Hackathons
Image credits: Mary Beth Koeth
‘Hack the Mara’ The Last Mile Payment Tracking Hackathon
Mara Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of ‘Hack the Mara’, a weeklong immersive hackathon bringing together talented innovators from across Africa to build impactful solutions and empower a community.
The Hackathon in partnership with USDC creator Circle, will challenge teams of developers, designers and entrepreneurs to build a last mile payment tracking solution for the Masai Mara community. Participants will utilize blockchain via USSD and MPESA for payment transparency.
Global early-stage VC and start-up builder Antler, will offer the winning solution the opportunity to join the Antler Nairobi program to further develop their idea into a business and potentially receive investment.
Hackathon applications are open between July 14th 2022 and August 5th, with the main competition set to take place in Kenya from the 17th to the 26th of September 2022.
Apply now
Image credits: Mary Beth KoethThe Masai Mara is one of the most important conservation areas in the world. Maasai land owners, wildlife, and tourism all rely on one another to survive in the Mara.
A fund distribution program has been established to preserve this ecosystem and bridge the gap left by the loss of tourism during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there are concerns that the disbursed cash does not reach the intended beneficiaries.
Image credits: Eric AverdungHackathon teams will spend a week at Ishara in the Masai Mara conceiving, developing, and pitching creative solutions that will allow all partners in the Masai Mara ecosystem to have transparent access into the disbursement process and verify that the intended beneficiaries are credited.
Mara will provide a test platform on which the top 8 proposals will be prototyped. Teams are expected to build solutions that can serve anyone, anywhere no matter how remote. This includes serving areas of low internet penetration and low smartphone adoption. The solution must offer transparency to all relevant stakeholders, confirmation of payment and identity, and must adhere to best practice including KYC/AML policies.
Hack the Mara is a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Masai Mara, interact directly with the affected communities, and build a decentralized application that solves a real world problem.
Hackathon participants will benefit from a pool of cash and in-kind prizes of up to $100,000 alongside opportunities for follow-on funding by Mara Foundation and or its partners.
Additional benefits include mentorship throughout the hack, access to partner companies offering employment opportunities and completion badges.
The judges will award the teams based on originality, creativity, innovation, analytical skills, strategic thinking and practical implementation.
Image credits: Eric AverdungTalented innovators living on the African continent are invited to apply and go through our online selection process. The top 8 teams from across the region will be invited for the hackathon at Ishara in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
To learn more about the hackathon and register to participate please click here.
Hackathon Partners
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