The Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) has crowned UTAGY as the overall winner of its Dar es Salaam Campus Business Innovation Challenge, following a competitive final that showcased student-driven solutions to pressing social and economic challenges.
UTAGY is a digital platform that connects students with hostel and rental house owners, providing a modern, technology-based solution to the long-standing challenge of accessing student accommodation.
The platform enhances efficiency, transparency and direct communication, easing the housing search process for students, particularly in rapidly growing urban centres.
The competition brought together five TIA students from different academic programmes, each presenting a business idea aimed at promoting self-employment, addressing social needs and contributing to community development.
Other innovations pitched during the finals included SmartGlow, Smart Glove, Chakula Smart and Partograph.
The ideas were assessed by a panel of experienced professionals led by Mr Ally Mkimo, a Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) presenter and economic analyst, who also moderated the session.
The panel also comprised Mr Gerald Reyocatus of Fiqra Academy, Mr Joseph Ndaro, Chief Executive Officer of UNI Media and UNI Awards, and Mr Kusiluka Aginiwe from Ekima Interactive Learning.
After a rigorous evaluation based on innovation, feasibility and social impact, the judges unanimously declared UTAGY the overall winner.
The team walked away with a cash prize of Sh1.5 million and an opportunity to take part in an academic study tour at the University of Pretoria in South Africa during the 2025/2026 academic year.
TIA said the challenge forms part of its broader strategy to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and digital skills among students, preparing them to compete effectively in the job market while also creating sustainable self-employment opportunities.