Last year, 2022, BongoHive applied to host the 2nd edition of the “Empowering the Startup Community Hackathon’’ in Zambia. 

Following the application, we were selected to partner with the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), Garage48 and Make-IT in Africa to host the second edition of the ‘Empowering the Startup Community Hackathon (ESC)’ in Lusaka, Zambia, from the 15th-17th November 2022.

The event’s first edition was held in Namibia in 2021 and zeroed in on the startup lifecycle, common problems faced, and areas where startup ecosystem support organizations (ESOs) face challenges within the region.

The focus of the hackathon was on further developing existing and new solutions that were proposed by participants and turning them into working prototypes. The goal was to create prototypes that will strengthen synergies and ecosystem-driven cross-border collaboration between the ESOs in Southern Africa

BongoHive hosted over 30 participants from Ecosystem Support organizations from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania. The delegates went through sprint sessions to explore challenges and solutions of the ecosystem in the region.

The participants spent three days building on existing solutions from the previous cohort in an effort to create working prototypes that could contribute to empowering startups in the region.

Below are insights and solutions that were derived from the participating teams.

• SADC Startup Manifesto – a concrete action plan on how the public and private sectors can better support startups and ESOs (i.e. through access to capital, talent, favorable regulations and fostering innovation).
• Regional Mentorship Platform – a digital solution that brings together ESOs, vetted mentors, and African startups on one platform.
• Evidence-based Economic Empowerment for in-school youth – a 12-week innovation program that aims to ignite a sense of innovation and entrepreneurship in young people (16-18 years).
• Impact Assessment Tool – an online platform that provides Governments and Development Partners access to key statistical insights into the startup ecosystem in Southern Africa.
• Hub Financial Viability – a regional framework that guides ESOs on how to approach corporates/investors and diversify their revenue models.

The journey for the teams continues as they validate, build and look to implement their solutions.  We are honored to be a part of the agile and unique process of identifying gaps and creating solutions that assist create opportunities for the expansion and growth of startups in the region.

Visit our social media pages @BongoHive to watch the full video of the Hackathon.