Facebook celebrates MENA winners of 1st Bots for Messenger Developer Challenge

USPA NEWS - The Bots for Messenger Challenge was launched on February 15th this year, in 64 countries across the wider Middle East and Africa to recognize and reward developers who were able to create the most innovative new bots on Messenger. Facebook (www.Facebook.com) selected 3 winners from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from 60 finalists as part of the first-ever Bots for Messenger Developer Challenge (https://MessengerChallenge.splashthat.com). The Bots for Messenger Challenge was launched on February 15th this year, in 64 countries across the wider Middle East and Africa to recognize and reward developers who were able to create the most innovative new bots on Messenger.

Facebook (www.Facebook.com) selected 3 winners from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from 60 finalists as part of the first-ever Bots for Messenger Developer Challenge (https://MessengerChallenge.splashthat.com). The Bots for Messenger Challenge was launched on February 15th this year, in 64 countries across the wider Middle East and Africa to recognize and reward developers who were able to create the most innovative new bots on Messenger. The 3 winners won a prize of $20,000 USD and three months of Facebook mentorship. In addition from the Middle East and North Africa, three runner-up teams won $10,000 and three months of Facebook mentorship. The announcement was made via Facebook Live by Ime Archibong, Facebook's Vice President of Platform Partnerships, on Monday, June 19th on his Facebook. Page: www.Facebook.com/Ime. MENA RUNNER-UP WINNING TEAMS OF THESE CATEGORIES ARE FOR GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT ---------- Winner: Trivoxx from Morocco, winner of gaming and entertainment category, is a bot that allows one´s or a group of friends test their trivia on sports, science, and cities in three languages: Arabic, French, and English. The 3 winners won a prize of $20,000 USD and three months of Facebook mentorship. About MEA Bots for Messenger: For many years, Facebook has promoted innovation across the Middle East and Africa, providing startups with the tools they need to build, grow, monetize and measure. Facebook grew out of a hacker culture, and we thrive on finding and promoting innovation on new platforms. That´s why we´re launching the Bots for Messenger Challenge (MessengerChallenge.splashthat.com), a contest to recognize and reward developers who create an innovative new bot in either the Middle East and North Africa, or Sub-Saharan Africa region, in one of these three categories: 1.    Gaming and Entertainment 2.    Productivity and Utility 3.    Social Good Teams of up to 3 people are invited to participate in the challenge. The submission period ran from February 15, 2017 to April 28, 2017, and winners will be announced on June 19, 2017. Developers were asked to build new bots focused on three categories: gaming and entertainment; productivity and utility, and social good. Top 60 finalists were selected to be paired with a Facebook mentor and given 3 weeks to iterate on the best versions of their bots for the final judging.