Cedrick Mupenzi, the founder of the Rwandan startup ‘Sinc Today’, emerged as the grand prize winner of the 2024 Hanga PitchFest, securing Rwf50 million on Sunday, November 10, at the seventh “YouthConnekt Africa Summit” held in Kigali from November 8-11.
This year’s event celebrated Rwanda’s brightest innovators, with Hanga PitchFest marking its fourth edition as the premier platform for tech startups in the country.
Organised by the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, with support from the Ministry of Youth and Arts, the Rwanda Development Board, and the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund, the PitchFest highlights Rwanda’s commitment to building a knowledge-based economy through technological innovation.
Hanga PitchFest, launched in 2021, has grown into Rwanda’s largest in-person technology event, renowned for its substantial funding awards and its high-profile status. This year’s event attracted startups tackling challenges in diverse fields, including healthcare, waste management, and accessibility.
How ‘Sinc Today’ is transforming event management in Rwanda
Mupenzi’s company, Sinc Today, stood out for its all-in-one platform aimed at transforming the events industry. The Sinc platform provides event organisers with advanced tools to manage events seamlessly, offering full control of data and enhancing audience engagement.
It promotes digital inclusion through a cashless, paperless approach, eliminating the need for paper tickets and reducing environmental impact.
In an exclusive interview with Kigali Journal, Mupenzi shared his vision for Sinc Today, explaining how the platform bridges the gap between event attendees and organisers, enabling effortless connections.
“We provide event organisers with full control over their data, allowing them to make data-driven decisions,” he said.
“We eliminate the need for costly paper tickets that harm the environment, promoting a cashless, paperless, and digitally inclusive approach,” Mupenzi highlighted the company’s positive impact on the environment.
Reflecting on his win at Hanga PitchFest, he said that “winning this award confirms that we’re on the right track, and it’s incredibly motivating to receive this recognition.”
Like many startups, Mupenzi acknowledged that while financial resources are essential, the networking, exposure, and potential partnerships gained are even more valuable.
“We’re excited to support underserved and underprivileged event organisers by providing professional tools that redefine how they plan, execute, and manage their events,” he noted.
Mupenzi also said the next major milestone is the launch of Sinc’s customer-facing app, which aims to onboard 15,000 event-goers and over 1,000 underserved organisers who collectively host more than 200 events monthly.
Other finalists
The competition’s first runner-up, “Geuza Ltd”, founded by Aline Nicole Uwamariya, is a startup dedicated to empowering people with disabilities.
Geuza produces affordable assistive devices like crutches, walkers, and prosthetics from recycled electronic waste. Their eco-friendly solutions aim to enhance accessibility and mobility for people in low-income regions across Africa.
For its innovative approach, Geuza received Rwf20 million, which will help scale production and expand outreach to more communities in need, as noted by Uwamariya.
“Our next move is to finalise product testing, complete all regulatory approvals and officially launch our product in Rwanda in the first quarter of 2025.”
Uwamariya revealed that the company is working on scaling the production by investing on automated manufacturing equipment such as injection, moulding, hydraulic machine and more to increase the output up to 2000 units per month and the consistency of the production.
She added: “We’ll optimize our supply chain by strengthing partnership with distributors, network and key healthcare providers in Rwanda and across the continent.”
Uwamariya shared that, witnessing how the products are generally transforming lives by giving people with disabilities great independence and dignity.
In third place was “Afya Wave”, a health-focused startup working to develop low-cost ultrasound devices. By making sonographic services affordable, Afya Wave seeks to improve maternal healthcare access for underserved communities in Rwanda and across East Africa.
The team received Rwf15 million to further their mission and bring affordable diagnostic tools to remote areas.
“Clenville Ltd”, a Rwandan-based waste management startup, took fourth place, winning Rwf12.5 million. Through its “WeCollect” app, Clenville encourages recycling by incentivizing users to segregate plastics and other recyclables, addressing inefficiencies in traditional waste systems.
In fifth place, “Lifeline”, a health-tech startup, also received Rwf12.5 million. Lifeline’s platform improves access to emergency medications by integrating insurance options with outpatient drug tracking, helping patients and healthcare providers access essential drugs efficiently.
A government-backed commitment to innovation
Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente attended the event and personally handed over the grand prize, reiterating Rwanda’s dedication to encourage youth innovation.
“We have decided to put our young people at the forefront to achieve the economic development all Rwandans deserve,” Ngirente said.
He added: “Today marks the end of the fourth edition of Hanga PitchFest. Since its inception, this platform has played a key role in entrepreneurship and innovation to drive Rwanda towards a knowledge-based economy.”
The Prime Minister congratulated the finalists, and promised the government’s continued support to their initiatives.
“Keep on believing in yourselves and refining your ideas and projects with the aim to succeed,” Ngirente told the winners and encouraged them to continue refining their ideas and grow their ventures.
Since its inception, Hanga PitchFest has supported 135 startups, with an impressive 88 percent of these companies still operational, providing employment and pioneering solutions in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and technology.
