Stellenbosch University LaunchLab Hackathon 2021 Applications Now Open

Stellenbosch University’s Launch Lab, an organisation that aims to accelerate high-impact businesses established by budding entrepreneurs, has announced that applications for its Hackathon are currently open. Established in collaboration with Stellenbosch University Faculty of Engineering, Capitec, and Entersekt, the Hackathon event is aimed at data science and fintech-focused applicants. 

SU LaunchLab focuses on developing both the entrepreneur as well as the business. It’s passionate about equipping everyone with the entrepreneurial skills necessary to make sense of ambiguity and volatility. Design Thinking and customer discovery is the core tool they use to navigate complexity. The only way to learn entrepreneurism is to do it so they offer a full suite of programs both on-demand and multiple times per year.

The Hackathon 2021

Applicants who are passionate about data science and fintech are encouraged to apply as the hackathon will provide an opportunity to solve real-life challenges in exchange for cash prizes up for grabs.

The Hackathon will encourage innovation in both fields of data science and fintech as applicants will be provided with suitable challenges to complete. According to the SU LaunchLab, there are two challenges for this year’s event;

• The fintech challenge is focused on creating software solutions for small businesses and is most suitable for teams that have experience in building software solutions with a mobile element.
• The data science challenge will use algorithms to identify clusters, typologies and other features of an AWS Neptune Graph Database.

The event will be held either in person or online depending on the applicant’s location and will take place between 15 – 17 October 2021. If held in person, the event will take place at the Faculty of Engineering and LaunchLab in Stellenbosch, Cape Town. 

How to apply

Applicants are currently open but close on 20 September 2021 and all interested applicants must complete the online application which can be found here. 

Requirements 

• Applicants must be Stellenbosch University Students but can be from any academic level.