Participants at the ongoing Women in FinTech Hackathon have been urged to tap into the broader mobile ecosystem and use it to develop solutions that will transform the entire African continent.  

Speaking during day two of this project that is underway in Kampala, Innocent Kawooya, the HiPipo CEO noted that the mobile ecosystem is fast growing and financial technology (FinTech) developers must make use of this current growth. 

 “Players such as mobile network operators (MNOs) are introducing mobile money on social media platforms starting with WhatsApp, enabling customers to interact with artificial intelligence (AI) and use these services on their favourite platforms,” Kawooya said.  

He explained that many are positively disrupting remittances to Africa through the introduction of branded applications enabling the African diaspora in Europe to send money and airtime to their relatives back home instantly.  

“This is at the back of initiatives that are empowering developers by giving free and easy access to knowledge about Open APIs thus to accelerate innovation in the ecosystem. The Women in FinTech hackathon is accelerating women inclusion on the mobile money and FinTech spaces,” he said.   

Participants during the training

Now in its third edition, the Women in FinTech Hackathon is part of HiPipo’s commitment to empowering women with the required digital and financial inclusion skills so they can go out there; innovate, prosper, earn and develop their families and communities.  This year’s edition has gathered 20 Women-led teams of between two to four members each.  

The 2022 Women in FinTech Hackathon seeks to close the gender gap in access to technology, skills, and usage of digital financial services. This year’s edition has 20 women-led and women-dominated teams. It is presented by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Mojaloop, ModusBox, CyberPLC Academy and Crosslake Technologies and generously supported by Gates Foundation.   

Evelyne Nakanwagi, the Insure Wallet Team Leader urged women to turn up and take up key roles in the technology industry if the gender-diversity issue that is currently experienced is to be eliminated.  

“To the ladies out there, let's not think of men as leaders in everything. Yes, he can lead you at home, but not even in technology. When it comes to technology, we are underrepresented and yet we have brilliant ideas. Let's come together to innovate and change the world,” Nakanwagi said.  

“To the women out there, the world is changing and becoming digitised, don't just seat at home with your ideas; bring them into reality to help your children, husbands, brothers and everyone. Don't be a push; we are equally important just like men. Don't just sit home, innovate what you have in mind and trust me it will be of great impact. We have the power to change the world.”  

The Women in FinTech Hackathon will culminate into the Women in FinTech summit on September 16, where the best performing teams and individuals from across East Africa will be announced and receive their share of the $10,000 collective prize money. The best teams will also automatically qualify for the Women in FinTech Incubator program that will run until January 2023.