Blockchain in Dakar: Who are the Winners?

Nov 20, 2024

Blockchain in Dakar: Who are the Winners?

Nov 20, 2024

The Bold African Movement (BAM) wants to make blockchain adoption in Africa through real-life solutions easy.

This is why BAM convened the Blockchain in Dakar event at Der Point, Immeuble, Djafar, which included a conference, workshop, hackathon, cocktail, and networking session.

BAM is one of a growing list of blockchain education and awareness communities in Africa that believes that for this technology—to have maximum socio-economic impact—mainstream adoption is necessary. It thinks that rigorous educational and builder efforts will help onboard the masses.

“You’ve all proven that with determination and teamwork, even those new to blockchain can achieve amazing results. Whether or not you won, you’ve already succeeded by participating and learning,” said Diane Fonkoua, the founder of BAM, during an X space to announce the winner.

After almost one month since the main event in Dakar, BAM organized an X-space session to announce the voting results and jury rankings of the hackathon.

Key Projects from Blockchain in Dakar

The teams shared innovative blockchain-based solutions, including:

Fagaru: A medical records management platform using blockchain for secure, real-time access in Senegal.
NFT Book: A platform for converting digital books into NFTs, protecting authors’ rights and ensuring scarcity.
Ndugu App: A blockchain marketplace for African agricultural products to improve traceability and reduce losses.
Impact Invest: A decentralized platform connecting investors with entrepreneurs to eliminate traditional banking intermediaries.
Bloc Solidaire: A data centralization platform leveraging blockchain and AI for social development insights.
Admin Service: Blockchain-based digitization of administrative documents to prevent fraud and enhance accessibility.

Photos by @JoinbamXyz on X

What Makes Blockchain in Dakar Special?

The biggest victory so far comes from BAM’s ability to mobilize innovators across Senegal to participate in the Blockchain in Dakar hackathon. The news here is that it has trained 100+ developers, creators, and entrepreneurs across Africa, empowering them with essential blockchain and tech skills.

Most participants were new to blockchain development but found the hackathon an enriching learning experience. Many expressed a desire to continue building on the blockchain and contribute to future projects.

What the Participants Say

“As a first-time blockchain developer, this was a real challenge. Starting from zero and creating an MVP in such a short time made us proud. This experience opened up a new field of specialization for me,” said Abdelkarim Sow (Team Fagaru).

“It was our first blockchain project, and although it was tough, we learned a lot. The technical challenges pushed us, and now I’m committed to learning more about blockchain development,” said Ismaila Diallo (Team NFT Book).

“This was my first time using Figma and working with blockchain. The experience was challenging but rewarding, and it proved that with determination, even a team of two can achieve great results,” said Idriss (Team Ndugu App – Winner).

“Even though I couldn’t continue the hackathon (Blockchain in Dakar), the support from my community and the visibility my project received were incredible. I’m deeply grateful for this experience and excited to keep building,” said Mareme Diop (Team Bloc Solidaire – Jury Winner).

“Beyond developing our project, this event was a gateway to valuable knowledge and connections. It has sparked my interest in blockchain, and I am motivated to continue exploring its potential,” said Thierno Idriss (Team Impact Invest).

What the Organizers Say

“This was an event to replicate across Africa. The energy of the participants and their drive to learn and innovate were inspiring. Diane, your initiative is truly impactful,” said Axel from Kucibok. He added, “Remember, $500 will be gone in a week, but the skills, networks, and knowledge you’ve gained here are priceless. Keep pushing forward and building on this momentum.”

“This event came at the perfect time. It has reignited interest in blockchain in Senegal and given developers a platform to showcase their talent. The potential here is limitless,” said Galsen from Crypto Senegal.

Jury and Public Voting Results for the Blockchain in Dakar

Jury Awards:
- 3rd Place: Admin Service and Ndugu App (tie).
- 2nd Place: Fagaru.
- 1st Place: Bloc Solidaire.
Technical Excellence:
- 3rd Place: Impact Invest.
- 2nd Place: NFT Book.
- 1st Place: Ndugu App.
Public Engagement:
- 3rd Place: Fagaru.
- 2nd Place: Bloc Solidaire.
- 1st Place: Dougrab.

Overall Winners:

3rd Place: NFT Book.
2nd Place: Fagaru.
1st Place: Ndugu App, earning the $500 prize sponsored by Yellowcard.

The Winner

Ndugu App, an application for agricultural product traceability, aims to improve farmers’ lives and ensure better quality for consumers. It tracks produce from to fork and provides data on their origin and quality. Therefore, it enables smallholder African farmers to access international markets, reduces post-harvest loss, and builds trust between farmers and consumers. Its freemium model allows farmers to access basic features, while exporters and cooperatives can use its premium services for data and data analytics.

“Honestly, I’m a bit shocked. When I heard the winners being announced, I didn’t expect to hear our name. I had already given up hope, so this is an incredible surprise. First, I want to thank Bakary, my teammate, because this was truly a team effort. It’s unbelievable what we managed to accomplish in such a short time. Neither of us were experts in blockchain development, but we were determined to make it work,” said Iddris Ahmad, the project manager for Ndugu App.

“For me, it was my first time using Figma. I had never even opened it before. I had to learn the tool in just two days to create the design for our project. Meanwhile, Bakary, who had never coded in Solidity before, had to dive into it and build the smart contract from scratch. It was a race against time—we were working under a lot of pressure. Initially, we weren’t even sure we’d be ready to present anything. The challenges were overwhelming, but we pushed through together.”

“What makes this win so special is knowing how much effort and energy we put into overcoming those challenges. It’s not just about the prize money—it’s about the journey, the skills we gained, and the confidence we built along the way. I’m so grateful for this experience and to everyone who made this possible. To all the other participants, I just want to say: don’t stop here. Keep learning, keep building. There’s so much potential in what we can achieve together.”

While most people might not be terribly interested in blockchain, with the Blockchain in Dakar Hackathon (BAM has already involved four African cities), it hints at the need and realism to look forward to a future where blockchain is not just a buzzword, but a transformative tool driving innovation and inclusion across the continent.