Four entrepreneurial teams emerge winners at EmergeOndo Innovation Hackathon

Four teams of entrepreneurs have emerged winners at the first edition of the ‘EmergeOndo’ Innovation in Governance Hackathon, which took place recently in Akure, Ondo state.

The challenge, which held at Akure Tech Hub, Curators Hub and Premier Hub Innovation Center, focused on four thematic areas: agricultural accessibility, business linkages, education and renewable and clean energy.

Start-ups were grouped into different teams. The Gadges team won the clean and renewable energy category for providing access to affordable solar solutions. Similarly, the Psyche team won the education category for creating a device that monitor students’ psychological states as it directly correlates academic performance.

Other winners are the FarmCred team that won the agricultural accessibility category by developing an application that improves access to agri-finance for smallholder farmers.

While the Dunalinks team won the business linkages category with their design that links small-scale technicians with contractors for better jobs and growth opportunities.

Each of the teams went away with $1,000 award price money sponsored by Serve Consulting.

“It was really exciting to be in a room full of young men and women, all eager to solve problems that affect them daily. There was so much enthusiasm and willingness from the participants and I was especially thrilled to see so many women present. I am looking forward to how Ondo State government responds,” Chiemelie Umenyiora, regional coordinator-West Africa, for Make-IT in Africa, said.

The FarmCred team had the highest score in social impact, while Gadease had the most scores in innovative use of technology. Also, FarmSense was the team with the best pitch, just as Podra had the overall best score in the semi-final pitch.

The hackathon initiative was borne out of a unique partnership between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), GmbH Make-IT in Africa Program and Ondo State Government.

“Ondo is committed to supporting activities that drive growth, promote efficiency and, most importantly, foster job creation. We have made it a priority in the second half of our administration to bring into focus our SMEs, especially those doing innovative projects that will help move the state to one this is self-sustainable and facilitate our moving away from the status quo,” said Rotimi Akeredolu, executive governor of Ondo State.

“We congratulate all winners and are looking forward to supporting their growth and development,” he said.

Also, Deola Adejuyigbe, managing director of Serve Consulting, said: “Serve Consulting continues to support the development of innovative ideas and solutions that solve real problems in our economy.