South African incubator Cortex Hub is to host its first Women Hackers Unite hackathon, bringing together Africa’s female coders to solve problems affecting humanity.
The hackathon will run for 72 hours straight, between August 25 and 27, with participants asked to solve “humanity problems”, those affecting women specifically.
“The theme of the hackathon is “Solving humanity’s problems”. These could be child development solutions, women’s health, women’s work-life balance, rural women’s solutions, women in business solutions, women scientist etc. How can software and or applications assist women in their daily lives?” Cortex Hub said.
Participants will work in teams of two to five members, and by the end of the 72 hour event must submit a one-page thesis describing their tech-solution to a problem faced by women.
The winning team will receive ZAR150,000 (US$11,322) in prize money.
The event takes place at Cortex Hub in East London, South Africa.
Disrupt Africa reported in December Cortex Hub opened its space in the Eastern Cape, with plans to launch a two year incubator programme aiming to build multi-million rand businesses.