Easier Online II Hackathon Takes Aim at Irregular Migration in Egypt

In a bid to empower entrepreneurs creating innovative solutions to tackle the migration crisis in Upper Egypt’s governorates of Faiyum, Assiut, Luxor and Qena, The Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt has joined hands with Seedstars to create a virtual hackathon for entrepreneurs in these governorates who have sustainable and scalable solutions to alleviate the need for migration out of their areas.

25 applicants will be chosen from the pool of entries to undergo an immersive five-day virtual hackathon. Participants will have the opportunity to develop and refine their ideas with support and mentorship before pitching them to a jury panel. Five winners will be selected, benefiting from cash prizes and funding, a three-month follow-up support program to scale their operations and access to Seedstar Mentorship Hub’s extensive network of mentors and experts. 

Last year’s edition of the hackathon put a spotlight on entrepreneurs leveraging technology to enable digital and financial inclusion; however, this year, the hackathon is addressing another critical issue in Egypt - the migratory movement from the northern governorates to the country’s overpopulated capital, Cairo. 

 “We are very excited to see the ideas that will be put forth by the participants in this year’s edition. We believe that local entrepreneurship outside Cairo can lead to successful economic development and job creation, thereby mitigating the factors that lead to migration from these areas into the capital.” Elsa Abi Raad, Program Manager.

To participate in the Easier Online II hackathon, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

1) Ideas submitted should demonstrate a clear impact on mitigating migration from the governorates of Faiyum, Assuit, Luxor and Qena through economic development, opportunities and job creation. 

2) Applicants may apply individually or as a team.