Imagine Cup, Microsoft’s annual global student technology competition, has announced the entries that will participate in the World semi-finals round on March 24 and 25, 2021.
However, three Kenyan innovative teams have been chosen to represent the country in the competition.
The competition encourages students to create something that matters to them, make a difference in their communities, and innovate for effect.
The teams that wowed the judges with their ideas for wellness, lifestyle, and educational problems all showed a high level of awareness by developing solutions that specifically addressed socio-economic issues both locally and globally.
The following Kenyan teams were chosen:
- Cafrilearn: This group developed Makini, a mobile app that supports devices and enables the facilitation of digital learning at a low cost.
- Intellivolt: This technology detects overvoltages, undervoltages, and power outages. In real time, alerts from Azure applications are sent to relevant authorities in the form of SMS and emails.
- REWEBA: Developed a solution that functions as an early warning device. It digitally tracks a baby’s growth parameters and sends them to a doctor for immediate intervention. It incorporates a range of innovations to provide cutting-edge child screening capabilities.
This year’s competition saw the world’s brightest young minds work virtually to reimagine solutions to today’s global problems in four categories: lifestyle, education, the environment, and health. The Imagine Cup trophy, as well as USD 75,000 and a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, will be awarded to the winning team. This year’s competition includes USD 60,000 in category prizes, as well as Microsoft Learn Challenge monthly giveaways.
“In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to use new tools and resources to build meaningful change across platforms like Imagine Cup.
The primary goal of this year’s competition was to encourage students to reimagine solutions on a global scale.
The four categories for this year’s competition were introduced to recognize the topics that students care about, according to Kendi Nderitu, Microsoft Kenya’s Country Manager.
“We are ecstatic that Kenyan teams have developed strategies that are competitive on a global scale. “Providing platforms and environments that provide young innovators across the continent with a ‘breeding ground’ and tools from which to share their ideas has always been at the heart of our mission through digital transformation,” Kendi added.
Teams chosen to compete in the World Finals on March 30 will be assigned a Microsoft mentor who will assist them in refining their idea, perfecting their presentation, and providing technology and business plan advice.
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