HiiL Innovation of Law Accelerator opens for Southern African startups 

The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law‘s (HiiL) Innovating Justice Challenge accelerator programme has opened applications for legal tech startups located in Southern Africa. 

Justice Startups are encouraged to apply for the HiiL Innovating Justice Challenge accelerator programme

Successful applicants will partake in the prestigious accelerator programme and receive €10 000 in funding and a package of tailored local support.

Themba Mahleka, co-head of the HiiL Innovation Hub Southern Africa, explains the drive behind the accelerator, indicating that numerous social and economic challenges of the past year have made tackling inequality and injustice in all its forms more urgent than ever before. 

“Through the HiiL Innovating Justice Challenge, we are looking for the best social entrepreneurs from Southern Africa that aspire for everybody to have access to justice at work, at home, in the neighbourhood, and in business,” he says.

HiiL Innovating Justice Challenge accelerator programme

The programme is aimed at innovative legal tech startups and social enterprises that are solving a pressing justice issue with a sustainable and high-impact solution. 

Startups and social enterprises that are either for-profit or non-profit are eligible to apply for the programme. 

“We are especially interested in startups that work on what we’ve identified as potential ‘game-changers. Interested applicants are encouraged to find out more about that on the HiiL website here,” adds Mahleka. 

Held over a four-month period, the accelerator programme will provide participants with the opportunity to present their innovation to an international panel of judges and go head-to-head for cash prizes at the annual HiiL Innovating Justice Forum.

Requirements

The programme is on the search for sustainable innovations that empower individuals and create better conditions in the following; 

• working conditions with their employer
• separation terms with their spouse
• protection against theft, fraud, and violence
• arrangements about noise, damages, and property access with their neighbour
• housing maintenance and rent conditions with their landlord
• agreements on ownership, registration, and use of land
• ways to reduce corruption
• contracts, fraud protection, and compliance for their small business

Applications are open until 30 April 2021 and interested applicants must apply online.

Previous startups that have participated in the renowned accelerator include LUMA Law, a chatbot for legal information and founded by Grace Gichanga. 

Read more: Accelerator for African tech startups opens applications
Read more: Africa’s largest data science hackathon for students to take place 

Featured image: Themba Mahleka, co-head of the HiiL Innovation Hub Southern Africa (Supplied).