Ginindza walks away with more than E88 000 in first prize money after coming up with Local Tournaments; an online multi-player game that allows different users in remote places to be able to interact and play with each other, in a cost effective way as it does not consume a lot of data.
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By Ntokozo Nkambule
Siboniso Ginindza is this year’s winner of the MTN MoMo Hackathon. Ginindza outwitted two other finalists in Clinton Vilakati and Mlungisi Vilakati.
Ginindza is the founder of Local Tournaments an online multi-player game that allows different users in remote places to be able to interact and play with each other, without consuming a lot of data. He walks away with more than E88 000 in first prize money for being the best in this year’s competition.
The MTN MoMo Hackathon is a Fintech competition that invited developers and entrepreneurs to create innovative financial and transactional applications using the MTN MoMo platform. The competition’s aim is to encourage the development of digitized payments in the local system. It also aims to reward innovators for the effort they spend developing ideas.
In his presentation, the winner said the idea came up when he together with his business partner noted that most people have gravitated towards online entertainment, yet it costs a lot of money or data for consumers. He noted that Local Tournaments would solve this problem as it will be cheap to use, and also enables emaSwati to play games that are indigenous to them, which they can easily relate with.
He stated in his presentation that the game will be available for download online, for both Android and I-Phone users, as well as via a website for those who do not have smartphones. “After you have downloaded the mobile App you then register using your mobile money number on the platform. After registration and verification, you will then be able to join tournaments and compete with anyone online. To participate in the game, players will need to purchase tokens which cost from as little as E2” he noted. The founder revealed that they project making revenue of at least E30 000 in their first year of operation.
The other two finalists who made it to the top 3 are Clinton Vilakati and Mlungisi Vilakati. Mlungisi who came up with a loans and savings platform is the runner up for this year, walking away with more than E53 000 and Clinton Vilakati came third with a concept of improving cross border payments using a stable digital currency and walked away with more than E35 000 in prize money.
MTN Fintech Services Chief Executive Officer, Sam Shongwe in his presentation congratulated all the finalists and also stated that their goal as a Fintech company is to grow the economy through shared value. “As we grow the FinTech business we would like to take along with us as many Emaswati as possible and continue positively impacting the economy of our country. We believe Fintech is doing a great job in creating shared value through our distribution channel, establishing entrepreneurs and employment through our inclusive eco-system” he said.
He concluded by thanking their partners; the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), the Central Bank of Eswatini, the Royal Science &Technology Park (RSTP), and this year’s judges among others.
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