DATA INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE, 2024

"Stimulating Creativity, Problem-Solving, And the Generation of Novel Ideas Using Data"

Background

Traditionally, data wasn't seen as a key resource for innovation and business development for a few reasons: (i) there was limited availability and accessibility of data, (ii) the lack of data analysis tools and expertise necessary to extract meaningful insights from raw data, (iii) a focus on tangible resources like land, labor, and capital as the primary drivers of innovation and growth; and (iv) the practice of short-term decision making over long-term strategic planning.

However, the rise of big data, affordable data storage, and powerful analytics tools has now revolutionized how businesses view data. Companies are now recognizing data as a strategic asset that can be used to identify customer needs and preferences, develop targeted marketing campaigns, optimize product development, improve operational efficiency, manage risks, and make data-driven decisions for future growth.

Data Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Data is now a fundamental resource for business success and this is aptly captured in two key emerging concepts;

Data Innovation

A broad term encompassing the creative and impactful use of data to generate new insights, products, services, and solutions. It involves harnessing the potential of data beyond traditional analysis, often by leveraging various technologies and approaches.

Data Entrepreneurship

An emerging and exciting field at the intersection of data science and entrepreneurship. It encompasses individuals and ventures that leverage data-driven insights and technologies to create innovative products, services, and solutions that address current market needs / opportunities.

The Data Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge

The purpose of this innovation challenge is to stimulate creativity, problem-solving, and the generation of novel ideas using data.

Learn about Data Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Topics: innovation, data science, data governance, data protection, design thinking, Innovation life cycle, data science process

Develop a data-driven solution to a real world problem

Challenges: Agriculture and Food Security, Health and Well-Being, Education, Culture and the Arts, Business and Commerce, Energy, Climate and Environment, Democracy and Governance

Craft a clear, concise road-map for your business

Focus Areas: Lean Business Canvas Model, Monetizing, Financing,

Launch your data driven startup

Focus Areas: IP Registration, Business registration, Pitching, Tax and Compliance, and Business Registration

Grow a sustainable, data driven business

Focus Areas: incubation, mentorship, coaching, and marketing

The Challenges

Agriculture and Food Security - Precision agriculture, weather pattern prediction, improving market access and approaches for climate change adaptation. Improving food security by optimizing production, predicting prices, improving distribution, reducing waste, and providing dietary information.
Health and Well-Being - Chronic disease management, personalized medicine and interventions, epidemic detection, prevention and control, mental healthcare, drug discovery and development, disease pattern identification and interventions, identification of at-risk individuals, promoting healthy habits, and building stronger communities.
Education, Culture, and the Arts - Informing personalized, early, and targeted interventions for learners, improving teacher effectiveness, enhancing assessment processes,preserving cultural heritage, combating stereotypes, promoting intercultural understanding, generating audience insights, preserving and authenticating art, and creating interactive art experiences.
Business and Commerce - Customer insights and targeting, operational efficiency and cost reduction, product development, supply chain management, risk management, marketing, optimizing prices and promotions, inventory management, demand forecasting, fraud detection, personalization, and customer experience.
Energy, Climate, and Environment - Optimizing grid management, reducing energy waste, tracking emissions, environment monitoring, pollution monitoring and source identification, habitat monitoring and species tracking, forestry and water resource management, and environmental impact monitoring.
Democracy and Governance - Public participation, voting, transparency, campaign monitoring, open data initiatives, public service delivery monitoring, data driven policy making, predictive analytics, citizen service delivery, performance measurement, tackling misinformation and disinformation.

Eligibility

The challenge is open to students and faculty in all Universities, TVETS and other middle level colleges in Kenya.

Challenge Registration

The team can consist of a minimum of 3 and up to a maximum of 5 members.
The team members must be composed as follows: at least one member from a computing-related discipline (1); at least one member from a computer-related discipline (1); and at least one member from any other domain, e.g education, law, agriculture, health, music, etc
The registration deadline is July 31st, 2024.
The costs for participation in CRIW 2024 will be determined and communicated in due course.

Challenge Judging

Aspect	Details	Judging
Team Composition	A multi-disciplinary team of between 3 - 5 members is expected.	Submit a 1-page description of each team member’s background and contribution to the project for assessment and scoring.
Solution Development	The team must demonstrate the development process from ideation to prototype.	Submit a 3-page document for assessment and scoring.
Data Management	The team needs to document the data collection, protection, and security measures taken for the solution.	Submit a 2-page document for assessment and scoring.
Intellectual Property	All solutions to be pitched must have IP registration. Participants must include their institutions as part of the IP owners.	Submit the certificate of registration before pitching in CRIW 2024
Branding	The team should develop a logo and a roll-up banner for the exhibition. A website and other branded materials will be an added advantage.	Assessors will visit the exhibition area to assess and score the branding
Compliance	Business registration and tax compliance are both advised and optional.	These will be submitted before pitching for assessment and scoring for bonus marks in CRIW 2024

Recognition and Awards

Certificate of participation
Solution Incubation
Support to attend KIW 2024

Schedule

Date	Topic	Mode
^8th June	Design Thinking	Hybrid
15^th June	Data Science and Artificial Intelligence	Online
	Data Security and Protection
	Data Governance and Ethics
	The Data Innovation Life Cycle
	Data-Driven Decision Making
22^th June	Monetizing Data Innovations	Online
	Financing Data Driven Enterprises
	Tax and Compliance
	Business Registration
29^th June	Intellectual Property Rights	Online
	Lean Business Canvas Model
	Collaboration
	Team Dynamics
6^th July	Pitching	Hybrid
16^th - 20^th Sep	Central Rift Innovation Week 2024 Innovation showcase, pitching, judging and awards	In person
25^th - 29^th Nov	Kenya Innovation Week 2024 Data Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit	In person

Partnership Opportunities

Sponsor innovator attendance, materials, training costs, event branding and marketing.
Provide cloud resources and data for the development of data innovations.
Share your expertise as a speaker, trainer, judge, mentor or coach.
Extend incubation and financial support to support data driven startups.

Webinar Registration

Challenge Participation

Dr. Andrew Kipkebut

254719499615

akipkebut@kabarak.ac.ke

innovations@kabarak.ac.ke

Partnership Opportunities

Dr. Michael Walekhwa

254705290520

mwalekhwa@kabarak.ac.ke

grants@kabarak.ac.ke

General Inquiries

Dr. Moses M Thiga

254720780468

mthiga@kabarak.ac.ke

director_research@kabarak.ac.ke