Facebook wants to make their Messenger platform better, but not without the Help of Young Entrepreneurs like You, How do you think Facebook can make their Messenger Platform Better with the Help of Bots. Submit your Ideas and get paid for it.

             For many years,Facebook has been promoting 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 seeking out and promoting innovation on new platforms.

That's why Facebook is launching the Bots for Messenger Challenges, a contest to recognize and reward developers who are able to create the most innovation new bots on Messenger in  the middle east and North Africa; and Sub-Saharan Africa across one of these three categories:

• Gaming and Entertainment

• Productivity and Utility

• Social Good

Teams of up to 3 people are invited to participate in the challenge.

The Submission Period runs from February 15, 2017 to April 28, 2017

****  For more Information and Clarification Visit the Bot Challenge WEBSITE
****Also follow up on what others are doing and join the Interactive session on their page.

taken from bbc.com

Prizes*

Finalist Teams

From each region 

(i) Middle East and North Africa; and

(ii) Sub-Saharan Africa

30 finalist teams (10 from each category) will win a Gear VR and mobile phone, one hour of Facebook mentorship, and up to $40,000 USD in tools and services from FbStart, a Facebook program designed to help early stage mobile startups build and grow their bots.

Note: All student teams or indivdiual student entrants who make it to the finals will win an additional $2,000 USD (students will be verified against their registration via their government accredited school email accounts).

Runner Up Teams

For each region (i) Middle East and North Africa; and (ii) Sub-Saharan Africa; 3 runner up teams (1 from each category) will win $10,000 USD and 3 months of Facebook mentorship (1 hour per month). 

Winning Teams

For each region (i) Middle East and North Africa; and (ii) Sub-Saharan Africa; 3 winning teams (1 from each category) will win $20,000 USD and 3 months of Facebook mentorship (1 hour per month).

Important Information to note: 

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

• Entries must be received no later than April 28, 2017 at 11:59:59pm UTC.

• In order to move forward in the contest, selected and verified finalists will be required to submit content later in the contest between May 19, 2017 and June 2, 2017 at 11:59:59 p.m. UTC.

• Open to Individuals, formal Organizations, and informal Groups that are organized in or legal residents of select countries in either the Middle East and North African Region or the Sub-Saharan African Region (each, a “Region”) as set forth in the full Terms & Conditions [link] and who meet the other stated eligibility requirements in the terms.

• Internet access required. Void where prohibited by law.

• ANY AND ALL PARTICIPATION MUST COMPLY WITH THE FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS INCLUDING THE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS.

• Content you submit or link to may be posted online or elsewhere by Sponsor.

• Finalists will be notified on or about May 12th and Winners will be notified on or about June 12th.

• Finalists and Winners (and each team member) will be required to sign and return documentation to Sponsor within 4 days (or other timeframe as required by Sponsor in the notification).

• Judges will determine the finalists and winners as fully described in the Official Rules, based on following criteria/weights: Technical quality (35%), non-technical quality (35%), and user experience (30%).

• Prize details may vary. 

Sponsor: Facebook, Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA.