The Africa Earth Observation (AEO) Challenge is calling for African entrepreneurs and startups, developing innovative applications of space-based technologies, to enter the event. Prizes to be awarded take the form of four-month-long virtual mentorship and online incubation, technical support, media publicity and, this year, for the first time, cash prizes.

The AEO Challenge is now supported by a wide range of global and African partner agencies and companies. Founded in 2016 as a single-country event, the challenge now spans a large part of Africa.

“This year we have a total of 16 partner organisations providing their support,” reported AEO Challenge coordinating partner company RIIS executive Imraan Saloojee. “This illustrates the deepening interest in Earth observation (EO) as a tool for spurring Africa’s development agenda.”

Apart from RIIS, a South Africa-based advisory company, the supporting partners for this year’s challenge include three space agencies and one innovation agency. These are the Kenya Space Agency, the Kenya National Innovation Agency, the Rwanda Space Agency, and the South African National Space Agency.

The other partners are – EO data platform and insights service provider Digital Earth Africa; global geographic information software, location intelligence and mapping company ESRI; global space technology and mapping company Maxar; open EO datasets provider RCMRD; South African intellectual property law firm Von Seidels; South African industry body ZA Space; South Africa-based virtual mentorship and online accelerator platform Tech Tribe Accelerator; the SA Innovation Summit; South African early-stage venture fund Anza Capital; global startup business ecosystem platform GenSpace; and Kenyan consulting and events company Leo Sky Africa.

There will be a free-of-charge webinar for interested parties to obtain information and ask questions about the application, selection and shortlisting processes. This will take place on Monday, August 29.

Phase 1 of the challenge will result in the drawing up of a shortlist of entries for the second and final stage of the process. This will climax in an in-person ‘pitching’ event, in which all the shortlisted companies will take part. This will take place early in December this year.