Brand Hackathon: AfCFTA invites startups and creatives to compete

African Continental Free Trade Area

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary-General H.E Wamkele Keabetswe Mene. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NMG

Africa’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the product manufacturing space and creatives in the branding industry have been invited by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to participate in a continental brand competition aimed at boosting their businesses.

The Brand Hackathon was launched on April 29 to commemorate AfCFTA’s third anniversary in May 2022.

To mark the occasion, AfCFTA Secretary-General H.E. Wamkele Mene, and the AfCFTA Champion, former President of Niger, H.E.Mahamadou Issoufou, have invited SMEs and Startup leaders to participate in the Hackathon.

“Those in the product manufacturing space, brand artists and other brand creatives who can help such SMEs to refresh the brand identity of their products in order to boost sales are invited to participate in this Hackathon,” AfCFTA said in a statement.

Three categories have been set up for participants interested in joining the hackathon.

The first is the graphic & visual designing for brands where participants are requested to upload samples of their brand art. The second is for those who do voice and musical arts for brands. They are expected to upload sample jingles for their brands.

SMEs and startups, who are in the third category, are requested to upload pictures of products and sample packaging artwork.

The application forms will run till May 10, 2022, and AfCFTA says successful artists and musicians will be matched with selected SMEs and startups by May 12 — and the joint creative-entrepreneurial teams must deliver the final creatives, refreshed brand identity as evidenced by sample labels, packaging and jingles by May 19.

“The best collaborative output, as judged by our hackathon mall and supermarket partners, will be recognised with prizes and opportunities across Africa during the 3rd-anniversary celebrations,” AfCFTA said.

Participants are requested to apply through this AfCFTA app link.