Airtime exchange app wins regional innovation award

NAIROBI, KENYA: Team Chura from Kenya, has been selected as the winner of the Ericsson Innovation Awards (EIA) for sub-Saharan Africa for their App that allows subscribers to switch, buy and cash airtime across networks in a multi-sim environment.
The winner was announced November 18, 2015, at a ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa.
When operational, the app aims to ease movement across networks through services that enable the exchange of airtime from one network provider to another.
The app also allows users trade in their airtime for money and enables simultaneous distribution of airtime to multiple phone numbers on networks in Kenya.
Taking home the sub-Saharan African EIA top prize of $10,000, the winners beat off strong competition from runners-up Guavay, an undergraduate team from Tanzania and third-placed P.O.I Information Technology Services, a small enterprise in Ethiopia.
The jury motivated their choice by saying: "Team Chura's app brings a number of services that address regional challenges, including speed, reliability and coverage. The App shows a strong business potential and creatively addressing the theme "Future of City Life".
Open to students and start-ups from across the region, teams that entered the EIA competition for sub-Saharan Africa were asked to develop ideas that use ICT to improve the quality of urban life.
Each entrant was required to come up with an innovative idea, a business plan and a description of why it should be chosen as winner.