The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon concludes on a high, with winners to be announced on Friday

After a long week of solutions’ ideation and development, the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon teams have today pitched their final minimum viable products – MVPs to the Hackathon Jury.

The over 30 teams were each given up to 10 minutes to demonstrate how their developed solutions work. The young and nascent innovators used this time to wow the Hackathon Jury of six judges.

Of the six judges, three attentively followed the presentations physically whilst others followed the proceedings remotely. For each developed solution, the judges were looking out for innovativeness, business value, feasibility, potential impact, and integration with Mojaloop Open Source Software.

The judges also paid a keen interest to adherence to Level One Project Principles such as Same Day Settlement, Realtime Payments, Tiered KYC, and Transaction Irrevocability.

“The fourth edition of Women in Fintech Hackathon has embodied the transformative power of women in technology. Through a systematic approach, the Hackathon has tackled real-world Fintech product development; from problem statement and business case formulation to solution design, prototyping, and MVP dry run. This structured process fostered collaboration, innovation, and skill growth, all while emphasizing inclusivity,” Cleopatra Kanyunyuzi, the Hackathon Lead Facilitator and CEO of Club Tangaza, adding:

“The hackathon’s success has showcased how diverse teams of women can break barriers and lead change in the Fintech sector. This event also highlighted the boundary-less nature of innovation. Such initiatives hold the key to a more inclusive, innovative future for Fintech.”

But even after the final pitches, there was still some more time for learning. Stella Lugalambi, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Hamwe East Africa tipped the participants on Overcoming Challenges and Building Resilience.

Mrs Lugalambi urged the young innovators to consider formalizing their FinTech solutions through registration and in the long run, getting regulator licenses.

“Right now, Financial Technology is regulated by the Bank of Uganda. As an innovator, find out where your product falls and understand what is required to register it. Even if you don’t get a license immediately, at least you will know what is required when that time comes.”

She urged the participants to remain, firm, resilient and focused on achieving their dreams.

“There are indeed problems to do with funding and digitization. Most of your target audience doesn’t even have smartphones and computers, but this should not discourage you. For whatever you are doing, do your best to find ways of funding your businesses without seeking commercial loans fast as they put a lot of pressure on start-ups.”

Overall Winners to be known at Women in FinTech Summit.

With the Hackathon curtains coming down; there was a visible sense of anticipation; with several teams very optimistic and in high spirits while others were evidently anxious.

Even though all participants are financial inclusion champions, the overall winners of this year’s Women in FinTech Hackathon will be announced and receive their share of the USD 10,000 collective prize money at the 2023 Women in FinTech summit on Friday, 18th August at Mestil Hotel, Kampala.

This will be in addition to the winners automatically qualifying for the Women in FinTech Incubator program that will run from September until December 2023.

 The past week has been exciting and action-packed. We have seen teams develop their nascent ideas into minimum-viable products. The majority of the teams have indeed put in so much effort and we really appreciate this. To us, all the teams are victors. They have submitted their final MVPs and we shall tomorrow get to know the overall winners.

The Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit and Incubator Program is implemented by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Cyberplc Academy, Crosslake Technologies, INFITX, Ideation Corner and Mojaloop Foundation and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon Day 6: Teams coached on presentation and pitching

For the past one week, the over 100 Innovators taking part in the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon have been focusing their energies and resources on developing time and lifesaving financial inclusion solutions.

With just one day to the end of this year’s Women in FinTech Hackathon, the participants are putting their best feet forward and tying up all loose ends as they ready themselves for their final submissions on Thursday 17th August.

On Day Six, the teams dug deep into the workings of application programming interfaces (APIs).

According to IBM, an application programming interface or API is a set of defined rules that enable different applications to communicate with each other.

An API ‘acts as an intermediary layer that processes data transfers between systems, letting companies open their application data and functionality to external third-party developers, business partners, and internal departments within their companies.’

Paul Baker, the Principle Product Manager at INFITX took the teams through the workings of the Mojaloop APIs, showing them the different ways, they can integrate the Mojaloop family of APIs in their solutions.

“If your desire for Mojaloop knowledge is more technical, then try running a cut-down version of Mojaloop Locally where the API can be called and the logs of the micro-services interrogated. The Mojaloop Community supports various ways of running Mojaloop locally.”

In preparation for making their final submissions, the teams also had an in-depth pitching and presentation coaching session led by Flavia Eleanor Kasenge, the chief operating officer at EzeeMoney.

In her presentation, Kasenge defined pitching as how you describe the best version of yourself or your business; what you do, how long you have been doing it, and why you are the best at that particular business.

She noted that there are different kinds of pitching such as Elevator Pitch, Investors Pitch and Sales Pitch.

“When at a pitch, introduce yourself using catchy words, replace fear with confidence, be smart, and bring your A game. Stand out from the get-go because first impression is key. Do enough research and master your data –Have enough depth and clearly show an understanding of your business,” Kasenge said, adding;

“Importantly, end memorably; preferably with a life story of how you came up with the product. That conclusion can be as serious as that or as simplistic as a joke.”

Running for the 4th consecutive year, the Women in FinTech Hackathon is part of the broader Women in FinTech initiative that also includes a Summit and Incubator program; all implemented by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Cyberplc Academy, Crosslake Technologies, INFITX, Ideation Corner and Mojaloop Foundation and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon will culminate into the Women in FinTech summit on 18th August 2023 where the best-performing teams and individuals will be announced and receive their share of the USD 10,000 collective prize money. This will be in addition to the winners automatically qualifying for the Women in FinTech Incubator program that will run from September until December 2023.

Participants start working on minimum viable products on Day 5 of the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon

Driven by passion and an unsatisfied appetite for success, the over 100 Innovators participating in the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon have their priorities well set out.

It is this desire to succeed that is keeping most of the participants awake throughout the night; some turning the Hackathon venue into their temporary home, taking short naps on wooden desks and the floor before waking up to resume their financial technology solutions’ design and development.

With the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon entering the final and most decisive days, the Teams were introduced to minimum viable products (MVP) on Day 5.

A product Plan defines a minimum viable product, or MVP, as a product with enough features to attract early-adaption customers and validate a product idea early in the product development cycle.

According to Dorothy Kabarozi, a Full Stack Software Engineer and Facilitator of the Women in FinTech Hackathon, the creation of minimum viable products (MVPs) raises the developers’ confidence and opens multi opportunities for partnerships and possible funding ‘because creating an MVP, even if it’s a simplified version, can instil a sense of achievement and sureness.’

“In a Hackathon like this, MVPs encourage participants to think creatively and find innovative ways to address challenges. This empowerment comes from the realization that they have the capability to design solutions that can make a difference in financial inclusion, benefiting themselves and others, “Dorothy Kabarozi said.

She added: “MVPs inspire developers like the young women and men we have here to pursue further opportunities in the tech field and beyond, knowing they have the ability to contribute meaningfully. Lastly, MVPs allow participants to demonstrate the tangible impact of their ideas. This can lead to partnerships, funding opportunities, or further development to scale the solution, which in turn can have a lasting impact on financial inclusion and empowerment.”

Mentorship Sessions.  

Osbert Osamai, the Head ICT Advisory, Research & Strategy at Centenary Technology Services, was the morning mentor and presented on key skills for effective Digital Transformation, urging the teams to interest themselves in learning more support skills as these would complement their competencies in products and solutions development.

“Away from developing great solutions, you need project & product management, communication, decision-making and digital marketing skills. You need emotional intelligence to know what to say when, how and why. You must continue to learn as this will aid your growth. Importantly, continue to seek collaborations and possible partnerships.”

Lyn Tukei, the Communications and Public Relations Manager at Capital Markets Authority, Uganda, took on the PR and Marketing Strategy training. In her afternoon presentation, she noted that successful brands are built by consumers, not companies.

“Ultimately, it’s the way consumers perceive a brand that defines it. It doesn’t matter what you think your brand promises. The only thing that matters is how consumers perceive your brand,” Tukei said, adding:

“You need to work to develop consumer perceptions that accurately reflect your brand or your brand is doomed to limited growth potential.”

Running for the 4th consecutive year, the Women in FinTech Hackathon is part of the broader Women in FinTech initiative that also includes a Summit and Incubator program; all implemented by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Crosslake Technologies and Ideation Corner and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon will culminate into the Women in FinTech summit on 18th August 2023 where the best-performing teams and individuals will be announced and receive their share of the USD 10,000 collective prize money. This will be in addition to the winners automatically qualifying for the Women in FinTech Incubator program that will run from September until December 2023.

2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon Day 4: Teams present Prototype Designs, trained on Financial Discipline and Product Management

Participants in the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon have continued to show significant progress and commitment to using Financial Technology to transform their communities.

Day 4 kicked off with a detailed session on Open Source Software and Mojaloop Security, presented by Paul Baker, the Principle Product Manager of INFITX and member of the Mojaloop Community.

The Mojaloop Open Source session was then followed by the teams presenting their solutions and prototype designs. With examples, they illustrated their solutions’ customer journey and explained how they envisioned them to function.

“From the presented solution and prototype designs, it is evident that a lot of progress has been made by all the teams. Each team is now focusing on delivering a functional minimum viable product (MVP) by Thursday, 17th August,” Charlotte Neeza, the HiPipo FinTech Events Manager noted.

“Compared to last week, the Hackathon is now tense in a very good way as the innovators continue to build their products. Teams are time conscious as they are aware that it is mission critical for them to have their MVPs ready and submitted for a final assessment on Thursday.”

Away from the solutions and prototype design presentations, the participants interacted with two mentors who shared extensive knowledge on Financial Discipline, Investment and Product Management.

Prossy Namubiru, the Youth Supervisor, Retail & Microfinance Division at Centenary Bank, noted that Financial Discipline refers to how well you are able to conform your spending and saving to the plans that you have set to achieve your monetary goals.

“Discipline is a necessary skill for proper financial management. Without it, you will never acquire or accumulate anything. Without it you will never accomplish anything,” Namubiru said, adding;

“Financially, discipline is about controlling your spending and making sure you pay for the things that need to be paid for. If you cannot control your spending, then no matter how much money you make it will never be enough.”

Namubiru noted that Centenary Bank has multiple offerings for young people including youth-friendly accounts, free financial literacy sessions for organized youth groups and low-interest youth loans.

Meanwhile, Mercy Angela Nantongo, a product manager and an emerging media technologist, took the teams on a product management voyage. She explained that product management is a deliberate and continuous process that ensures that both the product owners and customers get the best value possible. She likened a product manager to the customer’s voice within an organization.

“A product manager is like the parent of a child. This is a role we can differentiate from other actors in the child’s life like the doctor that helped birth them, or the teachers that guide them over the course of their lives,” Nantongo said.

“Product managers collect all the problems about the product, segregate them and share them with the responsible people in the product eco-system for resolution. They also plan and execute solutions. While customer support deals with after-sales, product management works more with before-sales.”

She noted that some of the key traits of successful product managers are empathy, optimism, being analytical, strategic and result-oriented.

Running for the 4th consecutive year, the Women in FinTech Hackathon is part of the broader Women in Fintech initiative that also includes a Summit and Incubator program; all implemented by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Crosslake Technologies and Ideation Corner and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon will culminate into the Women in FinTech summit on 18th August 2023 where the best-performing teams and individuals will be announced and receive their share of the USD 10,000 collective prize money. This will be in addition to the winners automatically qualifying for the Women in FinTech Incubator program that will run from September until December 2023.

Innovators urged to be patient with their Ideas. 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon Day 3

Teams from Uganda and Kenya, each comprising enthusiastic individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets, are currently in Kampala, diligently working to refine their pitched ideas into Financial Technology solutions. 

As these teams gathered on Day three, a palpable sense of anticipation filled the air with the participants waiting to listen to words of wisdom and encouragement prepared by Damali Ssali, the founder of the Ideation Corner and also, the chief programs and projects officer at Private Sector Foundation Uganda.

In her morning presentation, Ssali emphasized the power of collaboration and the potential of innovation to reshape communities. She spoke about how HiPipo itself had been built on the spirit of innovation, with its history steeped in groundbreaking ideas that had transcended barriers and transformed challenges into opportunities.

“You always have to test your idea and then you roll it out. Find friends who believe in your ideas. Sometimes you may first need to develop your idea before you start talking about it. Don’t talk to people who will tell you it will never work,” she advised the youthful entrepreneurs.

“You also need to be passionate about your idea and push it. You must believe in it first before others do. Those are the most critical steps because many ideas have died in people’s heads.”

“You have to be patient with your idea because they usually don’t materialize immediately. HiPipo has for example been in business for more than 15 years. It takes time. You must have the tenacity to continue every year chasing that dream that you have. You also have to have the flexibility of mind to adapt to the idea. The more you learn, the more you will have the flexibility to tweak your ideas,” Damali Ssali explained.

Throughout the third day of this Hackathon, the diversity of ideas among the teams was astounding – from solutions aiming to connect housemaids to customers to savings and credit solutions targeting farmers and small businesses. There are also solutions focused on providing car owners with reliable mechanics during emergencies, and others reimagining Uganda’s modes of payments.

Throughout Day three, the facilitators listened attentively, their faces reflecting a range of emotions – intrigue, curiosity, and admiration. After listening to the team’s presentations, they provided insightful feedback, pushing the teams to delve deeper into their concepts, challenging assumptions, and encouraging them to consider the broader implications of their innovations.

“You don’t just wake up one day and put an idea on the market. You should consider the time span and the costs involved. If you plan adequately, you will make sure you work within the stated timelines. Look at the function requirements of the idea and find out what you really need,” Simon Peter Kamya, a Ugandan developer and one of the facilitators noted.

Collaborations also continued to blossom among the teams as they realized that their solutions often intersected, reinforcing the belief that collective efforts could lead to even more impactful results.

Paul Baker, the Principle Product Manager at INFITX highlighted that trust is of paramount importance while developing payment solutions.

“Trust builds user confidence. We need to build up a trusted relationship,” he said.

The afternoon mentor, Marion Kirabo – a legal associate at Matrix Advocates took the participants through Business Registration, Intellectual Property and Regulations.

She emphasized the need for Innovators and Tech Start-Ups, in general, to pay close attention to the latest legal developments in the industry such as the National Payment Systems Act, 2020.

Running for the 4th consecutive year, the Women in FinTech Hackathon is not just a competition; it is a platform for sharing and learning, a crucible of ideas that have unlimited potential to transform lives.

This Hackathon is part of the broader Women in Fintech initiative that also includes a Summit and Incubator program; all implemented by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Crosslake Technologies and Ideation Corner and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon will culminate in the Women in FinTech summit on 18th August 2023 where the best-performing teams and individuals will be announced and receive their share of the USD 10,000 collective prize money. This will be in addition to the winners automatically qualifying for the Women in FinTech Incubator program that will run from September until December 2023.

Innovators Tipped on Fundraising and Financial Management on Day Two of the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon

Day Two of the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon was a huge success highlighted by participants presenting their refined Problem Statements and Business Cases.

The day started with a deep dive into both the Mobile Money ecosystem and the Mojaloop Open Source Software presented by HiPipo CEO Innocent Kawooya and Paul Baker, the Principle Product Manager at INFITX respectively.

This was followed by teams presenting their improved Problem Statements and Business Cases.

According to Dorothy Kabarozi, a Full Stack Software Engineer and Facilitator of the Women in FinTech Hackathon, this year’s edition has a variety of fresh innovations compared to the previous edition.

“On day two, we got to know an in-depth description of the solutions that the participants are trying to build for their different communities. There are several interesting solutions this year that we did not have in the previous hackathons. There are several innovations in areas such as Taxation, Forex Trade, Village Loans and Savings, Rural Women and Refugees’ Empowerment,” Kabarozi said, adding;

“The participants are really getting down to serious work now with a special focus on the pain points affecting their target audience. They are more engaged and willing to improve the solutions, which is a positive for them and the project.”

Furthermore, Franklin Ssozi, a senior Software Architect took the participants through the product development journey highlighting the need for all innovators to pay close attention to the KYC (know your customer) principle as it usually determines the success of any solution.

The late afternoon session took a different direction with the participants being trained on Fundraising and prudent Financial Management; two topics that are at the heart of potential success and possible failure of any business. This training was delivered by Vivienne Iga Kikoni, a Digital Finance Professional.

In her mentorship session, Vivienne Iga Kikoni noted that good fundraising starts with good financial management. In very simple terms, she noted that financial management means planning, organizing, directing and controlling financial activities.

“To succeed in business, you need to be specific. Your goal must be well-detailed with clear targets for a month, 3 months, 6 months, one year and five years, etc. Put all this on paper and diligently follow it. Whatever you intend to bring to the marketplace needs to generate income because fixed and operational costs will be incurred, leaving you with a margin of which taxes are paid to leave you with what actually goes into your pocket,” Kikoni said. 

She further noted that there are several pillars of fundraising such as strengthening relationships and support, raising awareness about your cause, providing donors and sponsors recognition, and building your donor base; which, if well executed, will pave the way for fundraising and other engagements.

Running for the 4th consecutive year, this Hackathon is part of HiPipo’s broader Women in Fintech initiative that also includes a Summit and Incubator program.

The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon will culminate in the Women in FinTech summit on 18th August 2023 where the best-performing teams and individuals will be announced and receive their share of the USD 10,000 collective prize money. This will be in addition to the winners automatically qualifying for the Women in FinTech Incubator program that will run from September until December 2023.

The Women in FinTech Hackathon is implemented by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Crosslake Technologies and Ideation Corner and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Participants introduced to Financial Inclusion Best Practices as the 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon kicks off in Kampala.

The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon has kicked off in Kampala with a formidable group of thirty (30) teams, hailing from Uganda and Kenya. This esteemed selection of participants was carefully curated from a competitive pool of over 100 innovative submissions received over the past two months.

From 10th to 17th August, the 30 teams will ideate, and develop Financial Inclusion innovations spanning a wide range of sectors such as Payments, Savings & Loans, E-commerce, E-Health, Fundraising, AgriTech, E-Insurance and Remittances.

On day one, the over 100 innovators were able to work on their Problem Statements and Business Cases.

Charlotte Neeza, the HiPipo FinTech Events Manager, explained that the Women in FinTech Hackathon is a timely intervention aimed at closing the gender diversity gap in the Technology Industry.

“Gender diversity in the tech industry is low with Men holding over 74 per cent of the Technology jobs. They also account for at least 79 per cent of the executive roles in the Tech Industry. This can only be closed by equipping more women with the required skills and resources to compete favourably. The Women in FinTech Hackathon is exactly doing this. We don’t only train the participants but also connect them to mentors and potential Investors,” Neeza noted.

Cleopatra Kanyunyuzi, the Hackathon Lead Facilitator and CEO of Club Tangaza guided the teams through crucial steps to be followed when defining a problem statement and working on a business case. She noted that innovations are bound to fail if they are not solving a specific and clear societal problem.

“Clearly define the problem you want your Fintech solution to solve. This should be a specific pain point or challenge faced by your target users. Validate the problem through interviews, surveys, and data analysis to ensure that it is a real and significant issue that your potential customers are facing,” Kanyunyuzi explained.    

Olga Naiga, a Strategic Business Planning Expert was Day-One’s Mentor and focused her presentation on Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

“Design thinking is pivotal in a women-led FinTech; combining innovation and user-centricity. Design thinking fosters collaboration, ensuring that multifaceted perspectives contribute to cohesive, inclusive Fintech products. This approach also streamlines problem-solving, iteratively refining prototypes based on user feedback,” Naiga noted; adding: 

“In the dynamic realm of FinTech, where women remain underrepresented, design thinking empowers female developers to challenge conventions and develop solutions that resonate, effectively bridging the gender gap and delivering financial tools that cater for the diverse spectrum of women’s needs and aspirations.”

The participants were also introduced to Level One Project Principles, Mojaloop Open Source Software and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

The Level One Project introductions were done by Innocent Kawooya, the HiPipo CEO and George Kasakya, the HiPipo Tech lead while the Mojaloop Introduction was delivered by Paul Baker, the Principle Product Manager INFITX and member of the Mojaloop Community Council.

In his presentation, Baker noted that Mojaloop is a level one aligned payments hub, that is designed to support financial inclusion.

Mojaloop was designed to provide a reference model for payment interoperability, that can be used to overcome barriers that have slowed the spread of digital financial services. Whole, adapted, or as a blueprint – the Mojaloop Foundation’s open source software can be used by organizations to build interoperable, digital payment systems that enable seamless, affordable financial services between individual users, banks, government entities, merchants, mobile network operators, providers, and technology companies – connecting the underserved with the emerging digital economy.

Running for the 4th consecutive year, this Hackathon is part of HiPipo’s broader Women in Fintech initiative that also includes a Summit and Incubator program.

The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon will culminate in the Women in FinTech summit on 18th August 2023 where the best-performing teams and individuals will be announced and receive their share of the USD 10,000 collective prize money. This will be in addition to the winners automatically qualifying for the Women in FinTech Incubator program that will run from September until December 2023.

The Women in FinTech Hackathon is implemented by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Crosslake Technologies and Ideation Corner and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

30 Teams shortlisted for the 2023 HiPipo Women in FinTech Hackathon

A formidable group of thirty (30) teams, hailing from Uganda and Kenya, has been shortlisted for this year’s Women in FinTech Hackathon. This esteemed selection was carefully curated from a competitive pool of over 100 innovative submissions received over the past two months.

The distinguished shortlist of teams will now gather in the vibrant city of Kampala from August 10th to 17th, 2023. This announcement marks 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.

As she announced the successful completion of the registration process, 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 thirty teams, a substantial 50% increase from the twenty teams that participated in the 2022 event.

“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. The triumphs of past contestants in areas such as mentorship, product design, development & go-to-market strategies, and seed capital acquisition continue to fuel inspiration among both returning and new participants,” explained Neeza with evident pride and belief.

She continued with eagerness, “For the fortunate 30 teams, this Hackathon is not merely a competition but a luminous platform to showcase your potential, revolutionize your lives, and make a lasting impact on your communities. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all teams that demonstrated their interest and initiative by submitting their innovative propositions. To those who haven’t made the shortlist, let this not deter your spirit or ambition. Continue to chase your dreams with determination, for there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel.”

Neeza 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.”

Now in its impressive fourth consecutive year, this Hackathon stands as a vital component of HiPipo’s expansive Women in FinTech initiative. Beyond the competition, the initiative encompasses a comprehensive suite of programs including a thought-provoking Summit and a nurturing Incubator program, all aimed at fostering innovation and empowerment in the field of financial technology.

The Women in FinTech Initiative is a bold and strategic effort aimed at dismantling gender disparities within the financial technology industry. Through comprehensive empowerment, the initiative equips women with essential digital and financial inclusion skills, enabling them to innovate, thrive, and succeed. It’s more than personal growth; it’s a pathway for these women to prosper financially, foster development within their families, and contribute positively to the broader community, creating a ripple effect of change and advancement.

The fundamental mission of this initiative is to actively advocate for women’s financial inclusion by fostering their engagement in the creation, development, and deployment of financial technology products that are thoughtfully designed to serve not only women but society at large. The HiPipo Women in FinTech initiative stands as an extraordinary force, earnestly supporting and amplifying efforts to bridge the Gender Gap in Access to Technology. It’s a movement that resonates far beyond mere participation, extending into the realms of skill-building and the practical utilization of Digital Financial Services, thus reshaping the landscape of inclusion and empowerment.

From 2020 to 2022, the multifaceted Women in FinTech initiative – encompassing the Hackathon, Summit, and Incubator project – has drawn the engagement of over 4,000 participants and has directly imparted essential training to more than 300 women. Through rigorous and tailored mentorship, a significant number of these women have emerged as qualified Software Engineers and Computer Science specialists. Their achievements transcend the classroom, with some having conceived, engineered, and introduced Financial Technology products that are actively reshaping their communities. Others have garnered seed capital from both the project itself and benevolent external contributors, propelling them further along the path to realizing their dreams. This is not merely an initiative; it’s a catalyst for change, innovation, and empowerment.

This remarkable success story is a manifestation of HiPipo’s insightful and relentless dedication to Women Empowerment and Inclusion, fortified by the steadfast commitment, collaborative synergy, and active engagement of its eminent partners: Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner, and Crosslake Technologies. Yet, it’s essential to recognize that all these groundbreaking achievements could have remained a mere aspiration without the magnanimous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Their generous backing is the linchpin that transformed this visionary endeavour from a possibility into a thriving reality, creating a legacy of empowerment and innovation.

Prize Money.

The 2023 Women in FinTech Hackathon will reach its zenith at the Women in FinTech Summit on 18th August 2023, a grand occasion where excellence will be celebrated.

The best-performing teams and standout individuals will be recognized and duly rewarded, sharing in the collective prize money of USD 10,000. But the rewards extend beyond mere financial gain; 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.

Below are the 30 shortlisted Teams and their Leaders.

TEAM NAMETEAM LEADER
FinHubNankunda Josephine
Kampus Wash-up CafeAuma Eunice
PesajetAngella Kansemiire
CyanasePatricia Giramia
OpportuneGum Priscilla
WashUpNakanwagi Evelyne
Maamas Daily CookieSauda Nassanga
U – PayAbitegeka Bridget
Virtual Mothercare AssistantNyirarukundo Novitah
E – CareChristine Amutuhaire
Elite CompanyMutesi Patricia
MindSpaceRacheal Olive Kawudha
Rent Easy PeasyStisha Margret Amase
Financial Education Platform for Women (FEP-W)Tumuhimbise Evas
INFITX Empowerment HubFortune Agnes Tusiime
E-FuelYasmin Hassan
Safe and FreeHappy Amooti
HPaysaBeth Njoroge
AgamNakisozi Mastulah Sarah
SheCapitalAyebale Allen
TaxOnPointKiyiga Marion Olivea
Smart Rental SystemAngella Mulikatete
FloreXpressElizabeth Ashley Aceng
The AchieversJariat Nabakooza
Simbula Tugende Limited (STL)Nansumba Mary Vanessa
BorePayDiana Najjuma
Hands of Women FoundationAnena Jennifer
Business Banking HubSunita Namujumbi
Game ChangersSarah Agemo
Online KataleTricia Wambua

Join the Celebration of a Decade of Digital Excellence: Submit your Nomination for the 2023 Digital Impact Awards Africa Now

Kampala, Uganda. In 2014, HiPipo unveiled the Digital Impact Awards Africa (DIAA), a prestigious platform dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the epitome of African innovation in digital technology, financial inclusion, and cybersecurity advancement.

From its inception, the Digital Impact Awards Africa (DIAA) was met with immense enthusiasm, with the majority of the market recognizing it as an initiative poised to elevate the industry to new heights. Despite this optimism, questions were raised about its sustainability. Skeptics drew parallels with earlier initiatives that, like the DIAA, began with considerable market excitement, only to fade away prematurely. Yet, the DIAA has persevered, defying these predictions and cementing its role in leading the industry’s progress.

Indeed, the Digital Impact Awards Africa (DIAA) has not merely weathered the passage of time, but it has significantly transformed Africa’s trajectory in digital and financial inclusion. With each passing year, the DIAA continues to make groundbreaking strides, redefining expectations and leading the charge towards a digitally inclusive future for all of Africa.

Innocent Kawooya, the CEO of HiPipo, expressed his feelings of anticipation and accomplishment, saying, “From the inception of our journey, we held a vision to significantly contribute to Africa’s digital and financial inclusion journey. We aimed to not only spotlighting the innovative products and services that are transforming millions of lives but also to honor the remarkable individuals behind these achievements. Today, we stand at the dawn of a decade that has witnessed this vision come to life. Our accomplishments fill us with pride, yet our eyes are firmly set on the future, committed to scaling new heights. We acknowledge that the road to universal digital and financial inclusion requires relentless efforts. In this pursuit, we have been fortunate to have the unwavering support of dedicated partners like the Gates Foundation, whose contributions have been instrumental to our progress. As we move forward, we pledge to continue making strides towards a digitally inclusive future for Africa.”

Kawooya further expressed his gratitude, stating: “Our sincere appreciation goes out to the over 500 companies that have engaged in this initiative over the years, collectively fueling its success. We wish to extend a special commendation to our invaluable partners whose faith in this endeavor has been unwavering. This remarkable milestone is a testament to your belief in our mission, and we simply could not have reached this point without your steadfast support.”

Celebrating a decade of transformation, the 10th edition of the Digital Impact Awards Africa is slated for 17th November 2023 at Kampala Serena Hotel as part of the annual Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit.

Digital Impact Awards Africa is a platform that promotes Digital Inclusion, Financial Inclusion, and Cyber Security. The Awards recognize and celebrate stakeholders that are spearheading the use of digital mediums to serve communities. They further celebrate digital excellence across the continent; big or small, local or international.

On the other hand, the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit explores strategic trends and technologies that are shaping the future of Digital, ICTs, and Business. Special attention is paid to the safety of customers’ funds and the security of platforms in the Digital Financial Services ecosystem.

The 2023 summit will bring together hundreds of delegates including C-Level executives that are spearheading the scaling, adoption, and usage of digital and financial services across Africa, policymakers, young entrepreneurs, and innovators in the Digital and Financial Inclusion ecosystem. The summit will shine a spotlight on how businesses have recovered from the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Cyber Security threats among other topics.

It will have more than 50 speakers from government, multinationals, large enterprises, small and mid-sized enterprises, and start-ups. Additionally, the summit will offer a platform for informal businesses (like market vendors, smallholder farmers, sole proprietors, public transporters, e-commerce delivery agents, etc.)   

Both the Digital Impact Awards Africa and Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit are organized by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Cyberplc Academy, Ideation Corner, and Crosslake Technologies and generously supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Submit your #DIAA2023 nominations today.

With an air of anticipation and excitement, we officially embark on the journey towards the 2023 Digital Impact Awards Africa, beginning with an open call for nominations. Join us in recognizing and celebrating those who are boldly shaping the digital landscape of Africa.

This call marks the start of a comprehensive Digital Impact Awards Africa entry submission and validation process that will run until October 10th, 2023. This will be followed by the release of a list of nominees, Jury assessment, and a rollout of public voting from October 17th until November 17th when the grand finale will be held.

List of categories open for nomination:

  1. Financial Inclusion Excellence
  2. Digital Banking Excellence
  3. Banking Innovation Excellence
  4. Community/MFI Banking Innovation Excellence
  5. FinTech Innovation Excellence
  6. Financial Services Digital Excellence
  7. Consumer Goods Digital Excellence
  8. Utilities and Government Services Digital Excellence
  9. Technology Services Digital Excellence
  10. Digital Campaign Excellence
  11. CEO of the Year
  12. Digital Brand of the Year
  13. Digital Brand of the Decade – 2014 to 2023
  14. Community Digital Empowerment Excellence

Visit www.digital-impact-awards.com to submit your nomination.

Both the summit and awards are using these 3 official tags; #IncludeEveryone #DIAA2023 #LevelOneProject.

2023 FinTech Landscape Exhibition: Stakeholders commit to including the under-served Population

The 2023 FinTech Landscape Exhibition was successfully held on Thursday 6th July, attracting over 300 participants including Government policymakers, Tech Giants, Financial services providers and more than 40 participating FinTechs.

The FinTech Landscape Exhibition was the climax event of this year’s 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative which featured 43 companies from Uganda and Kenya between 7th May and June 23rd.

It was highlighted by the different companies that showcased their financial inclusion solutions in areas such as payments, e-commerce, savings & credit, e-insurance, digital healthcare, and e-education among others.

The exhibition was spiced up with four-panel discussions that expounded on key financial inclusion topics namely; Delivering affordable financial products to poor and vulnerable groups using FinTech, Introducing the unbanked Women and Youth to the formal financial inclusion ecosystem with FinTech, Encouraging transactional account usage using FinTech intuitive mobile apps and USSD-based innovations and Modernizing lending models and improving affordable and timely credit with FinTech. This was in addition to an open public discussion about How to use FinTech to bank the unbanked population and banking opportunities for SMEs.

Both the 2023 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative and the FinTech Landscape Exhibition were organized by HiPipo in partnership with the Level One Project, Mojaloop Foundation, INFITX, Ideation Corner, Cyberplc Academy, and Crosslake Technologies with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Innocent Kawooya, the HiPipo CEO noted that this annual activity continues to positively impact Uganda and Africa’s financial inclusion revolution by offering Innovators a fair chance to not only showcase their solutions but to also discuss key issues affecting the industry.

“For the past three years, we have been discussing the need for Uganda to have a national payment switch. This has been a key topic in the past three editions of the FinTech Landscape Exhibition. I am glad to report that recently; the Bank of Uganda announced the kick-off of the bidding process for the Provision of a Bank of Uganda National Payments Switch (BNPS). This shows that our efforts are not in vain; our voices are being heard and action is being taken to address the issues we raise,” Kawooya noted.

Government commits to addressing Internet and Network issues.

ICT state minister Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, who was the 2023 FinTech Landscape Exhibition chief guest acknowledged HiPipo’s contribution to Uganda’s digital and financial inclusion journey, noting that through such events, innovators’ ideas and solutions are showcased and their efforts vindicated.

She said that digital payments will benefit from accessible and affordable Internet, noting that as the Ministry of ICT, they were working with other government agencies, donors, private investors and innovators to make the Internet cheaper, reliable and readily available across the country.

Further, James Beronda, the Head of Technical Services at Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) noted that the commission is working with the telecoms and other partners such as World Bank to address network and connectivity problems that continue to disrupt the adoption and consistent usage of digital solutions mainly in rural and sparsely populated areas. HiPipo patron, also a member of parliament for Kigorobya county, Hon David Karubanga applauded this year’s participants for their effort in enhancing financial inclusion. He reiterated HiPipo’s commitment to Uganda and Africa’s complete digitization.