The first Microsoft Agro-Tech Hackathon in Nigeria was won by Sell harvest, an Agri-tech solution developed by Team Software Chasers.
The first Microsoft Agro-Tech Hackathon in Nigeria was won by Sell Harvest, an agri-tech solution developed by Team Software Chasers.
The team receives 2.5 million Naira in prize money, mentoring, and technical assistance from Microsoft. Additionally, it will sign up for the Microsoft Global Social Entrepreneurship programme to grow into a unicorn.
Microsoft Agro-Tech Hackathon NG is an initiative of the Microsoft African Transformation Office (ATO) in partnership with Sterling Bank, Ted Prime Hub and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). To identify and develop sustainable and inclusive digital solutions for agro-products and services in Nigeria.
Overwhelming Application From Nigerian Youths
According to Microsoft, 70,000 Nigerians submitted applications to participate in the hackathon. Two thousand were chosen for the hackathon’s opening round. This was then reduced to fifty teams and finally to thirty teams.
The teams participated in virtual skill-up seminars on cloud computing, developing problems with the agricultural value chain, the startup environment, concept scaling, and product testing.
The first round of the selection process involved pairing up each applicant who made the cut with a teammate (from a different field), which resulted in a 4-week mentorship with top-tier agro-specialists and Microsoft Team.
Impressive States Participations
Teams from Abuja, Benue, Enugu, Jos, Kaduna, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Sokoto states competed for the top three spots in the final event comprising ten solutions. Farmsquare finished in second place and received N1.5 million, while Farmers’ Market took third place and received N1 million.
Microsoft’s Olatomiwa Williams, the country manager for Nigeria and Ghana, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to collaborating with the public and commercial sectors to hasten the digital transformation of African agriculture. As well as maximizing youth potential by supporting domestic startups in important industries.
Team Software Chasers members Sa’adu Abubakar, Albany Muhammad, and Muhammad Mukhtar highlighted how much they enjoyed working on the product. “It’s been an interesting voyage with wide experiences from varying degrees,” they added.
Video: Microsoft Agro Tech Hackathon Grand Finale.
