Ifrane, November 4, 2024 – Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), in partnership with CIH BANK, celebrated the next generation of fintech innovators as students presented cutting-edge digital payment solutions at the second annual "Bankathon", held from November 1st to November 3rd.
Organized by AUI’s Office of Employability and Entrepreneurship and CIH Bank’s Innovation Hub, this competition selected 50 students to develop AI-driven solutions for a cashless society to support Morocco as it hosts the 2030 World Cup. With the support of CIH Bank mentors, who offered industry insights and guidance, students also tackled problems in business optimization, human performance, coding, data science, and marketing.
Younes Zoubir, Deputy General Manager of CIH BANK, highlighted CIH’s dedication to supporting young innovators: “This is the second time CIH Bank has partnered with AUI for the Bankathon, which aligns closely with our CSR strategy. We had 25 dedicated collaborators from our headquarters volunteer their time to mentor these talented students, and we were truly impressed by the quality of their ideas and final presentations.”
Deborah Bartlett, AUI’s Chief Employability and Entrepreneurship Officer, highlighted the distinct strengths AUI students bring to pioneering innovative Fintech projects: “AUI students are leading the way in creating ethical AI solutions for Morocco, combining skills from engineering, business, social sciences, and entrepreneurship that our unique curriculum fosters. This well-rounded approach is valuable for tackling the diverse challenges Morocco faces in AI and Fintech.”
Winning Projects to Drive Morocco’s Cashless Future
This year’s top prize went to Cash Pay Plus, a QR-based cashless payment app with cashback rewards and a mapped network of partner businesses, designed by Omniya Zarhbouch and Mohammed Khalil Ben Maarouf from School of Business Administration, and Mohamed Yahya Bouaalam from School of Engineering. The project also aims to support small businesses and underserved populations in Morocco, aligning with the nation’s shift towards digital inclusion.
Reflecting on their experience, Senior Marketing student Ben Maarouf shared, “The competition was tough, but we learned a lot from our mentors and pushed ourselves to the limit. We didn't get much sleep, but we’re thrilled that our efforts earned us first place. We hope to turn our project idea into reality.”
The second-place project, C-pocket, is a reloadable prepaid card created by Asmae Nadifi and Majda El Barkani from School of Engineering, and Salma Askour from School of Business Administration, aimed at enhancing financial inclusion in Morocco. Finally, DimaPay, an app idea by Kenza Benslim from School of Social Sciences, and Jihane Erraji and Fatima Zahrae Azergui from School of Engineering, took third place with its innovative integration of QR transactions, transport payments, and rewards to encourage cashless adoption.
Beyond the Top Three
Given the high caliber of ideas presented, CIH Bank awarded four additional special prizes, providing select teams with internship opportunities and immersion weeks at their headquarters.
Youssef Touil, Director of Digital Payments and Alternative Channels at CIH Bank and a member of the Bankathon jury, shared his thoughts on the participants: “Over three enriching days, we witnessed AUI’s talented students demonstrate their awareness of Morocco’s economic and technological challenges. The projects showcased highly innovative ideas, making it difficult to select the winners. In our view, every participant was a winner."
As AUI and CIH BANK continue their partnership, the Bankathon exemplifies their shared commitment to nurturing future innovators who will play a vital role in Morocco’s journey toward a digitally empowered and cashless society.