We broke it to you about a month ago that Safaricom had launched the 3rd edition of the Safaricom Appwiz Challenge and that they were receiving applications for the challenge from interested tech startups. Well, the application window closed on the 16th of August 2015.
Appwiz is a developer challenge targeting Kenyan innovators in mobile ICT. Safaricom is running the initiative in partnership with @iBizAfrica (Strathmore University). The challenge aims to nurture and mentor ICT-driven start-ups focused on mobile technology. Appwiz was introduced in 2013, and has since incubated close to 30 tech start-up solutions including Safaricom M-Ledger and Magazine Reel, both of which are now commercially successful and sustainable businesses. Appwiz will take participants through a 3-month training curriculum tailored specifically for technology start-ups, offering mentorship and coaching from industry leaders and leading entrepreneurs, as well as training in entrepreneurship skills.
The top three innovative businesses and ideas will be selected from four categories including; customer engagement solutions, Safaricom product excellence solutions, mobile convenience and out of the box solutions. The Appwiz grand winner will receive a cash grant of Kshs 1.5 million while the 1st and 2nd runners up will receive Kshs 1 million and Kshs. 500, 000 respectively.