Jumpstart Africa to Revolutionize How the World Supports Africa

Pioneering Crowdfunding Platform Connects People with a Passion for Africa with the Continent's Brightest Minds to Help Them Raise Money for their Innovative and Creative Projects, Indiegogo Campaign Launches Today

MARRAKESH, Morocco, Dec. 10, 2013 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Jumpstart Africa today announced the launch of its Indiegogo campaign to raise needed funds to complete the build of its revolutionary crowdfunding platform, JumpstartAfrica.com.  Pioneering in every way, Jumpstart Africa is the first to imagine a better way in which the world can lend its support to the continent's brightest minds to help them raise money for their innovative and creative projects.  The Indiegogo campaign (www.igg.me/at/jumpstartafrica.com), which starts today, has a funding goal of $40,000USD to also provide the needed resources to find and help local African entrepreneurs in making their dreams and projects a reality. 

Bridging the gap between Africa's current banking system that fails to help innovative African entrepreneurs emerge, Jumpstart Africa will operate with complete transparency so that those who contribute via the platform will always know exactly where their money goes – to the African entrepreneurs, innovators and artists it was meant for. 

"Many avid supporters of Africa believe that aid given to Africa actually hurts Africa," said Ahmed Zikrem, CEO & founder, Jumpstart Africa.  "We propose a new way of giving directly to an entrepreneur who is going to start a business that will solve a problem, provide jobs and stimulate local economies.  We want to empower the people of Africa – not give them a fish but help them to fish on their own."

Jumpstart Africa has built strong relationships with top innovation centers, incubators, and associations throughout Africa to help people reach out and support its initiative.  Some of the exciting projects that will be on JumpstartAfrica.com at launch include:

• Unmanned Ariel Vehicle: Moses Gichanga from Kenya has developed a low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technology to help monitor and prevent poaching and the slaughter of wildlife in Africa.
• Solar Cooking Stove: Rose Twine from Uganda has developed a low-cost smokeless solar stove that can also charge your phone and light your house for the price of only two months of regular charcoal consumption.
• TeaBag Water Filter: Professor Eugene Cloete and his team at Stellenbosch University inSouth Africa have developed an affordable water filter called a "teabag" that fits into the neck of a standard sized water bottle.

Zikrem continued: "Did you know that many of the products used on a day-to-day basis by consumers around the world were invented by Africans - the traffic light, the elevator and thepressure cooker?  Obviously, these kinds of ideas have greatly impacted people worldwide and we have noticed that Africa's talented entrepreneurs are growing in numbers and are creating innovative solutions that will propel Africa's future." 

About Jumpstart Africa

JumpStart Africa is a revolutionary crowdfunding platform developed with one goal in mind: to help build a better future for Africa.  By empowering Africa through technology, this pioneering startup wants to be a leader in helping create sustainable growth and boost economies in the region.  As part of its corporate mandate, Jumpstart Africa contributes ten percent of total profits to chosen local and international charities.  At launch, the platform will feature an amazing variety of tech, business, creative and environmental projects.  For more information, visitwww.jumpstartafrica.com.

Source: The Sacramento Bee

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/12/10/5987594/jumpstart-africa-to-revolutionize.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/12/10/5987594/jumpstart-africa-to-revolutionize.html#storylink=c