This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
On May 21, 2020, Microsoft announced the winners of its 18th annual Imagine Cup Championships, with two Kenyan students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology taking home Sh1.7 million.
The competition, which saw thousands of students across the world submit innovations to impact their communities, was held in a virtual format due to health safety recommendations.
The winning team, The Knights, created an automated robot using artificial intelligence to identify and remove weeds from rows of crops, eliminating the need for environmentally harmful pesticides.
As part of winning the regional finals, the team won $8,000 each, along with Azure credits and a spot in the Imagine Cup World Championship event.
"Imagine Cup has always aimed to empower students to use their imagination and passion for technology to develop innovative and inclusive solutions that tackle key societal issues," said Kendi Nderitu, Country Manager for Microsoft in Kenya.
The World Finalists pitched their projects during Microsoft Build's inaugural digital event, which was judged by innovation experts including Dwana Franklin-Davis, CEO of Reboot Representation, and Microsoft president Brad Smith.
