Pixan Inc, a Ugandan high-end technology, content production and distribution company, and Bold Cashers Limited, the developers of Cash Chat, a Ugandan digital and social network mobile application, Tuesday launched the COVID-19 Quarantine Time Mobile App Innovations Challenge.
The two tech companies are using the Challenge to facilitate technologically innovative Ugandans during this time when they are self-quarantining to come up with digital solutions that will help Ugandans recover from the economic distraught this Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has put them into.
Ugandans and non-Ugandan tech innovators and developers residing in Uganda under the age of 30 are encouraged to submit their written proposals and concept papers for consideration.
Submission of these ideas commences on 1st April and closes 10th May, 2020.
The Challenge is looking at finding digital solutions that will ease the lives of Ugandans during and after this pandemic.
Edgar Ofoyuru, the Managing Director of Pixan Inc. revealed that the Challenge is looking at finding solutions in four categories – Agriculture, Healthcare, Education and Finance.
The winners will bag a total sum of $2, 000 ($500 for each category winner) and have their winning mobile applications pre-installed in some of Pixan Inc. manufactured mobile phones. Some of the participating apps that will not emerge winners but are potentially good will also be considered for pre-installation in the Pixan mobile phones.
“The coronavirus disease has presented us with challenges that we must address with the resources and technology available. This is why we are calling on young minds who are now observing self-quarantine to use their time and ICT skills to come up with digital solutions to life’s challenges during and after COVID-19,” Ofoyuru said.
“In the next forty (40) days, we will be looking for young individuals and or groups that can develop mobile apps that provide solutions in the field of agriculture, education, finance and healthcare. These ideas must be new and developed in the next 40 days. Participation is free so long as your idea is tenable. We will help and guide selected people with their projects development,” he added.
Pixan Inc. through its Pixan Developers Circle, a community of technology innovators, and Pixan Mobile for Inclusive Development (PM4ID) project strives to find ways of using their mobile platform to solve or respond to local problems and challenges.
Pixan Inc. regularly works with young developers on some of its Research and Development projects and products development projects. Pixan Inc.designs and manufactures mobile phones,earphones, phone chargers and power banks among other innovations in the tech sector like software development.
On his part, Asher Namanya, the Chief Executive Officer of Bold Cashers Limited and developer of Cash Chat Mobile App, said that the COVID-19 Quarantine Time Mobile App Innovations Challenge presents them with an opportunity to join Ugandans in the fight against coronavirus and to offer solutions that are sustainable and make life easy to live.
“As a financial technology business, we understand the catastrophic magnitude this pandemic is having on humanity and Ugandans in particular. This also means that we understand the need for us to participate in providing solutions that guarantee that life continues as scientists work on finding a vaccine,” Namanya noted.
“This Challenge should help us and the young developers use their skills and artistry to contribute to humanity by coming up with digital solutions that Ugandans can turn to, to sustain their lives during these hard times and during the recovery period. We want the innovators to come up with solutions that help users of their mobile apps go through an economic recovery effortlessly, Namanya said.
The deadline for receiving application is 25th April 2020. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and announced on a date that will be announced. Winners in each of the four categories (Agriculture, Finance, Healthcare and Education) will get $500, mentorship and their app installed in the Pixan phones.
You can submit your mobile app project idea for consideration by sending the concept to email covid19qc@pixaninc.com and through the Cash Chat mobile app.
