Inlaks launches 'thehatch' innovation lab; TopHill emerges as winner at the Hackathon

Following the launch of “thehatch”, an innovation Lab set to build, scale and provide a nurturing environment for Fintech Start-ups by ensuring a level playing field for domestic technological ideas, winners have emerged at its maiden Insurtech Hackathon themed “Shaping the future of Insurance”.

The 2-day event which held on the 27th and 28th July 2019 at Inlaks’ Corporate Head Office featured CEOs, CIOs, and participants from the insurance, technology, Fintech and other sectors across Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. With over 85 participants, the contest witnessed the creation of technologically-enabled solutions that addressed significant challenges in the insurance sector. The three leading teams with top-notch Insurtech solutions carted away the prizes.

As one of the foremost ICT companies in Sub-Saharan Africa, Inlaks continually upholds and spearheads projects/ideas that will birth cutting-edge ICT products and solutions. The launch of thehatch reinforces Inlaks 2.0’s vision to identify, promote, support, and encourage home-based technology entrepreneurs.

Expressing his utmost delight and optimism for the futuristic and long term significance of thehatch Innovation Lab in Africa, the Executive Director (Innovation and Business Transformation) at Inlaks, Olufemi Muraino said; “With thehatch launch and the maiden Insurtech Hackathon, we have been able to bring together a host of brilliant African tech minds who has innovatively invented solutions tailored to the insurance industry. I am elated at the launch of our Tech Hub as we are focused on opening up new markets while also introducing innovative information technology products into the Sub-Saharan African markets".

Femi Adeoti, MD Africa Operations, Inlaks in a statement explains the motive, vision and plans for thehatch: “Inlaks has been thriving favorably in the ICT space for over three decades now. We, no doubt, are aware of the immense contributions of technology to mankind from that time till this present moment. Technology has been, is and will continue to be a necessity in our world. Continuous change and growth in tech solutions to adapt to man’s need is also a proof of the growing demands for technological inventions. With thehatch, Inlaks is ready to be an anchor for worthy home-based (African) solutions to give them global relevance. We call on young techpreneurs to take a giant step towards making a huge impact on the global tech evolution trend. Our vision for thehatch is to be Africa’s most sought after center for innovative technology, human capital, and start-ups ready to transform the economic future of Africa”.

Winners who emerged at the Hackathon include: Team Tophill, Overall Winner; Team Autosmart, First Runner Up; Team Sirocco, Second Runner Up. Expressing his gratitude to the management of thehatch, Team Leader, Team Tophill, winner of the hackathon, Oni Joseph, noted that the knowledge, connections and exposure the event has afforded him is priceless. In his words: “Asides wining the grand prize funds, I am highly privileged to have been a part of the making of technological solutions that would influence the Insurance industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. The insurance industry remains untapped; however, the solutions my colleagues and I have presented today will spur it on digitally. On behalf of my team members and the rest of the participants, I say a big thank you to Inlaks, the future is ours to conquer”.

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About thehatch

thehatch is Inlaks’ Innovation lab that offers programs designed to identify, nurture and scale great innovations that have the potential to transform the financial service sector in Nigeria and globally. In recognition of the fact that creative minds and startups need support and an environment that fosters creativity, thehatch, with its well-structured and methodical approach identifies these great ideas, nurtures and develops them into viable digital businesses.

We grow and provide our Start-ups in a vibrant Fintech ecosystem that has the potential to change the lives of every individual that has experience with us