Women in FinTech Hackathon Expands to Zambia and Malawi

HiPipo and COMESA Business Council to Empower Female Innovators in Financial Technology.
The Women in FinTech Hackathon, a pioneering initiative aimed at closing the gender gap in Digital Financial Services (DFS), is expanding to Zambia and Malawi. Building on its success in Uganda, where it has empowered over 500 women with critical FinTech skills, the program is now set to equip female innovators in the COMESA region.
The Women in FinTech Hackathon for Zambia and Malawi, scheduled for March 2025, will provide a week-long intensive learning and innovation experience for up to 20 women-led teams. Participants will develop and refine their financial technology solutions while gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools such as Mojaloop Open-Source Software and the Level One Project framework.

Why This Matters
Despite the rapid growth of digital finance in Africa, women-led enterprises receive less than 1% of foreign funding. This hackathon seeks to bridge that gap by equipping female innovators with the skills, networks, and mentorship needed to build sustainable, impactful FinTech solutions—particularly those focused on cross-border trade and financial inclusion.

What Participants Will Gain
Hands-on Training – Develop and test financial solutions using open-source technology.
Industry Mentorship – Learn from FinTech experts on product development, fundraising, and market strategies.
Networking Opportunities – Connect with fellow innovators, investors, and key players in the digital finance ecosystem.
Exciting Prizes – Top teams will receive recognition and rewards for their solutions.

Who Can Apply?
The hackathon is open to women-led and women-dominated teams (2-4 members) with at least one developer. Innovators working on cross-border FinTech solutions are highly encouraged to apply.

How to Register
Interested teams must submit their applications by March 3, 2025. Visit HiPipo’s website to apply.