Hack business models and innovate technologies that address energy challenges in rural agriculture Cambodia
Why a Hackathon?
Hack (creative problem solving) athon (marathon)
Hackathon's are a dedicated weekend to put aside distractions and work in a team to hack solutions: motivated with prizes, deadlines and unlimited refreshments. Challenges to help keep focus and expert mentors to stay on track.
This Hackathon is designed to help bring energy and agriculture enthusiastis with entrepreneurs to come up with clean energy and agriculture business ideas.
The Challenge
Develop a product or service that integrates clean energy to support rural or agriculture customers in Cambodia
Pitch the concept, the business case (feasability, scalability) and your team's potential to expert judges
Need some inspiration?
here are some challenges in the agriculture sector. mentors will help you explore these
Cold Storage at collection location
Cold storage preserve the life of vegetables longer and is more efficient. But who is going to pay for it? The farmers? the traders? The wholesalers? Can you innovate a business model to work out how to add cold storage and value in the vegetable value chain?
Cold transportation
30-40% of leafy greens can be lost in transport due to lack of cold storage. Design a business model that can help traders collect vegetable and still keep its quality and freshness during transport. How do you add and share the value and costs?
Solar-powered cold storage
Solar can help off grid communities and overnight fishing boats for cold storage. It can also support areas where the electricity grid is unreliable. Batteries are expensive for backup overnight or over many rainy days – can you design a system that doesn't need batteries? What about ice storage? Or what about a solar – grid hybrid system?
Solar irrigation
Owners of large farms are investing in solar irrigation because it saves them costs of diesel pumping. Smaller farmers aren't adopting solar irrigation because the upfront cost is more expensive, even though it has a short payback. Can you create a business model that can help farmers access the benefits of solar irrigation?
Vegetable cleaning management
Design a solar dryer or spinner/ cleaning management for traders to clean vegetable or fruit so that it can be stored longer whether at room temperature or cold storage.
RUA technologies
Bring your business smarts to the prototypes developed by RUA, like coolbot, net/greenhouse, solar dryers, vegetable sterilizers. The technologies are good but need to be centered around customers and what they need and want to buy. Can you create a business model for these technologies?
What else?
How about solar powered fencing, pest control, ventilation, insect incubation, Digital Communication on solar use on agriculture ...SO MUCH MORE
Who should participate?
Entrepreneurs who are passionate about clean energy and agriculture, with or without a business idea. You want a weekend without distractions to explore your business idea with a team, supported with mentors and fueled with food and motivated with pitching and prizes. If you're on your own, we can help you find team members.
Prizes
First Prize
$600 with guaranteed entry to Pre-Incubation Program, access to co-working space and mentors
Second Prize
$400 with guaranteed entry to Pre-Incubation Program, access to co-working space and mentors
Meet our Judges
Cécile Dahomé
CEO Sevea
Ivo Bessellink
Senior Energy Advisor UNDP
Bridget McIntosh
Country Director EnergyLab Asia
Borarin Buntong
Director of Research and Extension Royal University of Agriculture
Judging Criteria
We are looking to reward the team with the most potential to go on and develop a clean energy startup and participate in our Incubation Program
Project/Concept Eligibility (25%)
- Rural or agriculture applications: does the team pitch a business concept that solve rural or agriculture challenges?
- Clean energy: does the team integrate clean energy especially solar application in their service or product?
Cold storage preserve the life of vegetables longer and is more efficient. But who is going to pay for it? The farmers? the traders? The wholesalers? Can you innovate a business model to work out how to add cold storage and value in the vegetable value chain?
Concept (25%)
- Problem: Do they really understand the problems/challenges and agriculture market?
- Solution: Does their concept address the problems/challenges?
- Value preposition: what makes their business model different from their competitor? Can they clearly communicate their concept?
Business case (25%)
- Feasibility: How realistic and feasible is this concept?
- Scalability: Can their business model scale up?
Team (25%)
- Capacity and commitment: Does the team (one to two people of the team) have the capacity and commitment to move forward and be selected/ participate in Incubation Program?
- Characteristics: Does the team possess characteristic of adaptability; learning curve, listening capacity, entrepreneurial thinking?
Schedule
1
6th August
Applications open
2
26th August
Launching and Networking Event
3
6th September
Applications close
4
14th September
Hackathon Briefing
Briefing of agriculture/energy challenges you could solve, find your team members, explore the problem with the mentors and your team.
Your team MUST attend to enter the Hackathon
5
21st - 22nd September
Hackathon Weekend
6
21st September
8am Hackathon Kicks off
7
21st September
4pm: Pitch concept to mentors for advice and feedback, and to keep you on track
8
22nd September
Hacking continues - opportunity for mentor support and pitch practice
9
22nd September
1pm Hacking ends Submission deadline
10
22nd September
2-3.30pm Pitches!
11
22nd September
Winner announcement and Party!
Meet our Mentors
Serey Ratha Chan
Country Director, GrowAsia/CPSA Agriculture, value chain market analysis and business development