Tech

Microsoft Nigeria launches agro-tech hackathon for young entrepreneurs

Published

1 year ago

March 29, 2022

In a bid to contribute to the development of its host community and empower budding businesses, Microsoft Nigeria has launched its first Agro-Tech Hackathon for young Nigerian agricultural entrepreneurs.

The initiative, according to the company in a release on Monday, is “targeted at providing homegrown scalable platforms by Nigerian farmers and consumers, to access farm produce, as well as helping to improve digital value chain processes and reducing agricultural wastes and losses.”

“The goal of the hackathon is to develop a repository of innovative and inclusive solutions to the myriad of challenges in the agricultural sector.

“These solutions in the long run, will empower farmers economically and improve the profitability of their agri-business by facilitating easier and faster consumer access to farm produce and reduce wastage of perishable farm items,” the foremost digital company said.

The competition is open to Nigerians between the ages of 18 to 45 and the applicants must have demonstrated interest/experience in technology, agriculture and/or entrepreneurship.

The successful applicants will be divided into teams during the Hackathon stage, with each team undergoing a 4-week mentorship programme where they will be mentored by world-class agro-specialists, entrepreneurs, and training teams from Microsoft.

At the end of the competition, three teams with the most outstanding solutions will be selected for funding and technical support by Microsoft and its partners, sharing a sum of N5m with other consolation prizes and recognitions by Microsoft and their partners.

Related Topics:Agro-Tech Featured hackathon Microsoft

Click to comment

Tech

African Development Bank partners Google to transform Africa’s digital space

Published

2 hours ago

September 23, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

The African Development Bank (ADB) has teamed up with Google with the aim of advancing digital transformation in Africa.

The two parties formalized the deal with the signing of a “Letter of Intent” on Friday during the Global Africa Business Initiative at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The agreement, according to Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, “underscores a shared commitment to harness emerging technologies, extend and improve infrastructure, and refine talent and skills in the continent.”

“Our journey from a 2% telephony penetration in 1998 to today’s era of 4G, 5G, and AI signifies immense progress. With 70% of sub-Saharan Africans under 30, our focus is on catalyzing businesses to create jobs and offer innovative solutions,” said Adesina after the signing ceremony.

He added that both ADB and Google had a long history of fostering digital evolution, enumerating that over the past decade, the Bank had invested $1.9 billion in projects emphasizing the development of broadband infrastructure, conducive policy and regulatory environments, digital skills, and innovative technology startups.

On its part, Google has become a longtime partner in Africa’s economic growth and digital transformation with huge investments in a major submarine telecommunications cable, the Seacom cable.

Dr. James Manyika, Google’s Senior Vice President of Research, Technology & Society, who also spoke at the event, said:

“With advanced technologies like AI, the most profound transformation is yet to come. Working together with African Development Bank, Google will offer technical assistance to bolster entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in digitizing their businesses, securing financing, mastering digital marketing, and advancing private sector development.

“Collaboration will be essential if Africa is to realize this opportunity, building for everyone and ensuring no-one is left behind. We are excited to collaborate with the African Development Bank to work towards this shared commitment.”

Tech

Zambian neo-bank, Lupiya raises $8.25m to expand access to financial services

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Zambia’s leading neo-bank, Lupiya has announced securing $8.25 million from Alitheia IDF Fund, a private equity fund known for its gender-focused investments, in a bid to expand access to financial services for startups and small scale businesses.

The fundraising, according to Evelyn Chilomo Kaingu, co-founder and CEO of Lupiya, it would enable the outfit “bridge financial inclusion gap, as well as offer technology-driven, user-friendly financial solutions to the unbanked and underbanked populations in Zambia.”

“This Series A investment marks a significant milestone in our journey to continue serving our customers and the opportunity to further provide holistic financial solutions,” Kaingu said.

“Lupiya’s vision and dedication to financial and gender inclusion resonates deeply with our own objectives. We believe that with this funding, we will be better equipped to make financial services accessible to many more Zambians.

“The team at Lupiya has worked hard and is excited for the new phase of our growth. With the support of Alitheia IDF, INOKS Capital, Mastercard, and Kfw DEG, we are better poised to scale our operations and deepen our footprint not just in Zambia but also in the broader Southern and East African region”, Kaingu added.

According to her, the newly acquired capital will be directed towards strengthening Lupiya’s technological infrastructure, expanding its range of financial products, and extending its reach to a wider customer base.

The startup which was launched in 2016, has emerged as a leading player in Zambia’s rapidly evolving fintech landscape and boasts of an impressive roster of supporters, including industry giants like Mastercard, Google, World Bank, and the UN International Trade Centre.