Kenya’s Strathmore University has partnered the University of Waterloo, Canada to launch the first Mobile Technology Student competition, aimed at addressing agricultural issues in Sub-Saharan Africa using mobile and social networking technologies.
The competition is inviting teams of Kenyans to bring their technical skills and innovative thinking to solve a real-world problem, with the competition open to teams of a maximum of four students from Kenyan universities.
“Here are a list of topics you can focus on but your ideas 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, and technology as an enabler for food tracking,” the partners said. “Teams are encouraged to think broadly on the above or related topics.”
First prize is a fully paid trip to Waterloo, Canada, allowing the winning team to observe the Waterloo ecosystem and meet individuals and groups that can further assist in developing their idea.
The second placed team will be offered a chance to participate in the Enterprise Development Programme offered by the Strathmore Enterprise Development Centre, which gives team members the chance of meeting seasoned entrepreneurs and trainers.
Five other teams will be selected to work at the @iLabAfrica incubator at Strathmore University from February until April next year.
Interested students can apply here, with teams accepted into the competition to be announced by January 13. The challenge itself begins on January 15 with the first three rounds of video pitches administered by University of Waterloo’s Virtual Incubation Programme.
