Seven Kenyan innovations have been shortlisted for the Virtual Africa Hackathon 2020 penciled in for August 31, 2020.
A hackathon is an event in which participants design innovative solutions to identified problems using technology.
Hackathon challenges lead to the development of concepts, ideas, and prototypes for innovative products, services, or business models.
The Hackathon is envisioned to keep alive the spirit of the 2020 Afro-Asia Fintech Festival (AAFF) that was scheduled to be held in Nairobi in July 2020 following its postponement to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It was launched on July 31, 2020, inviting applicants to provide solutions to 40 identified problems in the Healthcare, Digital Payments, Economic Recovery, and General categories.
These problems relate to the challenges and opportunities posed by the health and economic dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The finalists were drawn from 74 submissions from 14 countries in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. This year’s event features 15 finalists from 7 African countries.
The theme of the Hackathon is “Harnessing Fintech in addressing COVID19 effects on healthcare, digital payments, and economic recovery.” The finalists are:
- Artisan Pay, Cameroon
- Sahani by Zavora, Kenya
- MobiVocha by Blue ICT Solutions, Kenya
- Loniwa, Kenya
- CrossPath, Libya
- Last Mile Medicine,
- Fundi247, Tanzania
- MIZA A2F, Tunisia
- MobiCash, Libya
- Kouran Jabo, Chad 10. We-DARE by Ryken Business Intelligence, Kenya
- Wiretooth Technologies by Finaclusion, Nigeria
- SMECredit Pro, Cameroon
- The Guarantee Company, Kenya
- Venue369, Kenya
The call for entries closed on August 10, 2020. The 15 finalists will pitch their solutions on the virtual Demo Day on August 31, 2020.
The winner will participate in the Global Fintech Hackcelerator at the 2020 Singapore Fintech Festival convened by the Monetary Authority of Singapore in December 2020.
