- As the newly minted custodian of the App of the Year, FNB hosted a 72-hour hackathon.
- The hackathon attracted some 1 130 app submissions with 130 developers attending in person and 1 590 attending virtually.
- There was a focus on apps that address unemployment and education from developers FNB said.
Earlier this year, FNB took over as headline sponsor of the longstanding App of the Year contest which MTN Business handled for years. As headline sponsor, FNB now handles all aspects of the contest including the App of the Year Roadshow, Submissions, App Academy, Virtual Hackathons, Masterclasses, Campus Cup, Judging Days and the Awards Ceremony itself.
The bank recently hosted a 72 hour hackathon were participants showcased 1 130 apps. FNB says it hosted 130 developers in person and 1 590 virtually.
“FNB is thrilled to support these young innovators, providing financial products to help them bring their ideas to life. As the first winner of the App of the Year in 2012, FNB is proud to come full circle by enabling today’s entrepreneurs to make a real difference in their communities,” head of business development at FNB, Omelele Mmbo (pictured in header) said in a press release.
During the three day hackathon, developers had the chance to speak with the FNB team that worked on the banks app which won it an App of the Year award. During this time devs could pick the team’s brains to gain insights and inspiration.
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As for the apps teams created, there was a focus on addressing unemployment and education. One group created an app that helps jobseekers build soft skills. Another team created a gamified learning platform for learners who prefer an interactive approach to learning.
Chief executive officer of KasiD, Freddy Mahhumane spoke on the value of creating apps for underserved communities. KasiD is a delivery platform that targets customers and businesses in townships.
“Developing apps for townships and marginalised markets is about more than just innovation—it is about creating opportunities and promoting self-reliance in these communities,” Mahhumane said.
Participants who successfully completed the hackathon with a minimum viable product have earned the opportunity to compete in the prestigious App of the Year Awards, taking place in December. This achievement puts them on track to gain significant visibility and support for their apps, with the chance to be recognised as one of South Africa’s leading digital innovators.
We look forward to seeing what apps come out of the awards this year and how they positively impact South Africans.
