MoDe on the strength of its product innovation, growing client base and alignment with IBM’s Smarter Planet initiative.

IBM’s SmartCamps are a significant component of the company’s Global Entrepreneur Program, which offers a variety of ways for entrepreneurs to grow their business, get access to leading experts and technology, and ultimately market their products faster. The Program operates with the goal of uncovering, fully developing, and commercialising innovations which create new business opportunities in industries and regions around the globe.

To learn more about the Smart Camp finals and the other startups from around the globe that participated in the event, visit the IBM SmartCamp blog: http://ibmsmartcamp.com/ or join the conversation on Twitter with #IBMSmartCamp.