500 Startups has unveiled its lists of firms participating in its Batch 11 accelerator program. An early stage startup accelerator and investor based in Mountain View, California, 500 Startups, will be providing the firms with funding as well as mentorship and guidance during the program.
As in the past, Bitcoin firms have also made their presence in the current Batch 11. Included in the program are Singapore based CoinPip and Argentinian Coinding. While not a bitcoin firm per-se, also in the batch is digital payment provider CardPlantet Solutions of Nairobi. The inclusion of the bitcoin related companies in the program make return of digital currencies to 500 Startups which had been absent in Batch 10, but well represented with 5 firms in Batch 9.
Linking three firms is their foreign flavor, which is often viewed as a greater potential natural market for bitcoins and digital currencies than the US.
More on the three firms:
Coinding: The firm provides a geo-based bitcoin business directory mobile app for iOS and Android using a ‘treasure hunt’ theme for competing with others to find bitcoins.
CoinPip: A bitcoin wallet and payment provider for Asia and emerging markets. Their angle is to offer pre-paid bitcoin cards that can be purchased at convenience stores as well as an SMS bitcoin payment network for transferring the digital currency.
CardPlanet Solutions: Revolving around their PesaCard product, CardPlanet providers cashless and mobile Payments solutions for the unbanked, businesses, and non-profit organizations in and out of Africa.
