DataHack4FI, powered by the Nairobi Garage, is currently calling on startups across Kenya to apply for this year’s competition and stand a chance to walk home with $5,000 and a six months co-working space.
There is also a special prize award of $2,500 cash prize to the startup that produces the best solution addressing the needs of women and the youths. First runners and second runners will also get a three months free membership to the recently opened Nairobi Garage Club space.
DataHack4FI, now on its second-year run, will bring together financiers, data and tech enthusiasts to brainstorm and chart the way forward in delivering financial services to the underserved communities across the continent.
Application Deadline
The competition is open to startups across Kenya. If you would like to participate in this competition, you have until February 21st to apply. Click here, to apply.
The DataHack4FI competition is part of the insight2impact (i2i) initiative backed by The MasterCard Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The insight2impact will hold regional competitions across six African countries. The team that emerges the winners in a particular participating country, will proceed to the grand finale leg of the competition.
The grand finale competition will pit the six teams that won the regional competition in the six participating countries against each other in a grand competition to be held in Kigali, Rwanda. The grand finale competition will be held in May 2018, and the winner will walk home with $25,000 among other investment opportunities.
Hannah Clifford, the Director of Nairobi Garage, said: “We are very proud that Nairobi Garage has been selected to facilitate the DataHack4FI Data Science Innovation Competition in Kenya in collaboration with the insight2impact, Liquid Telecom, and FSD Kenya (FSDK).
It is an exciting initiative, which highlights the important role of innovation in achieving financial inclusion for all. Not only does DataHack4FI focus on supporting local communities through inclusive financial services, it also presents the potential to develop solutions contributing to the economic empowerment of women and youth in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Dumisani Dube, from insight2impact added: “Nairobi Garage, Liquid Telecom, and FSDK have worked relentlessly to incorporate involvement with local experts, data scientists and regulators to ensure that we are able to engage and challenge FinTech and data fellows to develop, advocate, and collaborate to achieve a comprehensive vision for financial inclusion.”
Participants in the competition will have a series of webinars and have two physical meeting on February 22 and March 16 to iron out their ideas under the watchful eyes of expert mentors.
