Entrepreneurs, early-stage businesses, and new innovators across Africa are invited to apply for the Space-Tech Innovation Challenge 2020 which seeks to identify and develop the most promising innovators on the continent.
The challenge is targeting downstream space-tech applications across agriculture, insurance, retail, sustainability, and conservation.
Space tech is the set of applications that use earth observation, the gathering of information about the physical, chemical, and biological systems of the planet via remote-sensing technologies. Recently, there has been a surge in demand for these applications across a wide range of industries where they are driving cost reductions and sustainability. Space-tech has reached a point where almost every business can or does use it – often without even knowing.
Africa is a target now because the African space-tech sector is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, but it is still significantly underexploited. This represents a massive investment opportunity. The African Union has identified earth observation as a key resource that must be leveraged in achieving Africa’s development goals and one of the best ways to grow this sector is through an open innovation challenge.
The challenge will identify the most promising innovators, entrepreneurs, and early-stage businesses across Africa and develop them into sustainable companies and also develop Africa’s geospatial readiness so that African businesses can service African demand for geospatial intelligence.
The top ten participants will get the opportunity to showcase the company to a global audience at GEO Week, attend an intergovernmental earth observation conference plus media coverage and social media blasts through ZASpace and partners. The participants will also get industry links and market access through ZASpace and partners, screening for investment by Anza Capital, 1-month business development support through the Research Institute for Innovation & Sustainability, opportunity to pitch company to judges and industry representatives during the final pitching den, and provision of ortho-ready satellite imagery from Maxar’s archive; 10x 25sqkm allocated per finalist up to the value of $75,250.
Winners will receive:
- 4-month online incubation and virtual mentorship, and ongoing access to a peer-to-peer network through the TechTribe
- Winner: SecureWatch Premium 5GB valid for 3 months to the value of $12,500
- Second place & Third place: SecureWatch Premium 2GB valid for 3 months to the value of $5,000
Opportunity to directly pitch your idea to a MAXAR representative.
The deadline for submissions is 16 October 2020
For more information click here.
