The Digital Lab Africa (DLA) call for projects #3 closed on the 31st of January 2019 with around 500 entries from over 30 Sub-Saharan African countries.
The DLA digital content industry experts have chosenthe 30 finalists who will compete in the DLA online pitch competition.
The startups, entrepreneurs and creators are all from the African continent: Zimbabwe,South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Republic of the Congo, Mali, Senegal,Gabon.
They represent the new generation of talent in creative industries (virtual reality, web creation, digital music, video game and animation).
According to Lesley Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct and Director of Digital Lab Africa,the digitisation of Africa will only work to the benefit of the continent if we start contributing more as creators of content rather than as mere consumers: “We would like to thank all the candidates who applied for the DLA call for projects. We recognise the importance of taking ownership of the narrative in our own stories and these candidates have all stepped up to the plate.”
From the 15th of April, 2019, the “video pitch” of the 30 competitors will be displayed online on a dedicated platform (www.vote.digilabafrica.com) developed by Zakhele Technologies, a Tshimologong based IT company. This platform will allow internet users to watch and vote for their favourite pitch (from 15th to 28th ofApril). Last but not least, video pitches will be housed and showcased in Tshimologong Source Code Gallery.
www.vote.digilabafrica.com
Chosen by the DLA Selection Committees, the 10 winners of the Pitch Competition will be revealed on the 30th of April. In addition, the project which will gather the most votes on the platform will be awarded with a special prize (DLA Audience Award) including an invitation(for 1 person) to one of the DLA Industry events in France or in the Sub-Saharan African region (flight ticket, accommodation & accreditation covered by DLA).
The 10 winners get a R42,000 cash prize and a tailor-made incubation programme to accelerate their project development with mentors from French & Sub-Saharan creative industries,a residency period in France within a digital cluster/hub, and participation at industry events in France and/or in Sub-Saharan African region.
