#Hack.Jozi Challenge chooses top 109
JOHANNESBURG – The #Hack.Jozi Challenge is well and truly underway.
Launched by the City of Johannesburg and the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) at Wits University last year, the #Hack.Jozi Challenge is back!
More than 400 aspiring tech-preneurs submitted their original digital ideas that they believe will make Joburg a better city for the 2016 #Hack.Jozi Challenge and only 109 contestants have been selected to take part in the first training and mentoring leg of the challenge.
The first chapter of this initiative last year, which is now being mirrored by the City of Cape Town, showed how entrepreneurship in the broad area of digital technology can be identified and unlocked by providing meaningful support. In turn, employment and economic opportunities in the city are created.
Ravi Naidoo, executive director for economic development for the City of Johannesburg said that 53 idea-representing teams including 109 people have been selected from the 414 entries.
“Over 40 percent of the entries we received seek to promote economic development in our city; some 22 percent are ideas around smart infrastructure; 5.5 percent relate to boosting our public space and tourism offerings; and 30 percent of the entries are in the general category of the challenge.”
The participants are currently taking part in the playoffs which will select 20 teams, then the final 10 and ultimately the top three will be selected.
The first prize is R1 million and there are two runners-up prizes of R350 000 which will be managed by the JCSE together with a business mentor to ensure the prize money takes the winning idea beyond startup into a lucrative enterprise.
Naidoo said, “The excellent response shows us that our people have great digital and technology ideas. It is important to support accelerating them into viable enterprises.”
“It is extremely encouraging to see how the #Hack.Jozi Challenge has escalated in popularity since its foundation last year. We look forward to measuring over time how many jobs and economic opportunities are created as a direct result of this intervention.”
The final winner will be chosen on 19 May after rigorous testing and a number of challenges to evaluate their innovative idea.
Details: hackjozichallenge.co.za
