Build. Pitch. Launch.
African Innovation Challenge
This isn't just a hackathon, it's a launchpad for Africa's next generation of startups.
Applications close in
28 August 2026 at 23:59 EAT. The deadline is enforced on our servers. There is no late window.
Applications close in: 6 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes remaining. Closes 28 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
The format
24 hours, on campus, from nothing
Applying is remote. The build is not. The finalist teams come to SUZA Campus, Zanzibar and have one day and one night to build the idea they applied with.
23 September, 06:00 EAT
Build at SUZA Campus, Zanzibar
Teams arrive with nothing built and start from the idea they applied with. The clock runs for a straight 24 hours, through the night, and stops at 06:00 the next morning.
24 September
Pitch in the Innovation Arena
Straight off the build, each team presents the technology and defends it in front of the panel, on the Expo's second stage.
26 September
Winner at the Presidential Reception
The result is held back for two days and announced on the closing night, alongside the awards.
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.
- Finalists are selected and announced by 4 September.
- Finalists build on site at SUZA for 24 hours from 06:00 on 23 September.
- Finalists receive complimentary tickets to the Expo.
Timeline
What happens when
28 August 2026
Applications close
Team and idea submitted. Nothing is accepted after this point.
By 3 September 2026
Judging
Judges review every entry and select the finalist teams.
By 4 September 2026
Finalists announced
Finalists are notified directly and receive their complimentary Expo tickets.
23 to 24 September 2026, 06:00 to 06:00 EAT
The 24 hour hackathon
Finalists arrive at SUZA Campus with nothing built and have 24 hours to build the idea they submitted.
24 September 2026
Finals pitch
Teams present what they built on the Innovation Arena stage and are scored by panel.
26 September 2026
Winner announced
The winner is revealed at the Presidential Reception on the closing night.
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. Applying and the judging round are remote. Only the finalist teams travel, and they need to be at SUZA Campus in person from 06:00 on 23 September through to the pitch on the 24th. Finalists receive complimentary Expo tickets. Travel and accommodation are not covered.
Can we build our idea before the hackathon?
No. You describe the idea when you apply, and that is what the judges score to pick the finalists. The build itself happens inside the 24 hours at SUZA: finalists arrive with nothing built and hack the technology that brings the submitted idea to life. Bringing a finished product defeats the point of the round.
So what can we bring with us?
Yourselves, your laptops, and the idea you applied with. Not a working version of it. Open-source libraries, frameworks and public APIs are the ordinary tools of the job and are fine, as they would be in any hackathon.
When do we find out who won?
Not on the day you pitch. Teams present in the Innovation Arena on 24 September, and the winner is held back and announced at the Presidential Reception on the evening of the 26th.
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 innovate@techaiexpo.co. That address goes to the hackathon team directly, so there is no need to put anything particular in the subject line.
Get your team in
You need your team members, a challenge area, and a short description of the idea. It takes about fifteen minutes. You are describing the idea, not submitting a build.