This 12 month, fully sponsored program, based in Accra, offers a unique training program to help budding entrepreneurs transform their ideas into viable startup businesses through various modules including software development, go-to-market strategies, sales strategies, UI/UX Design, communications and more.

The one-year training program is designed to make interested candidates ready to pitch their startup ideas for funding and launch businesses that solve local and global problems through software technology.

Participants will benefit from an extensive curriculum and mentorship by industry leaders and international experts, culminating in the chance to secure seed funding and business incubation for their tech/software startup.

MEST’s impact is evident in its training of more than 1000 entrepreneurs and over 90 funded startups across the continent, a testament to its commitment to nurturing pan-African tech talent.

“Our mission at MEST is to empower the next generation of African tech innovators,” said Emily Fiagbedzi, Director of the MEST Training Program.

She adds “the Class of 2025 presents an exciting opportunity to nurture and elevate the brightest minds, equipping them with the skills and resources needed to drive impactful change across the continent through their tech startups.”

Applicants must hold a degree from a reputable University or Technical College or demonstrate equivalent experience.

Entrepreneurial or corporate work experience, coupled with a fervent passion for launching a software company in Africa, is what will truly place the candidate in a unique position to be successful in this opportunity.

Additionally, candidates should showcase exceptional soft skills, including leadership qualities and effective communication abilities.

Key Dates for Applicants:

• Application Deadline: March 18, 2024
• Final Interviews: April & May 2024 in Accra, Lagos, Dakar, Nairobi, and Johannesburg (exact dates to be confirmed later)
• Training Program Commencement: August 2024 in Accra, Ghana

For more information visit the institute’s website here and submit applications online.

ALSO READ: Empowering Uganda’s Future Generation: An Entrepreneurial and Digital Evolution

The post MEST Africa Accepting Applications for the Class of 2025 appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

The 2023 cohort, selected from over a thousand applications, delivers tech-enabled solutions across various verticals in Sub-Saharan Africa. The sourcing and selection were led by the Managing Director for the accelerator, Oyin Solebo. It culminated in a screening committee joined by fellow directors at Techstars, executive leaders at ARM; Jumoke Ogundare, Sadiq Mohammed, Wale Odutola, Uche Azubuike, and Ina Alogwu as well as selected invited seasoned investors including; Nneka Eze of Vested World, Maya Horgan Famodu of Ingressive Capital, Olumide Soyombo of Voltron Capital and Dotun Olowoporuku of Ventures Platform.

For its first cohort, the program had initially focused on companies operating in FinTech and PropTech, but this year expanded to focus more broadly on entrepreneurs who are changing Africa and the world at large, by using technology, data, and intelligence to serve a population-growing in size, youth, income, and digital access. Sectors invested in include FinTech, Logistics, e-commerce, HealthTech, Renewable Energy, and Future of Work.

The cohort comprises startups operating in Ghana, Nigeria, and East Africa, and has four teams with at least one female co-founder.

The 14-week immersive program will see Techstars invest up to USD$120,000 (approx. UGX450 million) in funding in each startup as well as provide them with access to over USD$400,000 (approx. UGX1.5 billion) in cash equivalent hosting, accounting, and legal support, and other benefits worth more than USD$5 million.

The value of the prize goes beyond financial gain, the selected startups will also receive tailored mentorship, world-class company-building support, lifetime access to the Techstars worldwide network, and targeted interactions with prospective investors to ensure that the continuum of follow-up capital is available as they grow.

By partnering with ARM Labs, startup founders are also exposed to ARM’s local network, research and insights, and decades-long financial advisory expertise.

“The current market dynamics mean that founders need a combination of financial support as well as technical assistance and access to networks to build resilient businesses. We are glad to be able to provide comprehensive support that covers this entire spectrum,” Ms. Oyin Solebo, Managing Director, ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator, said in a press statement.

The selected companies are;

• 24Seven — an asset-light marketplace that enables small businesses and convenience stores to order inventory on credit with one-hour doorstep delivery

• Beauty Hut — leverages technology to bridge the gap between beauty brands and consumers through efficient product distribution and marketing channels, via their e-commerce web store and mobile app.

• Eight Medical — an end-to-end platform that connects users in need to emergency medical resources (such as hospitals, ambulances, personnel, information & credit), reducing waiting times from an average of 3 hours to 10 minutes or less

• GetEquity — facilitates access to investment opportunities by SEC-accredited providers, reducing entry barriers through investment aggregation across various asset classes.

• JumpnPass — a mobile self-checkout platform for modern retail in Africa. They enable shoppers to use their smartphones to effortlessly scan product barcodes, pay for items, and skip long queues

• One Plan — helps workers in Africa’s informal economy create affordable financial plans, making it easier to start a retirement plan, access low-interest credit, access health, and life insurance cover.

• PBR Life Sciences — offers pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare, and medical device companies fast and easy access to high-quality market data and insights, helping them make objective decisions on product pricing, volumes, and company strategy.

• PressOne Africa — provides African businesses with deeper insights into phone conversations with customers through a communication platform that provides conversation intelligence and call monitoring.

• Rana — democratizes access to clean and reliable solar systems for SMEs and residential customers through affordable long-term solar subscriptions, replacing the need for expensive, unreliable, and toxic backup generators.

• Surge Africa — allows individuals, micro-entrepreneurs, and MSMEs in Africa to make instant cross-border transfers and pay up to 80% less in fees

• Swoove — empowers logistics companies in emerging markets to digitize and scale their businesses with dispatch automation, fleet management, tracking and telematics, and a wide delivery network.

• Veend — enables individuals and businesses with verifiable income to access funds on-demand, addressing their needs for emergency funds or working capital

Dr. Ibukun Tunde-Oni, Founder of Eight Medical who echoed the sentiments of the cohort said securing a spot in the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator program has signified an important milestone in the growth of the company. “More than anything else I believe it has demonstrated an absolute vote of confidence by experts who have accessed our model and track record and also estimated our impending growth potential,” he said. “The learning experience has so far been invaluable and I am eagerly looking forward to our next phase of business.”

Solebo noted that the second cohort showcases, and perhaps also epitomizes, the wealth of talent, innovation, and ingenuity that can be found within the African tech ecosystem.

In addition to the Techstars-led program, the cohort receives mentorship sessions with notable experts in the African tech ecosystem providing them with comprehensive guidance and specialized services to support their growth journey.

These experts include Tunde Kehinde; Founder/CEO of Lidya, Bode Abifarin; Chief Operating Officer at Flutterwave, Tingting Peng; Chief Capital and Strategy Officer at Moove, Kevin Simmons; Partner at LoftyInc, Lola Esan; Partner at EY, Yischai Beinisch; Head of West Africa – Emerging Market Power at Shell Energy Europe & Africa.

Oluwadunni Fanibe, Program Manager at Techstars remarked that their “tried and trusted” model has been instrumental in building thousands of successful companies, all over the world.

“We are excited with the opportunity to implement this proven playbook of support, networks, knowledge base, experiences, technology, and data, on our 2023 cohort and are confident they can replicate the same notable successes of their local and global predecessors,” said Fanibe.

Ina Alogwu, Group Director of Digital Transformation at ARM noted programs like the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator has enabled them to comprehend, champion, and actively contribute to the growth of technology-driven solutions emerging throughout Africa. “We are thrilled to be on this journey for the second year running in collaboration with our valued partners,” he said.

The program will conclude with an invite-only Demo day on February 22nd, 2024 where founders will showcase their progress.

The post Techstars Announces its Second Cohort of 12 Startups to Participate in its Accelerator Program appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

This strategic endeavor represents a significant milestone in MTN’s commitment to ensuring that every learner, irrespective of their abilities, is equipped with essential ICT skills to thrive in the digital age.

The comprehensive training covered fundamental aspects of ICT, including computer basics, keyboard and mouse skills, file management, and an introduction to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. In addition, the learners also gained hands-on experience in creating and using emails, understanding Google tools, internet research, online safety, and filling out online forms.

During the award ceremony, MTN Uganda’s General Manager for wholesale and carrier services at MTN Uganda Ms. Juliet Nsubuga said, “This ICT training underscores MTN’s belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life, ensuring that all individuals thrive in this ongoing 4th industrial revolution.”

Nsubuga emphasized the immense potential of ICT to transform communities, playing a pivotal role in driving the country’s economic growth and development.

Ms. Juliet Tumuhairwe, the headmistress for the Uganda School for the Deaf applauded the telco for the initiative and for equipping the learners with the ICT skills that will benefit them.

Since its inauguration in 2016, the MTN Internet Bus initiative has traversed 125 schools and communities across 75 districts, positively impacting a remarkable 42,567 learners. The primary focus of the initiative is to prepare learners and teachers for the challenges of the digital age, emphasizing essential computer usage and internet skills crucial for research and community development.

MTN Uganda’s commitment to ICT in education extends beyond specific training sessions. Through its other initiative dubbed Digital Access Program, its CSR arm; MTN Foundation continues to support ICT education for disabled learners in various schools through the provision of essential ICT equipment such as computers, projectors, printers, sound amplifiers, power backup, and a dedicated maintenance plan for one year.

Among the schools that have benefited from this initiative are; Ngora School for the Deaf and Salaama School for the Blind — with the foundation planning on extending the same to Masaka School for the Deaf, Hornby High School Kabale, and Gulu High School later this month.

The company’s dedication is further manifested in its role in establishing over 42 ICT labs in various educational institutions across the country.

This commitment extends to supporting technical institutes as well, including Amelo Technical Institute in Adjumani District, St. Simon Peter’s Vocational Training Centre in Hoima District, and St. Daniel Comboni Polytechnic in Moroto District.

ALSO READ: MTN FOUNDATION SETS UP A UGX124M COMPUTER LAB AT NGORA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

The post Hearing-impaired Learners Complete ICT Training Courtesy of MTN appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

H.E. Jessica Alupo, Vice President of Uganda, at the launch of the project, lauded Huawei for demystifying ICT by making it all-inclusive to farmers, youths, women, the elderly, and PWDs, among others — as she appealed to the youth and all those who will benefit from this project to be generous with the skills acquired to achieve a multiplier effect.

Alupo said that the Digitruck project would create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the informal sector by enabling small business owners to participate in regional and national trade.

Alupo further said that the government considers Huawei Uganda as a strategic and important partner in the transformation of Uganda. “We acknowledge Huawei for building smart infrastructure here, such as aiding education through ICT.”

The DigiTruck project falls under the umbrella of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd’s TECH4ALL initiative, the company’s long-term action plan for driving inclusion and sustainability across the globe. The DigiTruck project in Uganda is aligned with the country’s 2040 vision, National Development Plan, and Education Digital Agenda Strategy all aimed at transforming the East African state into a digital village.

Mr. Ebittu James speaking on behalf of Hon. Amongi Betty, Minister of Gender, Labor, and Social Development said “As we move forward with this initiative, we are guided by a commitment to fostering digital inclusion and advancing the principles of gender equality, labor empowerment and social development”

The ministry has committed to continue working together towards creating and sustaining an enabling environment that supports the implementation of the DigiTruck project — extending their gratitude to Huawei Technologies Uganda for their invaluable support and dedication toward this endeavor.

According to Huawei Technologies Uganda’s Deputy Managing Director, Gao Jian te DigiTruck has so far trained over 1,500+ Ugandans in different rural areas in Uganda. “This truck is now in the Teso sub-region and plans to train 600 Ugandans for two months,” remarked Gao Jian.

Gao Jian thanked H.E Jessica Alupo for her continuous support towards such developmental activities Huawei has engaged in throughout the country. He also appreciated the partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development towards this good cause.

The post VP, Jessica Alupo Launches Huawei’s Digitruck Project in Teso Sub Region appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

To break down the 185 youths, 51 youths graduated from the MTN ACE Tech, 47 graduated from the MTN ACE Career, and 87 graduated from the MTN ACE Skilling. Notably, 20 enterprises were selected for ACE Tech acceleration and 15 enterprises for incubation.

The MTN ACE Tech program focuses on upskilling the youth interested in tech-related innovations.

MTN ACE Career program seeks to empower fresh graduates with workplace skills and internship placement.

MTN ACE Skills program is tailor-made for the youths who are in or out of school to equip them with entrepreneurial skills.

MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Sylvia Mulinge said the graduation is a special day for the telco considering it is the first graduation of the MTN Ace Programme. She went on to add “We at MTN Uganda believe that every Ugandan believes in the benefits of a modern connected life and we are very glad that we’re moving towards that direction.”

Mulinge emphasized that the MTN ACE Programme aligns perfectly well with national development goals by providing skills that enhance employability and self-reliance among the youth. “Equipping the youth with digital skills positions them to contribute effectively to Uganda’s digital transformation journey,” she notes.

Dr. Amina Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, congratulated the graduates for their achievements and encouraged them to explore entrepreneurial opportunities. She highlighted the importance of creating employment opportunities rather than solely relying on job applications.

Similarly, Hon. Joyce Ssebugwawo, the State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, commended MTN for the initiative, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the youth’s skill development — and urged the graduates to actively use their newfound skills to address societal challenges.

Ms. Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, expressed pride in the positive impact of initiatives like MTN ACE on the youth, emphasizing the need for more such programs.

“The large number of youths graduating from this program is a testament that our youth are yearning for new skills that will help drive the country’s economic growth, social transformation, and job creation,” said Morafo.

The MTN ACE Program was launched in December 2022, in partnership with the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, The National ICT Innovation Hub, Centenary Technology Services, Refactory, MUBS Entrepreneurship Innovation & Incubation Centre, and MTN MoMo Uganda Limited.

Over 230 youths were selected in February this year to participate in the inaugural cohort of the MTN ACE Program to sharpen the skills of fresh graduates, those in and out of school, innovators, entrepreneurs, and tech-driven startups to become self-reliant and contribute to the national economy.

The post 185 Youths Who Formed the First Cohort of the MTN ACE Program, Graduate appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

This announcement marked the exciting commencement of the team’s journey, aimed at transforming their pitched ideas into groundbreaking financial technology products and solutions. Their innovative focus spans a wide range of sectors, including but not limited to Payments, Savings & Loans, e-Commerce, e-Health, Fundraising, AgriTech, e-Insurance, and Remittances.

Charlotte Neeza, the FinTech Events Manager at HiPipo, highlighted the great surge in enthusiasm and a steadfast will to innovate as key factors contributing to the hackathon’s growing popularity over the last three years. Recognizing this burgeoning interest, the decision was made to expand the 2023 edition’s scope to include 30 teams, a substantial 50% increase from the 20 teams that participated in last year’s competition.

Neeza explained in a press statement, “We are thrilled to introduce the participants of this year’s Women in FinTech Hackathon. The growth from 2021 to last year’s count of 20 teams was remarkable, and this year, we have broadened our horizon further with 30 teams selected from nearly 100 submissions.” “This consistent advancement is a testament to the trust and faith that young innovators place in this project.”

Neeza further said that the hackathon is not merely a competition but a luminous platform for the selected 30 teams to showcase their potential, revolutionize their lives, and make a lasting impact on their communities. She also emphatically disclosed that every team in this year’s competition is characterized by both women-driven leadership and a majority of women members, underscoring a commitment to empowering and spotlighting female innovators in the field.

“An inspiring 70 percent of the participants in this initiative are women, and I’m proud to affirm that every single team is guided by a female leader,” said Neeza.

Prize Money

The best-performing teams and standout individuals will be recognized and duly rewarded, sharing in the collective prize money of USD$10,000 (approx. UGX36.2 million). However, the rewards extend beyond mere financial gain — as the victorious winners will automatically earn a coveted place in the Women in FinTech Incubator program, scheduled to run from September to December 2023.

This is not merely a competition but a launchpad to greatness, offering not only recognition and financial rewards but a pathway to further innovation, growth, and success within the dynamic field of financial technology.

The post 30 Teams To Compete For a Share of UGX36M in the 2023 HiPipo Women in Fintech Hackathon appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Launched in 2020, by the Africa tech-focused PR agency C. Moore Media International PR, which was acquired by global agency Allison+Partners, The Future is Female Mentorship Program is the first and only PR and communications program dedicated exclusively to African women in tech. The 2023 edition has been supported by Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program, Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, and F6S expanding the scale and reach of the initiative.

In this fourth edition, 490 applications were received from 37 countries across Africa, a 42% increase in applications from the 2022 edition. The mentorship program is complementary and supports the underserved market of African women and is one of the Continent’s fastest-growing communities of African female tech founders.

During the selection process led by judges; Salesforce’s investor, Enki Toto, Femi Agboola, Program Lead- Citi Productivity, Citi group, and Real Estate Investor Michelle Agbodohu, special consideration was given to startups focusing on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability. Startups that provide solutions and/or address African women’s and girls’ needs also received special consideration. The 20 selected finalists for 2023 come from North, South, East, and West African regions and will become mentees of the Program, making up the class of 2023.

The 2023 African female tech founders selected from across Africa for the fourth edition of the Future is Female mentorship program are:

 Egypt

Mai Shakweer: Founder of AutoMechanic, connects car owners in Cairo with local mechanic services and workshops.

Kenya

Celeste Tchetgen Vogel: Founder of e-Waka Mobility, a full-service platform for businesses to make cheaper, eco-friendly deliveries with tried and tested electric bikes.

Juliet Njoroge: Founder of Mosmos Africa, a Save Now Buy Later (SNBL) platform, enables Kenyans to save-to-buy conveniently with the Mosmos app.

Natasha Makindu: Founder of Paydel, a social commerce fulfillment platform that aggregates logistics services on demand.

Fridah Karani: Founder of Hela Money, a next-generation trade platform bridging traditional and digital finance enabling businesses to build for the future.

Jackie Kamau: Founder of The Laundry Lady, an on-demand laundry, dry cleaning service offering convenient pick-up, wash, and delivery, with a focus on high-quality service at affordable rates.

Elizabeth Nduta: Founder of Gwiji, empowers low-income Kenyan women with training and flexible employment.

Nigeria

Al Hassan Keita: Founder of EtioneraPay, an escrow payment gateway built for online and e-Commerce user, processing payment and enabling payment for users.

Jennifer Echenim: Founder of Bloccpay, a crypto-powered payroll solution for global businesses and talents.

Gold Sylvester: Founder of Traddify, a global remittance platform that allows individuals and businesses to make cross-border payments seamlessly and instantly.

Ngozi Nwabueze: Founder of PocketLawyers, a Nigerian legal tech startup that offers access to affordable premium legal services and solutions to SMEs and startups.

Sarah Odiavbara: Founder of Craftmerce, a B2B e-commerce marketplace for African handcrafted enterprises.

Olawunmi Akalusi: Founder of Rísé NG, a digital platform that seamlessly connects artisans and vendors with consumers.

Bibi Ikuemonisan: Founder of FarmCorps, an agritech platform providing smallholder farmers in Nigeria with end-to-end market access, loans, and more.

Joy Akparobore: Founder of VAMUZ, a Nigerian e-commerce and logistics platform aimed at the local market.

Kemi Ogunkoya: Founder of LeaderX, an innovative mobile application enabling African professional networks to bridge talent shortages, leadership gaps, and more.

South Africa

Jacqui Rogers: Founder of My Pregnancy Journey, an app that aims to guide and empower South African/African women with information and expertise on pregnancy, health, and parenting.

Tanzania

Sophia Abeid: Founder of Vide, a Tanzanian educational video-sharing technology for content creators.

Tunisia

Rym Bourguiba: Founder of WildyNess, an online platform that offers travelers authentic experiences in Tunisia creating social impact in rural regions

Zambia

Vwanganji Amatende-Bowa: Founder of Mightyfinance, an SME finance partner building thriving enterprises, that aim to transform lives through the provision of flexible, easy, and affordable loans.

Once the 20 finalists have completed the Future is Female Mentorship program; they will own insights into the fundamentals of PR and communications for early-stage tech startups; they will also learn how to create a communications plan, storytelling best practices, strategic business communications with multiple stakeholders, how to position their startups for investment opportunities and more.

The program is delivered virtually, and the mentees are invited to participate in masterclasses and sessions customized to the specific needs of their sector and business.

As part of the collaboration, Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, which has invested in some of Africa’s top tech startups including Flutterwave and Andela, will be hosting a masterclass on VC funding for the selected mentees of the program. The partnerships enable the Program to provide additional perspectives, tools, and insights for the selected female founders and bring world-class and Pan-African PR insights from additional leading experts, complementing A+P’s global and African regional PR expertise.

As part of the partnership, selected TechCabal team members will lead a masterclass providing the 20 finalists with insights on working with tech media and understanding how to position their startups to gain the attention of the tech press. The partnership with AfricaCommsWeek will give the founders expanded Pan-African and multi-market PR expertise, a key component for many female founders whose startups cover multiple African countries.

Masterclasses and mentorship sessions

In August and September, the selected mentees will participate in masterclasses hosted by TechCabal, Salesforces, and Africa Communications Week, in collaboration with the program’s mentors at Allison+Partners; Claudine Moore, David Idagu, and Tope Adubi.

From October to December, the mentors will host customized one-on-one sessions with the mentees focusing on sharing insights into PR and communications fundamentals for early-stage tech startups, such as corporate storytelling and communications, media relations, digital marketing, and more.

The post 20 African Female Tech Startups Selected For The Future is Female Mentorship Program appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

This follows the conclusion of MTN Ace-Tech’s first phase last month which involved training 130 individuals in software development.

In the second phase, MTN Uganda Foundation and its partners Centenary Technology Services, the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, and The Innovation Village selected 20 enterprises that cut across various sectors including digital financial services, agriculture, and transport — to participate in the inaugural MTN Ace Tech program’s incubation phase at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa in Kampala.

Bryan Mbasa, the Senior Manager at MTN Foundation said the 20 enterprises were selected from a pool of 40 that submitted their applications this year and therefore they will undergo a 13-week training in commercializing their business ideas and managing growth.

“Throughout this journey, the participants will attend all the master classes, workshops, webinars, networking events, and so on, and access tools and high-quality coaches and mentors to support in applying the concepts and insights gained, from the various program sessions towards refining the enterprises,” Mbasa told the press.

Mbasa said enterprises that will emerge best in the incubation will have an opportunity to meet a wide range of prospective local and international investors for an opportunity to raise an early-stage financing round to spur their growth.

“We, at MTN Uganda, believe in the power of entrepreneurship to create a positive social and economic impact in our communities, and throughout this incubation,” he said. “We’re proud to support entrepreneurs and enterprises to unlock their potential and create opportunities for growth and development.”

Uganda is ranked as one of the most enterprising countries in the world with high percentages of new business each year, according to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). However, the business failure rate remains also high due to inadequate skills and proper product positioning.

This also coincides with the government’s National Development Plan (NDPIII) which recognizes the potential of ICT to drive economic growth, innovation, and job creation.

Rowena Turinawe, the Head of Innovation and Digital Services at Centenary Technology Services (Cente Tech), said they are glad to be part of the MTN Ace Tech incubator because it aligns directly with Cente Tech’s mission of providing holistic technology solutions and delivering innovation that matters to enable and inspire entrepreneurial growth.

“This initiative will provide pathways for highly skilled innovators to create sustainable and scalable solutions that support service delivery, create employment opportunities, and improve the use of ICT innovation and technology development in the country and this fits perfectly into our agenda,” Turinawe said. “We want to see the youth rise to their potential, equip them with technical skills, open opportunities for them to gain employment, and spur innovation as well as entrepreneurship in Uganda.”

Arthur Mukembo, the Future Lab Studio Lead at Innovation Village said the new partnership, the Innovation Village will support innovators to build and scale solutions by creating pathways that give these enterprises opportunities to build better enterprises.

“This innovative will also enable enterprises to access market opportunities, and unlock relevant funding to sustain their growth as they work to improve the lives and livelihoods of Ugandans as they scale into Africa and beyond,” he said.

Meanwhile, Agnes Lumala, the academic registrar at the Uganda Institute of Information Communications and Technology (UICT), which hosts the National ICT Innovation Hub, said the government’s partnership with the private sector is now crucial to driving new technologies.

“Whereas pushing the digitalization agenda is crucial for the government to attain economic recovery, we cannot achieve it without the support of the private sector,” said Lumala — acknowledging the contributions of MTN Foundation, Centenary Technology Services, and the Innovation Village towards the digital agenda.

MTN Ace Tech is one of the three MTN ACE programs launched in December last year and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, The National ICT Innovation Hub, Centenary Technology Services, Refactory, MUBS Entrepreneurship Innovation, and Incubation Centre, Engage Consults and MTN’s Fintech subsidiary, MTN MoMo Uganda Limited to empower the youths.

The MTN Ace Tech focuses on up-skilling the youth interested in tech-related innovations.

20 selected enterprises

1. Kacyber Technologies: KaCyber’s multi-model e-ticketing and payment platform provides a secure and efficient ticketing and payment solution for the public transport sector in Africa.
2. Quest Lyft Ltd: QuestLyft leapfrogs capital-intensive infrastructural challenges encountered in delivering quality education by leveraging the internet to deliver curriculum-aware digital learning content.
3. Microfuse Computer Technologies- Hardware: The Microfuse stick computer is a low-cost, portable plug-and-play pocket computer that transforms every TV screen into a fully functional industry-grade computing user-friendly system. It’s a magic stick
4. Rent Beta: Provides financial services in the housing sector through a platform that makes it easy to pay and manage your rent.
5. Ride Link Limited: It enables users to be able to get quick Logistics quotes that are matched
6. Alipata Limited: Alipata provides a unified digital commerce marketplace to facilitate trade among Africa’s informal merchants and leading consumer brands.
7. Springtime Technologies Limited: Springpesa platform provides electronic payment solutions and wallets to individuals, businesses, and ecommerce platforms so as to promote efficiency in daily financial transaction processing.
8. Kiso Fresh: Fruit & Veg on-demand service.
9. Nutra Vest Limited: Agtech Solutions connects farmers to customers and logistic services that create efficiency in the value chain.
10. Wal-e- Visual: Wal-e-Visual recognizes that digitalization and emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) can play a significant role in making education more accessible and affordable
11. Waape-A digital talent management workplace.
12. Kwetu Auctions and Reality-A robust timed online auctioning platform providing a virtual reality experience in auctioning
13. Ablestate Creatives Limited-ICT Services platform that develops talents in software developers and connects developers to gigs & employers
14. Kungula (D&J Global Solutions)- Kungula is a software application providing a platform for information sharing between Agro-Stakeholders in Uganda
15. Coin Pay-Financial Services for Students & Parents to conduct cashless transactions
16. Autofore-Autofore is developing a platform to help car owners access affordable quality car maintenance services.
17. MTN Ace Graduate- Nasasira Nebert-Financial Services product with a focus on a machine to machine
18. MTN Ace Graduate- Lucky Ninsiima-Dairy farm management platform
19. MTN Ace Graduate- Ronald Ainebyoona– Worked on service product development of Voice Bundles API with MTN Momo
20. MTN Ace Graduate- Maclean Nankumbi-Worked on a cloud computing software to enhance communication to target customers

The post MTN and Partners Announce 20 Enterprises Selected For The 2nd Phase of The MTN Ace Program appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

The process of acquiring and nurturing great employees doesn’t stop here. Once HR finds top employees for the company, the next thing they should do is to keep them engaged so they can stay longer.

The traditional way of doing this is with monetary rewards. This is because most people are motivated by money. The problem with this method, however, is that it can be quite expensive and difficult to maintain.

In the past few years, there has been an increase in the use of gamification as a tool to motivate employees and get them engaged in the company. It’s not just the HR department that uses gamification, but also the Marketing department and even top executives to help employees achieve goals.

What is Gamification?

Gamification (Game thinking) is a process of adding game elements into non-gaming activities to improve engagement and productivity. This process can be used for any activity, such as work, study, or play.

Gamification makes boring tasks more fun and enjoyable for players by motivating them through rewards, points, and achievements. It also helps companies make better use of their resources through increased efficiency from employees who are motivated by competing against other coworkers or goals.

The Benefits of Gamification at Work

Gamification can be used in a variety of ways to improve the workplace. By adding elements of fun and competition, you can make work more engaging and enjoyable for employees. Ultimately, this can lead to improved performance, communication, satisfaction, and productivity. If you’re looking for ways to spice up your workplace, use employee engagement games at work.

Here are some other benefits of HR gamification at work.

• Increased Engagement: Gamification can increase employee engagement by making work more fun and exciting.
• Improved Performance: Gamification can improve performance by providing employees with a sense of achievement and motivation.
• Enhanced Communication: Gamification can enhance communication by encouraging collaboration and friendly competition.
• Greater Job Satisfaction: Gamification can lead to greater job satisfaction by making work more fulfilling and rewarding.
• Increased Productivity: Gamification can increase productivity by setting clear goals and giving employees a sense of purpose.

ALSO READ: 20 TOP INTERNAL COMMUNICATION TOOLS TO BOOST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY

How to Get Started with HR Gamification

1. Use gamification to train employees
The onboarding process is essential in getting new employees quickly and efficiently. Gamification can be used for the employee onboarding process. For example, a company can use the game concept of quests to help new hires complete critical tasks within a time frame.

Companies can also use gamification elements like points and achievements to motivate employees by encouraging them to complete training courses or read materials.

To further enhance the learning experience, companies can encourage trainees to compete against each other for an award or a prize.

2. Improve productivity with gamification
Gamification is useful in motivating an employee’s performance, especially in the sales department, where salespeople are often rewarded with trophies and prizes based on their performance compared with other colleagues or the target set by management.

The same concept can be used to motivate employees in other departments by rewarding them with prizes for having completed a certain number of tasks or surpassing the target set by management.

3. Use gamification to retain employees
Gamification is also used to engage and retain employees, especially in the case of talented employees who are valuable assets to the organization. Companies often use gamification elements like badges and points to reward these valuable employees.

In addition, they will also use gamification elements like challenges to help these valuable employees grow professionally while staying engaged with the company. For example, a company can have an employee challenge system where an employee has to complete different game challenges or quests, such as blockchain games, within a time frame in order to reach another level or rank.

Example of Gamification at Work

• Interactive Leaderboard: Use a leaderboard to rank employees based on performance data. This will make work more competitive and engaging.
• Badges and Rewards: Assign badges or rewards for meeting targets or goals. This recognition will act as a motivator for employees.
• Point systems: Introduce a point system that employees can accumulate based on their performance. These points can be redeemed for prizes or privileges.
• Leveling up: Create levels that employees can progress through based on their performance. This will give them a sense of achievement as they advance.
• Quests and challenges: Design quests or challenges that employees need to complete in order to earn rewards. This will add an element of fun and excitement to work.

Takeaway
Gamification can be an effective way to retain employees and keep them engaged at work. If employees are happy doing the work, they won’t consider moving out of the company to take more valuable opportunities.

HR has been challenged to keep employees staying longer in the company. But, gamification can help fix this problem by making the work seems fun and easier.

Companies can also use a gamification system to help employees learn and apply new skills. This way, they will feel more appreciated because they have chances to improve themselves at work.

ALSO READ: HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES PROCESSES

The post HR Gamification: How to Help Employees Engagement and Productivity appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Registration is open until the end of July and to register here is the LINK.

In a press statement, Charlotte Neeza, HiPipo FinTech Events Manager said, “The registration link is available and active until the end of July 2023. But because this is a very competitive, first-come-first-serve hackathon competition, we encourage all those interested to register at the earliest possible time.”

Neeza remarked that all interested participants only need to complete and submit the entry forms with details of their teams’ composition and the product they intend to innovate after which the organizing team will review each entry and revert.

The Women in FinTech Hackathon will culminate in the Women in FinTech summit on Aug 19 where the best-performing teams and individuals from across East Africa will be announced and receive their share of the USD$10,000 (approx. UGX37.2 million) collective prize money. This will be in addition to the winners automatically qualifying for the fully paid Women in FinTech Incubator program, receive mentorship from industry players & business leaders, and have access to network with fellow developers and facilitators from across the world.

The Women in FinTech Hackathon is part of HiPipo’s Include EveryOne Program which runs annually alongside the Women in FinTech Summit and Women in FinTech Incubator program as a way to address inequalities and empower women with the required digital and financial inclusion skills so that they can go out there; innovate, prosper, earn and develop their families and communities.

The cardinal purpose of these inter-twined initiatives is to champion women’s financial inclusion through active participation in the initiation, development, and rolling out of financial technology (fintech) products that are well-tailored to serve women and everyone. And indeed, the HiPipo Women in FinTech initiative is exceptionally supporting efforts toward closing the Gender Gap in Access to Technology, Skills, and Usage of Digital Financial Services.

Between 2020 and 2022, the Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit, and Incubator project attracted over 4,000 participants and directly trained more than 300 women. Through dedicated mentorship, many of these women have since graduated as Software Engineers and Computer Science specialists. Some have ideated, developed, and launched fintech products that are transforming their communities while others have received seed capital from both the project and external contributors to further pursue their dreams.

ALSO READ: SEED, GRANTS & FUNDING ROUNDS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

This success is thanks to HiPipo’s thoughtful Women Empowerment and Inclusion efforts, coupled with the commitment, collaboration, and active participation of its partners including Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner, and Crosslake Technologies. Even so, all this may have remained a pipe dream had it not been for the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“It is fulfilling to witness the greatness that has come from this initiative. In the last two years, over 50 of our past participants completed their university degrees in software engineering and other computer science-related courses,” said Innocent Kawooya, the Chief Executive Offer of HiPipo — adding that “Many have conceived and developed amazing products, others are working tirelessly to roll out their innovations.”

Kawooya emphasized that it is the clear way of closing the gender skills gap in digital innovation and fintech spaces.

Kawooya also noted that they are looking at having an even bigger contribution to Women’s Financial Inclusion this year by including women across the East African region.

“In 2023, we’re looking at having even a bigger contribution to Women’s Financial Inclusion. As we did in 2022, we are including the entire East African region. We intend to decentralize the hackathon so that we give a fair chance to interested participants from across East Africa.”

The fourth edition of the annual Women in FinTech initiative will run between Aug 10th and Dec 8th, 2023. The hackathon will be held first from Aug 10-18 followed by the summit which will be held Aug 19 and will conclude with the Women in FinTech Incubator that will run from Sep 4 to Dec 8, 2023.

It is worth knowing that in between the Women in FinTech initiatives, HiPipo will also be holding the Digital & Financial Inclusion Summit and the Digital Impact Awards Africa on Nov 16 and Nov 17 respectively.

The Digital Impact Awards Africa recognizes, celebrates, and appreciates different individuals and organizations that are spearheading the use of digital mediums to better serve their communities. The awards are one of Africa’s most important gatherings of C-Level Executives, and senior Digital and IT executives. In addition, it promotes Digital Inclusion, Financial Inclusion, and Cyber Security.

ALSO READ: GLOBAL SURVEY RESULTS ON WOMEN’S TECH CAREERS

The post Hippo Opens Registration For The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.