Deadline: December 31, 2014
Registration is now open for the Waterloo-Strathmore Challenge. The Strathmore University, Kenya and the University of Waterloo, Canada have partnered to bring you the 2014 Mobile Technology Student Competition. The Waterloo-Strathmore challenge encourages student teams to provide brief description of the agricultural problem they believe can be alleviated by a mobile-based solution
The theme for this 1st inaugural competition is:
“To address agricultural issues in sub-Saharan Africa using mobile and social networking technologies.”
Topics
Examples of agricultural issues lending themselves to mobile solutions could include but are not limited to:
- Water
- Food safety
- Food traceability
- Food supply sustainability
- Agriculture waste management
- Value of social networks in improving any of all aspects of the agriculture value chain
- Technology as an enabler for food tracking
Teams are encouraged to think broadly on the above or related topics.
Prizes
- 1st Prize: The winning team will win a fully paid trip to Waterloo, Ontario Canada to give the winning team the opportunity of observing the Waterloo eco-system of venture creation and to meet individuals and groups that can further assist in developing their idea (subject to visa issuance) A complete agenda of this visit will be made available in February 2015.
- 2nd Prize: One team will be offered a chance to participate in the highly competitive Enterprise Development Program offered by the Strathmore Enterprise Development Centre. This training package is worth Kshs 480,000. Team members will have the chance of meeting seasoned entrepreneurs and trainers which will enable the team to practically implement their business model and grow their enterprise.
Other Prizes: Five teams will have a chance to work at the @iLabAfrica incubator at Strathmore University from February 5, 2015 – April 3, 2015.
Eligibility
Teams of Kenyans are invited to bring their technical skills and innovative thinking to solve a real-world problem.
- This challenge is open to all Kenyans on condition that each team has at least two students, currently registered at an East African university.
- Employees, faculty and contractors of Strathmore University and the University of Waterloo are not eligible to participate and receive challenge awards.
Teams will be informed if they have been accepted into the competition challenge by January 13, 2015 and the challenge officially begins on January 15, 2015 with the first of three rounds of video pitches administered by University of Waterloo’s Virtual Incubation Program.
