{{South Africa\u2019s social photography app \u2018Over\u2019 for iPhone and iPad has won \u2018World\u2019s Best Start-Up\u2019 award at U-Start Conference in Italy\u2019s Milan<\/p>\n
The title was secured in a live pitch against 19 global challengers from South America, Russia, Africa and Europe.}}<\/p>\n
The Milan conference is reportedly the only event of its kind to partner high-level investment bodies and corporate backers from four key global territories with SMEs from both the emerging and developed markets. <\/p>\n
The conference attracted more than 730 delegates, 25 per cent of which were international investors, 40 per cent entrepreneurs plus a body of high-level corporates.<\/p>\n
About 60 of the world\u2019s most renowned leaders, innovators and pioneers from the investment and entrepreneur fields delivered keynote and panel discussions, according to global boutique advisory firm.<\/p>\n
With this win, Over has secured final stage funding, plus a coveted place at U-Start\u2019s International Investor Road Show. <\/p>\n
According to the African company, the win marks a significant development for iPhonegraphy and social sharing in image form, championing African tech innovation globally.<\/p>\n
Aaron Marshall, CEO of Over, said: \u201cIt was an incredible experience. It felt a little surreal to be sharing our story with a group of influencers from all over the planet in a sophisticated, beautiful city. <\/p>\n
The people behind U-Start put on a great event and we made some connections that could be hugely beneficial to our mission.<\/p>\n
“I’m feeling inspired, thinking bigger than ever and ready to get back to building. Our team recently doubled in size and we are hustling on some exciting new products,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The roadshow, the first of its kind globally, will allow Over to interact with some of the most prominent international investors, venture capitalists, angel investors and family offices of the world. <\/p>\n
This unparalleled access to U-Start\u2019s established network of international investors has been developed to help foster the growth of the African start-up, propelling it to international prominence.<\/p>\n
Four other regional winners from Europe, Russia, South America and a second finalist from Africa were Italist, online Italian high-end fashion retailer; Linguademia, specialists in encouraging a new approach to foreign language learning through gaming; LoveMondays, online platform for anonymous employee reviews of businesses; wiGroup, pioneers in point-of-sale, integrated mobile transactions, respectively.<\/p>\n
U-Start Conference is said to have attracted more than 700 industry decision-makers and commentators. The start-ups represented four key global start-up markets where U-Start has office presence namely South America, Africa, Russia and Europe.<\/p>\n
The conference was held in sponsorship with Enel e Directa as Tier One sponsors and in partnership with Regione Lombardia, Airbnb, Bird & Bird, Iberia Airlines, Italia Startup, Mailup, Onyx Consulting, Smartitaly, Startupbootcamp, Uber, Veespo, WhatAVenture, and Economuyp, Startupbusiness, Startupi and Radio Monte Carlo as media partner.<\/p>\n
The two-day conference included in-depth panel and roundtable discussions, expert led country profiles, and unique key-note speeches, as well as the live pitch competition itself. <\/p>\n
The panel of speakers included Lars Buch, co-founder of Startupbootcamp; Ash Fontana, co-founder of AngelList; Simone Sole, CEO of Ad4ventures and Didac Lee, an Angel Investor in the New Technology Area. <\/p>\n
They discussed the status of venture capital and delivering expert insider insight into tomorrow\u2019s rapidly emerging markets and trends.<\/p>\n
Stefano Guidotti, CEO, U-Start, said, \u201cWe are delighted to award Over with the title of \u2018Best Start-Up of the World\u2019. Having travelled from Sa\u0303o Paulo, to Cape Town, to Moscow, to Lugano and finally to Milan for the finale, we have witnessed some of the most innovative and exciting businesses to exist globally. <\/p>\n
The decision was not, however, an easy one. Over\u2019s resounding success is representative of the outstanding tech prowess that propels our offer, in addition to Africa\u2019s world-class status as a championing nation for tech innovation. <\/p>\n
The vision our organisation has championed from its inception, through to final, is to partner the best talent and opportunities from the world\u2019s fastest growing economies, with the smartest money available in the global investor market. <\/p>\n
This ethos is reinforced by Africa\u2019s success at the conference. All of our focal economies across the emerging markets have continued to steadily evolve as prime generators of future billion dollar tech-companies \u2014 confidently satisfying the needs of an ever-growing number of tech\u2013savvy customers, both from a B2C and B2B perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n
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