Global VC SOSV Lands in the region and Blockchain Startups Receive Initial Funding

Orbit Startups, a new program from venture firm SOSV, has named the 10 startups chosen for its inaugural cohort. The startups have each received initial funding of about US$150,000 together with an intensive program that supports their growth across emerging and frontier markets.

Orbit encapsulates SOSV’s established MOX and Chinaccelerator programs and reflects those programs’ shift in recent years to the geographies of Southeast and South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. The startups from this cohort hail from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Singapore; operating in fintech, media, edtech, GameFi and other blockchain applications.

“We are eager to scale breakthrough startups from around the world across emerging and frontier markets, where there are more inefficiencies, fewer legacy industries, and the most opportunities for aggressive growth,” said William Bao Bean, General Partner at SOSV, Managing Director of Orbit Startups.

“Orbit selects tech players that can impact millions of lives at once—startups that are solving monumental

problems in healthcare, education, finance, media and logistics; and startups that are future-proofing the local economy through digitalization,” said Bean.

Here are the 10 startups that will pitch to an invite-only audience at AstroLabs Academy Campus, hosted by our community partner AstroLabs, MENA’s leading technology ecosystem builder:

• Asobu App (India): Offering players access to on-chain games in under 30 seconds where they can buy and trade game assets;

• GetFundedAfrica (Nigeria): A platform leveraging media and technology to help startups across Africa find funding;

• iWebTechno (India): Digitizing educational institutions connecting students to banks, fintechs, edtech and service partners;

• KalPay (Pakistan): A Shariah-aligned BNPL service enabling consumers in Pakistan to pay for online purchases in installments with no paperwork;

• Kredi Bank (Nigeria): A full-service digital bank building a one-stop shop for digital financial services in Africa;

• Linkstar (Pakistan): All-in-one webspace solution for freelancers, influencers and small businesses;

• Money Club (India): A safe and secure mobile platform for P2P chit fund based savings in India;

• Morfyus League (Singapore): Bringing gamers to a new frontier of play-to-earn and GameFi opportunities;

• Nearpeer (Pakistan): Nearpeer makes quality education affordable and accessible across Pakistan and the Middle East;

• Verismart (India): Blockchain based data exchange platform with a privacy compliant identity management solution serving banks, telecoms and insurance companies.

It is important to note that many of the chosen startups are blockchain-related, which shows that the space is evolving and won’t be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, startups like Asobu App, iWebTechno, Morfyus League, Verismart have been on the rise, and more similar one will be seeing the light of day in the near future.