Kenyan Entertainment Technology Start-up – YAKWETU™ Online Limited, has been named as one of the 25 finalists for this year’s WIPO Global Awards, by World Intellectual Property Organisation, which celebrates excellence in the use of intellectual property (IP) for positive impact at home and abroad.
Now in its second year, the WIPO Global Awards recognises small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from around the globe, that are successfully commercialising their IP-backed innovation and creativity in an exceptional manner, that also improves society.
In a near-tripling of participation from 2022, WIPO received 548 submissions from 58 countries across all regions of the world, and a wide variety of sectors – including the creative industries, food, green energy technologies, health, and more.
The 25 finalists are drawn from 16 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and Latin America.
China, from where half of all applicants hailed, accounts for six of the finalists – the strongest showing from a single country.
“We are thrilled to be recognised for our work in Content Protection (Anti-Piracy) and Monetisation, via our first proprietary Retail service – MyMovies.Africa™, which securely encrypts Animations, Documentaries, Features and Shorts from Africa, before making them available to Rent or Own to our Customers worldwide”, says Co-Founder, Content Director & Chief Executive Officer – Ms. Trushna Buddhdev-Patel. “As an Entertainment Technology Company, YAKWETU™ is also deploying more innovative Anti-Piracy Interventions, to legitimise the Retail of entertainment & educational Content in Africa.”
This announcement follows an October 2021 recognition, when YAKWETU™ was one of five (from over 200 applications) admitted to the 2nd Cohort in Kenya of the Next INnovation with JApan (NINJA) Accelerator; which concluded with the Launch of their Fundraising in January 2022.
The WIPO Global Award 2023 winners will be announced publicly at a live-webcasted awards ceremony on 11th July in Geneva – Switzerland, held during the WIPO Assemblies, where winners will showcase their achievements.
WIPO Global Award winners will receive a customized 1:1 mentoring package to bolster their IP strategies, including funding facilitation, partnership opportunities and publicity support.
