shloboe boe
Business Writer
AS part of its robust transformation journey ZB Holdings is seriously focused on capacitating young people engaged in research and innovation to unlock new business ideals to further catapult economic growth.
Inspire by the drive, ZB is the main sponsor of this year’s Innovators’ Forum, one of the key side events at the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
The highly subscribed event has seen more students from various institutions and other young individuals showcasing their innovations and engaging in serious dialogue at the exhibition centre.
The hackathon challenge programme, highlights student-led financial solutions that have been created to address problems faced by financial institutions.
ZB Executive Head of Innovation, Mr Patrick Maseko, said the innovations competition features ideas and prototypes that can be refined into full products.
“As ZB we value the ideas that young people produce and we believe these are critical in our transformation journey as the youth are the future potential customers,” he said.
“We have co-opted innovators and people who transact with us into our new product development process to produce customer centric solutions and enhance service delivery.
“We understand that innovation does not occur in a vacuum or within ZB alone, which is exactly why we made it inclusive of any innovator who was willing to pitch with us.”
Mr Maseko said that ZB will provide guidance on financial regulations and compliance issues, which makes it easier for young innovators to meet regulatory requirements for their innovations.
“We guide them on product structuring and have an innovation hub to support them,” he said.
The innovators were given two weeks to develop solutions to specific problems that ZB gave them and their presentations are now currently being evaluated by judges.
The top innovator is expected to receive $1 000, while the second-place winner will be given $250.
Online Reporter