Innovation Edge calls for tech solutions to early childhood challenges

Photo by Giu Vicente on Unsplash

The most promising tech solution ideas stand the chance to receive up to R1m in funding and access to a range of incubation support. Qualifying ideas will address a defined need within early childhood and have a sustainable route to scale that includes families living in poverty.

While Innovation Edge welcomes submissions for any bold ideas at any time throughout the year, this call is specifically focused on tech solutions to early childhood challenges.

Examples of the types of challenges that applicants are invited to respond to:

• Paper-based systems of recording classroom attendance are time-consuming and lacking in accuracy. How might you create a tech solution that enables pre-school teachers (in both high/mid and low-income environments) to quickly capture verifiable classroom attendance for children aged three to six years?

• Young children’s (birth to six) developing brains thrive from having daily positive back and forth conversations with their parents. How might you create a tech solution to help parents (in both high/mid and low-income environments) embed this behaviour into their daily lives?

• Approximately 33% of women living in adversity will experience a mental illness (primarily depression) during or after pregnancy. What opportunities could tech offer to support mothers, particularly those in low-income environments, who are suffering from depression?

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Applications from individuals, non-profit, and for-profit organisations are welcome. Innovation Edge accepts early-stage ideas pre or post proof of concept phase.

Click here to submit a proposed solution and for more information on Innovation Edge. The deadline for submissions is 19 October 2018.