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MAKUENI INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2021

Makueni Innovation Challenge 2021

The Government of Makueni County in collaboration with our partners is running Makueni Innovation Challenge whose aim is to catalyze the growth of startups, so as to amplify and consolidate the gains of the country’s digital innovative ecosystem. The theme for this year’s event is “Economic Recovery amidst COVID-19”.

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Startups from across Kenya that meet the requirement are invited to apply for the challenge. Entries to the Makueni Innovation Challenge competition are to be submitted here https://innovations.makueni.go.ke

Applications to compete will be entered as detailed startup profiles which describe the customer pain, the startups solution, revenue streams, team composition and commitment, market traction, short-term projections and milestones among other aspects. The overall startup profile will be used by the competition judges who will mostly be investors to score the potential of the startup to become a sustainable high growth enterprise.

Application Eligibility Criteria to the Makueni Innovation Challenge

  • Open to early stage innovators – can be an individual or group
  • Currently residing or born in Kenya
  • Groups encouraged to apply
  • Your idea must be innovative and unique
  • Idea must clearly describe ways the project will continue beyond the challenge potential to scale
  • The idea must be realistic and logical (proof of concept)
  • Idea must fall within the theme of the challenge

The finalists of the Makueni Innovation Challenge will be categorized and each category will feature five finalists who will pitch to an audience of Investors, Development Partners, Government Representatives, Operators and other key stakeholders from Kenya. The finalists will receive training and coaching on how to pitch to investors.

The deadline for submission of applications is on 30th April 2021. Applicants are encouraged to start building and curating their startup profiles early as they might need to research or source some of the information required widely. Applicants are also required to upload a short (max 5 mins) video of the founders expressing the mission and strength of their startups/innovation on https://innovations.makueni.go.ke

KEY DATES

Applications Open: 15th March, 2021

Applications Close: 30th April, 2021

Webinars: Weekly

Hackathon: 21st May – 23rd May, 2021

Awards: 28th May, 2021