Kenyan startups which can demonstrate the use of existing Orange APIs (SMS, USSD and Operator billing) in their app development can now submit their app development ideas for the Orange API AMEA (African, Middle East and Asian Countries) Developer Challenge. These startups will join startups from 14 other AMEA countries, for instance from Tunisia, Jordan, Mali, Botswana and Guinea Bissau, in competing with startups from France for a jackpot of 10,000 Euros.
In the words of Orange Kenya CEO Vincent Lobry, the developer challenge will give startups an opportunity to harness their skills and showcase to the rest of the world game changing ideas and products.
The Orange Developer Challenge will start with local chapters of the same in all the AMEA countries, with ten ideas making the shortlist for the global competition. Kenyan startups have until September 15 2015 to submit their work. The ten proposals that will be shortlisted in each AMEA country will be expected to develop their applications for submission to a judging panel by November 1 2015.
The winning application in the local challenge will be awarded with KSh. 350,000, the first runner-up scooping KSh. 100,000 while the second runner up will receive KSh. 50,000. Each of the top three applications will also receive an Orange Klif phone. The global winner will be presented with their prize on November 25, 2015 in Cairo, Egypt.
Interested developers can log onto www.orangepartner.com/APIchallenge to apply for the challenge.