HiiL opens applications for Innovating Justice Challenge 2018

Think you’re a legal disruptor? The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has opened applications for the Innovating Justice Challenge 2018.

The challenge is open until 30 May. To be considered applicants must be at least 18 years old and be the founder or co-founder of the venture.

Next week Tuesday (13 March), HiiL will launch the challenge — now in its seventh year — at an event to be held at Tshimologong Precinct.

HiiL will provide selected startups and innovators with seed funding, tailored business acceleration processes as well as access to its international network of potential investors.

Applications to HiiL’s Innovating Justice Challenge 2018 will close on 30 May

“We define pressing justice problems on the basis of research and data that demonstrate the legal needs of people,” says HiiL founder and CEO Sam Muller.

“This means we search for innovations that create rights awareness, provide access to legal services or dispute resolution and improve efficiency and transparency in existing justice policies,” says Muller.

How it works

Regional Boostcamps

The best innovations received through the challenge will be invited to pitch to a panel of judges at HiiL’s annual Southern Africa Boostcamp which is set to take place on 4 September as part of the Leaderex convention.

HiiL Justice Accelerator programme

Thereafter the most promising Boostcamp participants will be taken to the HiiL Justice Entrepreneur School in The Hague, where they will participate in an intensive week-long programme of specialist business training and technical advice.

The participants will then join the three-month long HiiL Justice Accelerator programme.

Five focus areas

This year’s challenge will focus on resolving pressing justice problems in five focus areas, namely: family justice; land and neighbour disputes; crime and law enforcement; employment justice; and micro, small and medium sized enterprises.

This will make you standout

So what would make your startup standout in the challenge?

• HiiL is looking for startups with a strong potential of delivering concrete justice solutions
• Innovative justice initiatives that are already making a difference and have the potential and ambition to scale internationally or to many more users.
• Unique initiatives that are solving the most pressing justice problems for people, based on evidence and data, in particular family, land, crime or employment issues.
• Ventures that are financially sustainable and have measurable impact.
• Innovative initiatives within existing justice systems or public institutions, spearheaded by driven intrapreneurs that want to see things work differently.