Denis Opudo
Pitch Agrihack 2018 organized by Women In Tech Africa (WITA), The Rural Cooperation (CTA) and Technical Centre for Agricultural will launch Pitch AgriHack 2018. The two will be supported by African Development Bank (AfDB) which will partner with the Women in Tech Africa, Suguba, Wennovation Hub and African Green Revolution Forum (AGRA). Pitch AgriHack is part of the Rural Cooperation (CTA), and Agrihack Talent Initiative of the Technical Centre for Agricultural. The competition targets to accelerate e-agriculture entrepreneurship for better living standards.
The 2018 competition will operate with the theme: Women entrepreneurs innovate for agricultural transformation in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
It will also come with various benefits that include:
Potential funds and grants for winners to improve their brands. Participants will have an access to a boot camp for training, exchange sessions, finalists and mentoring. The competition is open to young entrepreneurs and innovators of ICT platform founders delivering e-agriculture services. The application dates and parallel procedures will be issued by Women in Tech Africa. However, a Pre-hackathon workshop will be held in Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana and Cameroon for one day.
An internship placement opportunity to be organized by Entrepreneurs without Borders (EWB)
Entrepreneurs without Borders (EWB) from Sweden will start taking interns to startups in Nigeria. This will happen through partnership with three local firms Media Nigeria, Infomart Books, and Partner. The three will facilitate the locating of interns from Sweden for a time frame of 6-8 weeks. But interested participants should take note of the following
Sweden based experts will offer mentorship and coaching throughout the period of the program.
Interested or selected SMEs and Startups will have to contribute towards the intern’s meals, local transport, and boarding for a specific period.
The interns’ medical insurance, visa and flight ticket will be organized by EWB Sweden.
The group of interns comprises of computer science, business developers, product developers, media engineers, and mechanical engineers.
Main criteria will be helped with distinct ongoing projects
Interested SMEs and Startups have until 15th May 2018 to submit their applications. Applications should be directed at [email protected] or one can visit the following websites for applications www.ewb.world or www.ewb.world/get-in-touch.
Alibaba eFounders Fellowship 2018
The eFounders Fellowship was founded to find and empower 1000 builders of platforms who can copy the experience of Alibaba in China. The fellowship is a course for entrepreneurs in developing countries. This is those who are running the business in the logistics, tourism sector, eCommerce and big data. The two-week program will offer real exposure to and study about innovation in e-commerce from China and across the world. The program targets young entrepreneurs under the initiative on the digital economy for sustainable development. This is organized by both the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Alibaba Business School.
The participants will have a number of benefits like UNCTAD will give a letter of support for a visa request. This will help in the facilitation of the visa application process. Despite the fact that participants will have to apply and pay for their visa application and travel to and from Hangzhou, the program accommodation, meals and tuition will be paid for although for shortlisted candidates. Participants will also get resources to improve their businesses. But they will be required to serve as champions and network builders of new ways to face commerce in their markets. Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for the course.
- Applicants must be entrepreneurs in the technology and digital sector. They must be running open platforms connected to tourism, big data, logistics, fintech or e-commerce.
- They must have a point of inflection in their carrier.
- They should be altruistic, authentic and open-minded leaders of the modern economy.
- They should be aiming to move from success to significance with drive, vision, and integrity.
- Most preferred age is below 35 years.
- They should be founders or co-founders of an officially registered digital technology business in any African country.
- Female entrepreneurs stand a better chance to be shortlisted.
Those who meet the above criteria have until 4th May 2018 at 2 pm China time to forward their applications. There will be 40 categories available for applicants.
The 2018 Ecobank Fintech Challenge
Fintech innovators, programmers, and developers across Africa are partnering with Ecobank to change finance via innovation and technology. Ecobank is asking Africa’s young entrepreneurs to develop long-lasting solutions to the African’s banking problems. The challenge was developed to showcase the promising fintech from across Africa. Thereafter support them via commercial collaboration to grow and scale into successful global and pan-African businesses. The participants will enjoy the following benefits.
The top three winners will take home cash prizes worth $10,000, $7,000, and $5,000 respectively.
A startup might have an opportunity to partner with Ecobank as a pan-African service provider across 36 countries where the bank is operational.
Startups will access networking and mentoring support from across the Ecobank Group and its chain of network of Africa and global partners.
They will also get an opportunity to be a service partner and access the bank’s banking space.
Applicants can apply for the following categories
Dead Zones (Offline Mobile-Mobile Payments)
SME Intra-Africa Trade Platform
Marketing or Digital Sales
Account Opening or Digital Onboarding or KYC
Collections Ecosystems or Multi-Channel Corporate Payments
Remittances
One can apply more than once in the areas of their interest this will boost their chances of being shortlisted. Interested parties have until 23rd May 2018 at 11 pm to place their applications.
UNITE 2030 Hackathon Competition 2018 for Worldchangers
UNITE 2030 is a virtual hackathon for the Sustainable Development Goals that lasts for two days. The aim is to bring together coming to a generation of world changers to bring social changes by changing their passion into practice. The groups will be divided into 4 to 5 groups depending on the social issues they are interested in. Groups will then be given challenges that they must find a solution to within a specific time. Worldchangers, will watch workshops held by best experts, work hand in hand with their team to solve the problem within the shortest time possible. Participants will take home various benefits listed below.
Participants will take UNITE 2030 back to their communities
Winners will have an opportunity to work with the UNITE Youth Delegate Program which will help them nature their ideas.
Those who qualify to apply must meet the following criteria
The must be aged between 18 to 30 years by the time of conducting the event
They must be passionate about changing the world to a better place
They must be fluent in English
