Kenyan-based startup, Tiny Totos, has been named among the winners of the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC) Africa finale. Tiny Totos was selected in the ‘Income Growth and Job Creation’ category beating Kumwe Harvest from Rwanda and South African based Indlu.
Tiny Totos was launched in 2014 to help entrepreneurs come up with cost-effective solutions to improve the wellbeing of children. The startup is based in Nairobi but has a goal of establishing a countrywide franchise.
“We are thrilled to have been recognised as a start-up bringing change to women and children in slums, through our growing network of financially self-sustaining, quality day care businesses in the informal settlements.” Emma Caddy, CEO of Tiny Totos said
“Our day care intervention model and platform provides informal day care entrepreneurs with access to the key business knowledge and information they need to improve standards of care, monitor their financial growth – as well as provide reliable, elevated care to children so working mothers can go to work with peace of mind. My team and I are excited about taking Tiny Totos through to the global stages of the competition,” she added.
The IIC finale was hosted by pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom at the African Inclusive Innovation Summit in Ethiopia. The one-day event highlighted how technology is creating economic opportunity for low-and middle-income earners across Africa. The summit was held in partnership with the African Union Commission, the Ethiopian Jobs Creation Commission (JCC), and the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology.
Other winners included Nigeria’s Social Lender (Financial Inclusion Category), Egypt’s Taskty (Skills Development & Opportunity Matching Category) and South Africa’s Shopit (Technology Access Category).
“I would like to congratulate all the finalists that presented at the regional level. It’s indeed encouraging to see how technology is being used as a force for good in Africa. I am especially pleased to see Kenyan based Tiny Totos amongst the Africa regional winners for transforming service standards across Nairobi’s informal childcare market through innovative technology.” Ben Roberts, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer, Liquid Telecom, said,
More than 400 applicants from 35 African countries entered the competition. Tiny Totos now has a chance to compete and win part of a $1 million Global Grand Prize that will be awarded at MIT (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) in November. Tiny Totos would now be competing with finalists in the same category from other regions– Asia, Europe, Latin America and US & Canada.
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