South African television presenter Jeannie D and her partner, entrepreneur Brennan Wright, attended the 88mph Demo Day yesterday evening to get in touch with the tech startup market as they prepare to launch their own.
The 88mph Demo Day gave ten startups and investors the opportunity to connect at a demonstrative networking event.
HumanIPO reported in February on the 88mph startup programme.
Favourite South African personality of the year Jeannie D – also among the FHM Top 100 Beauties of the World – is developing a fashion and beauty app that will launch around September this year.
The proudly South African app will enable users to scan items from magazines for possible purchase, connect with personalities in the industry and also select their own fitness schedules.
“It is going to be Absolutely Genius,” Jeannie D said, hinting at the name of the app.
Speaking to HumanIPO about the event, she said: “I think this concept of bringing startups and investors together is unbelievable.
“I think it is such a nice space for both and also such a creative space to work…So my mind is blown.”
Wright, who launched online classified student platform diggit five weeks ago, is looking for US$2.5 million funding to launch his site beyond South African base as from 2014.
“It’s basically a Gumtree for students and school kids,” he explained.
Nigeria, Ghana and Canada are likely to be the next target markets for diggit expansion.
“I wanted to come out and check out who is also in this space and see who I could work with,” Wright told HumanIPO.
He sees Peach Payments as a potential partner for collaboration, while Jeannie D wishes she knew Near a Builder while she was renovating her home.
“These people definitely identified needs in the market. I wish they were around a month ago,” Jeannie D said.
