Build. Pitch. Launch.
African Innovation Challenge
This isn't just a hackathon, it's a launchpad for Africa's next generation of startups.
Registration closes in
14 August 2026 at 23:59 EAT. The deadline is enforced on our servers. There is no late window.
Registration closes in: 0 days, 10 hours and 29 minutes remaining. Closes 14 August 2026 at 23:59 EAT.
What you get
More than a weekend of building
A prize pool of $7,500 plus startup support, shared across the top three teams, and a route to the people who can fund what you build.
- Pitch in front of investors and policymakers
- Exposure to media and global networks
- Startup funding opportunities
- Entry into the Expo
Who can apply
- Developers and designers
- Entrepreneurs and startups
- Students and creatives
Challenge areas
9 areas to build against
One area per team, chosen when you register and fixed after that. Judging happens within the area, so you are compared against teams solving the same kind of problem.
FinTech
Making money move easier for everyone.
HealthTech
Saving lives with technology.
Energy
Ensure stable and affordable access to energy.
Tourism
Harness the tourism sector's ability to service all its market segments.
EdTech
Achieve educational outcomes and support the legal environment.
Gov/Business Tech
Helping governments and businesses work smarter.
CreativeTech
Powering Africa's creative, cultural and media industries.
AgriTech
Smarter farming for food security.
Smart Cities
Making cities work better for the people who live in them.
Eligibility
Who can enter
The rules are short and they are checked at registration rather than afterwards, so a team that does not meet them cannot accidentally get through and be disqualified later.
- Teams of 2 to 5 people.
- At least one team member must be African.
- One track per team, chosen at registration.
- 15 finalists are selected and notified by 21 September.
- Finalists receive complimentary tickets to the Expo.
Timeline
What happens when
14 August 2026
Registration closes
Team and idea submitted. Nothing is accepted after this point.
20 August 2026
Preliminary judging
Judges review every entry and select 15 finalist teams.
21 August 2026
Finalists notified
Finalists are told by midday and receive their complimentary Expo tickets.
24 September 2026, 06:00 EAT
Final submission
A two-page summary and a video link, submitted through the portal.
24 September 2026, 11:40 EAT
Finals
Finalists present live on the main stage and are scored by panel.
Common questions
Do I need a full team to register?
Yes. Registration takes the whole team, between two and five people, with one named team lead. You can change members after registering by emailing us, but you cannot register a placeholder and fill it in later.
What does 'at least one African member' mean in practice?
At least one person on the team must be African. The rest of the team can be from anywhere. It is a floor, not a quota, and it is checked at registration.
Do we have to be in Zanzibar for the whole thing?
No. Registration and the preliminary round are remote. Only the 15 finalist teams travel, and finalists receive complimentary Expo tickets. Travel and accommodation are not covered.
Can we start building before the event?
Yes. You submit an idea at registration and work on it through the preliminary round. The finals on day one are about presenting and defending what you have built, not building from scratch on the day.
Who owns what we build?
Your team does. Entering does not transfer any rights in your work to the organizers. You do grant permission to show and describe the work in coverage of the event.
What are the prizes?
A prize pool of $7,500 plus startup support, shared across the top three teams. Alongside the cash there is in-kind support from the partners: mentorship, software credits, technology and coaching. Finalists also receive complimentary Expo tickets.
Anything else, email byte@techaiexpo.com with "Hackathon" in the subject.
Get your team in
You need your team members, a track, and a short description of the idea. It takes about fifteen minutes.