MTN South Africa said it hopes to form a network of budding problem-solving entrepreneurs and business people and is introducing an academic element to the 2020 edition of the MTN Business App of the Year. This is the ninth year of the awards. MTN is introducing an app development and coding scheme called the MTN Business App Academy, as well as two new categories of Best Breakthrough Developer and Best Youth App. 

MTN Business South Africa enterprise marketing GM Kholo Magagane said the academy will mentor and upskill aspiring young developers to create a springboard for new talent. Participants will do a six-week online coding programme that feeds into the new categories of award. There will also be a 72-hour hackathon in the first week of September to use their newly developed skills. Tutors will be on hand to help. Apps emerging from the hackathon will be entered into the 'Best Breakthrough Developer' and 'Best Youth App' categories. 

The App of the Year Awards are shifting from the recognition of excellence in technical development to the review of resolving real life challenges. Students from the MTN Business App Academy with the top three apps will be assisted to develop them fully.The overall MTN Business App of the Year winner or winning team will get a ZAR 200,000 trip to a tech-related destination. Prizes for the Best Youth App award will be split into ZAR 50,000 for the first-place winner, ZAR 30,000 for the second-place winner and ZAR 20,000 for the third-place winner.