Hack Jozi Challenge reveals innovative ideas
BRAAMFONTEIN – The Hack Jozi Challenge is really a competition with a difference – It includes business people that are interesting and innovative.
Young entrepreneurs are keeping up with the times.
Since November last year, the City of Johannesburg has called on innovative business people who strive to make a difference in the community to come up with ways of developing the best digital solutions to everyday problems. The initiative was developed by the City of Johannesburg in partnership with Wits University.
The annual challenge attracted 140 applications. These were cut down to 43 teams and now 10 teams remain in the challenge.
The 10 finalists flocked to the Origins Centre at Wits University on 30 June to showcase their ground-breaking digital product ideas.
Exuberant finalists revealed digital solutions for issues ranging from healthcare and security, apps for musicians and artists to earn a living, digital learning solutions for youngsters and digital marketing solutions. According to Zolani Matebese, who is head of broadband at the City of Joahnnesburg, the Hack Jozi Challenge has attracted many business people who have useful ideas.
“We have witnessed great enhancements to ideas from the start of the business training through to final delivery of a minimum viable product,” said Matebese.
Matebese added, “I must say that the top 10 are really the 10 that have revealed ideas that can really be a business – I like to say there is a gem of an idea which, if polished can really be the next big thing.”
The City has also committed R5 million to fund an annual Hack Jozi Challenge to accelerate early stage Information and Communication Technology (ICT) startups who have great ideas but require funding. The winning team will be announced next week and will receive a
R1-million cash prize, while the second and third runners-up will each win R350 000.
