In this episode of Code Together, we spotlight the second edition of the Intel® Liftoff Hackathon for African AI Startups with Dr. Bienvenue Soglo, Intel's Director of Government Affairs for Africa.
From May 27th to May 31st, 2024, the hackathon will take place, and its theme, "Hack and Connect," perfectly encapsulates the essence of the event.
Dr. Soglo laid it out pretty clearly: "This second edition of the Intel Liftoff Hackathon for African AI startups is designed to bring together aspiring tech entrepreneurs, software developers, and AI enthusiasts to collaborate, innovate, and create solutions to concrete African challenges."
The emphasis on local relevance and inclusivity is what makes this program so appealing.
"We're looking at bringing our technical and engineering know-how to the table, especially in AI, to support innovation, to support the engineering team or the African AI startup teams. But we do understand that we can't do this alone. We need the support of various stakeholders, and therefore we partner with various stakeholders for them to bring different angles so that we can help the ecosystem, the AI ecosystem on the African continent, thrive." - Dr. Bienvenue Soglo
As a result, Intel has teamed up with powerhouses like Modus Africa; University Mohamed VI Polytechnic- Morocco; TUT Hub of Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa; Prosper Africa; UM6P Ventures; FAST Accelerator; Innov8 Technology Hubs and Open Startups International to amplify the hackathon's impact.
In the chat, Dr. Soglo gives us a broader view of how Intel sees technology affecting life on the continent. The hackathon rests on four fundamental pillars:
- Empowering startups by linking them with Intel's vast tech resources.
- Addressing the digital divide by enhancing tech education and skills.
- Influencing policy to create a supportive environment for tech innovation.
- Fostering connections between academia and industry to translate research into practical solutions.
These pillars are designed to accelerate Africa's rise as a tech leader.
If you're interested in learning more or would want to take part, this hackathon provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to showcase your abilities and maybe even make a difference in the IT scene on a continent full of possibilities. Sign up here.
Stay tuned for the next part of our podcast, where we talk to last year’s Intel Liftoff Hackathon for African AI startups participants.
Listen to the full conversation here or watch this video:
About the Code Together podcast
Code Together, hosted by Tony Mongkolsmai, explores the rapidly changing software landscape. The podcast interviews industry leaders, developers, entrepreneurs, and technologists developing solutions for the modern, accelerated computing world.
I'm a proud team member of the Intel® Liftoff for Startups, an innovative, free virtual program dedicated to accelerating the growth of early-stage AI startups.