Sierra Leone Startup Programme Opens Doors to Investors and Global Tech Events

Five startups from Sierra Leone have secured places at technology events in South Korea and South Africa after impressing judges at the READY Salone Investor Day, a programme that connects local founders with investors. The event brought together 11 startups, which pitched their businesses to a panel of venture capital investors. The judges picked five companies to attend international technology events and gave founders practical feedback on what investors look for before backing a business. The five startups work across fintech, clean energy, agriculture, waste management and artificial intelligence, showing the range of businesses emerging from Sierra Leone.

MiBuks Takes Top Honour

The judges awarded first place to MiBuks, while Greentech Bioenergy finished second. Both startups will travel to COMEUP Festival 2026 in South Korea with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). MiBuks has developed a platform that helps traders and small businesses manage stock, track expenses and build a financial record that can improve access to credit. Greentech Bioenergy converts biodegradable waste into cooking gas and organic fertiliser, giving households and farmers another use for organic waste.

Three More Startups Travel to South Africa

The judges also selected GreenBin, Green Compost in Agriculture for Development (GCAD) and Geneline-X to attend the Africa Tech Festival in South Africa. GreenBin develops waste collection and recycling systems that also produce organic fertiliser. GCAD turns market waste and seaweed into compost for farmers while creating employment opportunities for young people. Geneline-X develops AI tools, including Krio to English speech recognition and chatbot software that works in areas with limited internet connectivity.

The Opportunity Doesn’t End With the Competition

Winning a pitch competition can open doors, but most startups still face the harder task of raising capital, finding customers and growing the business.READY Salone gives founders a chance to meet investors they might not reach otherwise. It also gives them an opportunity to test their business ideas, answer difficult questions and build relationships that could lead to future investment. The five selected startups also reflect where many entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone are focusing their attention. Instead of building products for crowded markets, they are tackling practical challenges in finance, waste management, agriculture and energy.