BiiC presents cashless payment solutions to taxi Industry

The Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (BiiC), in partnership with Celo Africa DAO, recently hosted the groundbreaking Taxi Cash App Hackathon.

This event attracted developers and innovators from across Africa, all eager to revolutionise the South African taxi industry by developing blockchain-based cashless payment solutions.

The BiiC, led by Prof Michael Twum-Darko, has long been at the forefront of promoting entrepreneurship and technical development. By collaborating with academic institutions and industry partners, BiiC is equipping students and developers with the skills and mentorship they need to craft innovative solutions to real-world challenges.

The Taxi Cash App Hackathon exemplifies this mission, offering participants the opportunity to use blockchain technology to address issues facing South Africa's taxi industry.

South Africa's minibus taxi industry, which remains largely cash-based, faces numerous challenges, including theft, inefficient cash management, and a lack of transparency. Twum-Darko said the hackathon's goal was to inspire developers to create mobile-first decentralised applications (dApps) compatible with MiniPay, a blockchain-powered payment system. "These innovations aim to streamline taxi payments, boost transparency, and harness blockchain's power for real-world applications," he noted.

The key highlights of the Hackathon were:

• Promotion: The hackathon launched with extensive promotion across digital platforms from August 2024.
• Workshops: Participants received hands-on training from blockchain experts, helping them design dApps aligned with the competition's goals.
• Prize-Giving Ceremony: The hackathon concluded with a hybrid prize-giving ceremony to honour the top projects.

Among many innovative submissions, three projects stood out for their potential to transform the taxi industry:

• Taxi Zip - Argus Mbogo and Onodwa Siyotula, both fourth-year students in Information Technology, and Praise Mafikela, second-year, Nursing.
• Taxi City - Manelisi Mpotulo and Palesa Hope, both fourth-year in Computer Engineering, and Sakhile Kgaphola, a Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering graduate.
• Taxi DApp - Lehlogonolo Mahlangu, third-year in Information Technology

These teams developed promising solutions for cashless, efficient, and secure taxi payment systems using blockchain, declared, Twum-Darko who is also the Acting Head of the Graduate Centre for Management.

He said in addition to the top three winners, several participants earned "special recognition and a $50 prize for their creative contributions". "These projects addressed key challenges such as operator revenue tracking, driver management, and the integration of cashless payments, further showcasing the potential of blockchain technology in the transportation sector."

Twum-Darko added that the hackathon winners would enter a two-month development phase, during which they will continue refining their apps. The focus will be on increasing functionality and growing a user base, to reach 25 active weekly users. "The Taxi Cash App Hackathon has not only equipped participants with valuable technical skills but has also provided a platform for long-term innovation. CPUT BIIC remains committed to nurturing these projects and supporting the continued use of blockchain technology to solve local challenges."

He added that the blockchain is recognised for its capacity to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency in financial systems. "The success of the hackathon highlights the growing relevance of decentralised solutions, paving the way for more secure and accessible services in South Africa's taxi industry and beyond."

For updates on upcoming events, hackathons, and opportunities at CPUT BIIC, follow them on social media and regularly check the CPUT website. "Together, we can continue driving innovation!"

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