Two Kenyan tech start-ups were named in an elite list of 11 similar entities that will participate in this year's Google’s Accelerator program on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Pitted against over 1,200 entrants around the world backed by tech geniuses, the 2 Kenyan tech firms emerged winners thanks to the simplicity of their solutions coupled with their effectiveness.
One of the solutions dubbed Solar Freeze is a renewable mobile cold storage facility developed with the rural areas in mind.
The game-changing start-up is engineered towards solving post-harvest losses faced by a majority of farmers in developing countries.
"We are a team of a new young generation of Africans with an average age of 27years. Solutions for Smallholder farmers with smallholders by smallholders is our motto," reads an excerpt from the firm's website.
Flare, the other Kenyan start-up that made the list, an ingenious piece of software created for emergency response teams.
Fitted with an inbuilt consumer-facing application, it allows patients in distress to see nearby emergency facilities or ambulance options and seek help in real-time.
Commendably, Flare currently serves the largest network of ambulances within Kenya and has been responsible for hundreds of life-saving emergency responses.
"Decreasing ambulance wait times and increasing access to emergency transport in Kenya," were words used by the Huffington Post to describe the start-up.
The 11 winners were selected based on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals including poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.
Following the shortlisting, each startup founder is now set to work closely with engineers from over 20 Google teams and other subject matter experts to address product, engineering, business development, and funding challenges.
Google for Startups Accelerator is focused on sustainable development goals that are geared towards social impact startups working to create a healthier and more sustainable future.
The unique platform provides access to training, products and technical support from leading experts in the field.
The tech giant will thus aid the two Kenyan firms with product and engineering expertise, business development and access to funding.
Kenya and the UK were the only countries to have two entries in the final list.
