Applications For The Seedstars Global Digital Democracy Challenge Opened
Aug. 31, 2021, 12:17 p.m.
Technology has facilitated inclusive participation far beyond any other means of communication. It has also served to promote democracy and expand citizen participation while also reaching people who have been left out of democratic processes. Hence, it is vital that individuals come together to develop innovative solutions and contribute to furthering Goal 16 of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In line with this, Seedstars has announced the submission of entries into its global Digital Democracy Challenge, a hackathon that comes at the forefront of finding novel solutions to promote digital democracy and uphold a democratic and civic space.
The program is looking for innovative and cost-effective solutions that can help citizens, activists, civil society actors, disenfranchised political actors engage in the democratic process, exchange ideas and provide first-hand accounts of government activities.
The hackathon calls for socially committed citizens worldwide, problem solvers, creative minds, democracy experts, programmers, graphic and web designers to come together in a 72-hour collaborative digital process.
Submit your news stories, articles or press releases to editor@digitaltimes.africa
Or
According to Seedstars, it will finish on a Demo Day where the participants will pitch in front of a jury. The top three solutions will be selected and the winners will receive prize money of $10K USD for first place, $8K USD for second place, and $6K USD for third.”
Applicants will be asked to provide their country, team name, and team members. They will also need to explain their solution, the stage of development, the target customer, and their startup’s business model.
Teams that want to apply for the challenge need to have at least three members.
Solutions must center on key challenges outlined by the hackathon, which include:
- Populations cannot rely on face-to-face or in-person meetings for civic participation.
- Internet restrictions due to government shutdowns or throttling.
- The suspension of major social media platforms by governments.
- Media censorship.
- Government disinformation and misinformation campaigns.
- Digital surveillance of citizens by authorities, including the persecution of dissidents and critics.
The deadline for applications is 13 September, after which participants will be selected on 18 September.
tag: opportunities, seedstars, Innovation, Startup,
Verny Joy Author
Verny loves to write poetry, fiction and quotes. Her love for writing landed her in journalism. She loves gadgets and travelling to explore new places.