SMS-based platform Food Match, which links supermarkets with food that is about to expire with customers willing to buy it, emerged the winner at the second Startup Weekend Zimbabwe event in Harare over the weekend.
Disrupt Africa reported last week the Hypercube hub was to host the event, the second of its kind to take place in the country this year, which was linked up with Global Startup Battle, making the three winning teams eligible to compete with other Startup Weekend winners for the top global prize.
Food Match, led by Summeyia Omar, edged out four other teams to take home US$40,000 worth of prizes. Over the weekend, the team developed an SMS-based platform linking those selling almost-expired food with those willing to pay for it at 75 per cent discount.
Omar said she came up with the idea after learning that on average Zimbabwean supermarkets throw away US$2,000 worth of food every month, with Food Match now allowing those supermarkets to sell such food to the startup, which then solicits buyers through the SMS platform.
Food Match managed to beat off competition from electrical voltage tracker Getsi.co, citizen reporting interface Rezident, medical fundraising site Mhuri Yethu, and internship platform Ingage.
“Food Match stood out as a viable product and we at Startup Weekend Harare look forward to supporting them as they move forward to launch a full-scale commercial business,” said the organisers.
A third Startup Weekend in Zimbabwe is planned for Bulawayo in May next year.
