MTN MoMo Unveils The Third Edition of The MoMo API Group Hackathon

MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) Limited has today launched the third edition of the MoMo API Group Hackathon, an innovative platform designed to bring together visionary web developers and entrepreneurs from across Africa. The hackathon aims to harness the power of technology and creativity to accelerate financial inclusion and drive the digitization of payments on the continent.

The hackathon is set to unfold across 12 operating countries, including Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Rwanda, Eswatini, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea Conakry, Zambia, Benin, Liberia, South Africa, South Sudan, and Nigeria, with each country-specific event bringing together the brightest minds in technology and entrepreneurship.

With the theme “Innovative Financial and Transactional Applications,” the MoMo API Group Hackathon is inviting developers and entrepreneurs to create groundbreaking mobile applications that leverage MTN Mobile Money APIs. These applications will utilize the new capabilities of V2.1 (Notification, KYC, Auth.) and V2.2 (Channel as a Service) to cover use cases beyond payments, thereby fostering a comprehensive and inclusive digital financial ecosystem.

As a passionate advocate for economic growth and innovation, MTN MoMo is excited to invite developers and entrepreneurs to be part of this transformative journey.

“We believe that by collaborating with the brightest minds in the tech community, we can shape the future of mobile financial services and create a platform that fosters cashless and digital economies, making financial services more accessible and inclusive,” Mark Kivumbi, Snr. Manager Product Development and Innovations MTN MoMo told the press.

Interested participants can register for the MoMo API Hackathon by visiting the official hackathon portal at https://momo2023.hackerearth.com/. The registration deadline is September 4th, 2023, at 12:59 AM EAT.

The hackathon timeline includes an information session on where developers can interact with incubators and innovation hubs, a clarification session on August 29th for the top 12 selected teams, and the judging event on September 22nd, when the winners will be announced.

Prizes totaling close to USD$10,000 (approx. UGX37.3 million) are up for grabs, with the top three winners receiving USD$5,000 (approx. UGX18.6 million), USD$3,000 (approx. UGX11.1 million), and USD$2,000 (approx. UGX7.4 million) respectively. Additionally, participants have the opportunity to join a vibrant community of developers across Africa and network with seasoned experts to support their career journey.

Judging Criteria;

1. Code quality, the technology used, and architecture.
2. Design.
3. Effective use of #MTNMoMo API.
4. Originality.
5. Implementation.
6. Impact.
7. Business Opportunity.

MTN Uganda’s theme, “Together we are unstoppable,” resonates with the hackathon’s collaborative spirit, emphasizing the collective power of innovation and determination. This event stands as a testament to MTN’s commitment to shaping the digital finance landscape in Uganda and Africa at large, empowering millions of people with life-changing financial services.