Young aspiring mobile-application developers have got themselves a chance to realise their dreams, after winning the MTN App Challenge at the weekend.
The 12 winners, selected from 100 aspirants who participated in the competition, now have not only some money to kickstart their app-developing projects, but also gadgets and assured mentorship from MTN and its partner, Huawei.
“I came here only dreaming that I would get a kickstart,” said one of the winners, Emma Ssali, as he displayed a cheque, “but now I actually have that kick-start. I have Shs2 million.”
The MTN App Challenge saw 100 aspiring app-developers gather at the telecommunication giant’s head office and tussle it out in developing viable applications.
The competitors were selected from more than 500 individuals who responded to calls placed in the media for applicants.
At the competition, each participant was asked to pitch their app ideas, then divide into groups of three or four to develop an idea of their choice into a working application by the end of the competition.
The four winning groups were chosen on the basis of four categories in which they were tasked to frame applications, with each category winner scooping Shs7.5 million ($2,500).
Yoza, an Android app designed to help users find laundry services in their localities, won the business category, Run For Your Life, a 3D mobile game built to create awareness about HIV and other chronic diseases and general healthcare, won the health category and Common Sense, a gaming challenge that gives you a chance to win gifts from sponsors by providing the correct answers to questions, won the entertainment category.
Others were the finance category which was won by Mambopay, a coupon-based payment solution that enables users to send funds to beneficiaries in terms of coupons tied to specific purposes, say coupons specifically for medical care or for dining.
Yoza also won the overall award, making its four developers walk away with Shs15 million ($5,000) as well as a trip to the Huawei headquarters in China for further hands-on experience in app-development.
There was also a Shs3 million ($1,000) prize for the app chosen as the audience favourite which was won by Dawa, an app that provides access to patient’s medical information on the go while allowing a patient to dial a health professional at any time and from anywhere.
FRENCH VERSION
