The fifth Silicon Mountain Conference kicked off on November 14, 2023 in Buea, Cameroon under the theme “Connect, Collaborate, Thrive”. This event, which will be held until November 18, 2023, provides technology enthusiasts in Cameroon with a platform to network, showcase their products and promote collaboration. One of the main activities of this conference are technological competitions that will reward the winners. The top three prizes will receive a total of two million CFA francs, with prizes of 1 million FCFA, 600,000 FCFA and 400,000 FCFA, respectively.
In addition to the competition, the Silicon Mountain Conference also plans panel discussions, training sessions on investing in start-ups, fundraising and coding. For five years now, this event has provided tech enthusiasts in Cameroon with the opportunity to network, pitch and collaborate within the local tech community of Silicon Mountain, located in the mountainous region of southwest Cameroon, home to tech start-ups and a growing community of developers and creatives.
The Cameroon government is also supporting young tech entrepreneurs by offering one year of free high-speed internet to every Silicon Mountain start-up as part of its support program for young ICT project leaders. This initiative aims to encourage digital innovation in the region.