Total prize pool of $60k on offer in African App Launchpad Cup

Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (Itida) has together with RiseUp, launched the African App Launchpad Cup which has a total prize pool of $60 000.

The competition is aimed at startups that specialise in game or application development. Applications will close on 18 November.

Startups from 19 African countries — namely Algeria, Angola, Cameron, Chad, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, The Gambia and Uganda — are eligible for the competition.

The African App Launchpad Cup finals will be held on 7 December at the RiseUp Summit in Cairo

To be considered for the competition, which comprises of an app as well as a games development track, applicants must have a startups that has been running for more than two years with a team of at least two members. In addition, applicants must also have a working prototype.

Submissions will be judged on innovation and creativity, business model, the design of the game or app and team competencies.

Finalists are set to be announced on 21 November. The African App Launchpad Cup finals will be held on 7 December at the RiseUp Summit in Cairo.

The competition is part of the African App Launchpad (AAL) initiative that was announced last year by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi at the closing ceremony of the World Youth Forum.

The initiative aims to build capacity for youth from Egypt and other African States, as well as foster the establishment of sustainable startups around apps and games technologies.

Three winners each will be selected from each track, with $15 000, $10 000 and $5000 to be awarded to the first, second and third placed teams, respectively.

Each of the six winners will get a branded booth at the RiseUp Summit. In addition, all team members will receive training grants through the AAL initiative.

Featured image: hitesh0141 via Pixabay