Hackathon Covid-19 Africa: 5 solutions rewarded to fight against Covid!
106 projects, 48 hours, and 400 participants from 43 different nationalities took up the challenge to develop new solutions to fight covid19 on the African continent!
Last weekend, from 19 to 21 June, HEC Paris organized the Hacking Covid-19 Africa, a new version of the event spontaneously organized by young HEC alumni last April, to encourage this time the emergence of solutions to fight against Covid-19 in Africa.
In turn, students and HEC Alumni launched the idea of a new hackathon more focused on the needs of the African continent and dedicated to finding solutions for tomorrow's Africa in the sectors of Health, Economy, Education, Environment, Governance and Communities.
The initiative quickly obtained the support of the HEC Paris services: the West and Central Africa Office based in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), the International Affairs Department, the Communication Department and the HEC IDEA Center.
Numerous academic and private partners joined the movement and allowed this great momentum to materialize: Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, INPHB, University of Capetown, Huawei Northern Africa, Orange Côte d'Ivoire, Agorize, Kamix, KPMG, Visa, and Mentor-X Africa.
Once the call for applications was launched, out of the 106 projects submitted, 50 projects were selected, i.e. 400 participants of 43 different nationalities! All of them were online from Friday evening 19 June at 8 pm for the official launch of the event with Alexis John Ahyee, Director of the HEC Office for West and Central Africa; entrepreneur Redda Ben Geloune, CEO of AiTEK Group and HEC Alumnus, Sakina Agoumi, Expert in Strategy, Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship and participant in the pan-African LeadCampus program, Sustainable Leadership in Africa, launched last November by HEC Paris and its partners, including AFD.
48 hours, supervised by 50 mentors and experts from the HEC Alumni network
The teams, with 3-4 students and professionals per project, organized themselves and obtained guidance and advice from the community of HEC experts on the Agorize platform. For example, Mathias Abramovicz provided the method and tools for accelerating innovative projects that the teams used during the weekend.
Discover the winning projects
Inge Kerkloh-Devif, Senior Executive Director of the HEC IDEA Center closed the HEC Paris Covid-19 Africa hackathon with Alexis John Ahyee, and presented the winning projects. She said, 'After these intense 48 hours, we can conclude that all the participants of the hacking were here as the changemakers of tomorrow! Entrepreneurship is impacting the world and will be contributing to a new dynamic after the Covid. Africa is a key part of HEC's strategy and we are proud to participate it its transformation'
1st Laureate: OTECH
The OTECHAIR artificial respirator is a solution developed for Africa to treat patients suffering from covid-19 . It is designed to operate in the most difficult conditions.
The prize: €5000 + support from the HEC Paris Incubator at Station F and the development of an application (up to €10,000).
2nd Laureate: Breathing for Africa
Design of a lightweight, self-assembled, battery-powered portable ventilator for African hospitals
The prize: €3000 + Help for the creation of a company and support for 6 months by KPMG
3rd Laureate: Neta
A virtual reality application allowing to do practical work in chemistry, physics, mechanics, medicine, biology, etc...
Price: €1500 + 3 months of Mentoring by Mentor X-Africa
HEC Paris' "Coup de coeur" prize: N'DAIFAI
FrikaFood is an e-commerce agency enabling households (end consumers) to buy and have delivered food products notwithstanding the health and mobility constraints imposed.
Price: Certificate "Innovation and Management & Entrepreneurship MasterTrack" (3500€)
UM6P Special Prize: Innovation in the face of VIDOC-19
This is a disinfection device (bacteriological and virological) based on UVC rays, ensuring the decontamination of work tools during exchanges between teams.
To be continued
48 intense hours, few hours of sleep, the Hacking Covid-19 Africa is over but the adventure is just beginning for all these teams that have competed in creativity and innovation.
Congratulations to the winners but also to the excellent projects which were not rewarded and which continue to develop!
And finally, a big bravo to the organizing team coordinated by Charles Fayolle, Project Manager, HEC Paris Office - West and Central Africa!
