OCTOBER 4, 2016 BY EMMANUEL OGUNSOLA

Thomson Reuters, in partnership with Venture Capital For Africa (VC4A), launched the Africa Startups Challenge; an initiative that provides a platform for startups to partner as they grow into lucrative businesses. Using smart data tools, teams from across Thomson Reuters have identified fourteen startups on VC4A for the Challenge.

The startups nominated for the Africa Startups Challenge award are from the following 10 categories: Agri-tech (including land administration), Big data analytics, Blockchain, Digital government, Education Internet of Things, Fintech, Media-tech, Mobile technology, Supply chain.

This list presents the ventures identified by the challenge, startups tapping into scalable markets with clear potential to scale.

Here are the nominees:

Abacus: Abacus helps investors make and execute smarter, faster and more decisions by providing access to real time market data, news and analytics for the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

Academix: Academix is an aggregator and e-library of Nigeria focused research and knowledge resources, cutting across multiple disciplines.

AgroData: AgroData is an AgriTech firm which deploys technology to make tropical farming more efficient.

African Markets: African Markets is a web platform entirely dedicated to African stocks.

BenBen: BenBen uses blockchain technology to provide governments , financial institutions, realtors and the general public instant access to property information through an easy to use searchable interface.

Ensibuuko: Ensibuuko offers financial institutions an easy and efficient means to manage and track information and to reach underserved (unbanked) communities such as farmers.

Farmdrive: Farmdrive is a mobile tech, agri-tech startup that looks to advance bankable farmer initiatives.

Kwanji: Kwanji is an online FX comparison and payment platform providing businesses in Africa with unrestricted access to the very best FX rates.

Mavuno: Mavuno is a mobile tech and supply chain startup that connects farmers and urban wholesale traders through SMS in East Africa.

RippleNami: RippleNami offers an intuitive visualization platform that allows anyone to map their world with real-time information, enabling them to make better and faster critical decisions.

Smart Finance: Smart Finance makes it easy for micro-businesses to keep track of their financial activities, maintain business records and subsequently gain access to finance.

Tech 4 Farmers: Tech 4 Farmers is a global agribusiness and financial services provider operating a digital commodities exchange hedged with warehouse receipts.

Vault: de-risks investor communications through a SaaS model that ensures timely and relevant information is delivered to investors.

Zenvus Smartfarm: Zenvus Smartfarm is an agri-Tech and IoT startup that uses sensors and algorithms to advise farmers on the health of their crops. The data is also sold (anonymized) to commodity traders.

A winner will be announced at the upcoming Africa Summit 2016 to receive a $10,000 cash prize. The Thomson Reuters Africa Summit 2016, in association with CNBC Africa is taking place on October 13-14, 2016 at The Westin in Cape Town, South Africa.