Hackathon 2026 Challenge


# Introduction

The **Tech Hub Africa Hackathon 2026** is a youth-led innovation program designed to tackle the most persistent infrastructure and environmental hurdles facing Ghana and the broader continent. Hosted on the global developer platform **DoraHacks.io**, this challenge invites the next generation of thinkers students, aspiring developers, and young visionaries to turn bold ideas into scalable solutions.

# 🎯Tracks & Challenges

With a focus on **impact over hype**, the hackathon empowers participants **aged 15–25** to build tools that drive real-world change across three critical pillars:

- **⚡ Electricity Efficiency:** Optimizing energy grids and reducing waste to power our future.

- **🚦 Traffic Mitigation:** Designing smart systems to ease congestion and reclaim lost commute hours.

- **🌱 Pollution Control:** Creating sustainable projects for a cleaner, healthier urban environment.

# 📅 Program Timeline

### **Phase 1: Preparation & Onboarding**

**March 1 – May 31, 2026**

- **DoraHacks Onboarding:** Registration opens on **DoraHacks.io**. Participants can set up their profiles and find teammates.

- **Educational Series:** Weekly webinars covering the three tracks (**Electricity, Traffic, and Pollution**) with guest experts from Ghana’s infrastructure and environmental sectors.

- **Ideation Workshops:** "Office Hours" to help teams refine their project concepts before the code starts flowing.

### **Phase 2: Hacking & Mentorship**

**1st June – October 31, 2026**

- **The Build Begins:** Official start of the hacking period.

- **Technical Mentorship:** Weekly check-ins with developers and mentors to troubleshoot and optimize solutions.

- **Submission Deadline:** All projects, including the pre-recorded demo video and GitHub repository, must be submitted via DoraHacks by October **31, 11:59 PM GMT**.

### **Phase 3: Judging & Winners Announcement**

**November 1 – December 18, 2026**

- **Review Period:** Judges evaluate submissions based on technical execution, innovation, and scalability for the Ghanaian market.

- **The Pitch Finale:** The top 3 finalists will be invited to a in person demo day to pitch their solutions live at [Tech Guru Meetup 2026.](https://techhubafrica.org/techgurumeetup)

- **Awards Ceremony:** Winners of the **$1,000 prize pool** are announced on October 31st.

# `🏆`Prizes $1000

The prize pool is designed to reward the most impactful solutions across our three core pillars. By participating, you are competing for a share of **$1,000** in cash prizes, distributed to the top three standout projects that demonstrate the highest potential for real-world impact in Ghana.

### **Total Prize Pool: $1,000**

While you choose one specific track to build in, all projects are judged together to determine the ultimate winners of the 2026 Challenge.

1. **🥇 1st Place $450 :** The top-rated project across all tracks with the highest technical and social impact.

2. **🥈 2nd Place $300 :** The runner-up project demonstrating exceptional innovation and feasibility.

3. **🥉 3rd Place $250 :** The third-place project with a strong, scalable solution for its chosen challenge.

### **Track-Specific Recognition**

In addition to the cash prizes, the top project from **each individual track** will receive:

- **Official Tech Hub Africa Certification:** A digital badge and certificate for your portfolio.

- **Ecosystem Exposure:** Features on our social media platforms and website to showcase your work to potential investors and partners.

- **Mentorship Opportunities:** Direct access to industry experts to help refine your project post-hackathon.

> **Note:** To ensure a fair competition, prizes are awarded based on the judging criteria including **Innovation**, **Technical Execution**, and **Scalability**. Whether you are an individual or a team, the prize amount remains the same per placing.

# 🌍Eligibility:

- Developers

- Students

- Startups

- Innovators across **Africa and the world!**

# Judging criteria

Each project will be evaluated on a scale of **1 to 5** across four key categories, for a maximum total of **20 points**. Our judges are looking for solutions that aren't just technically sound, but are also ready to make a difference in our community.

### **1. Design & Technological Implementation (5 Points)**

- **Core Functionality:** Does the solution actually work? Is the code stable and functional?

- **Implementability:** How realistic is it to deploy this in Ghana today?

- **User Experience:** Did the team prioritize a clean, intuitive User Interface (UI) and a seamless User Experience (UX) for the end-user?

### **2. Technical Complexity (5 Points)**

- **Innovation in Build:** Is the project technically impressive or sophisticated in its execution?

- **Problem Solving:** How elegantly does the solution address the specific technical hurdles of the chosen track (e.g., real-time traffic data or energy grid optimization)?

- **Code Quality:** Is the submission well-documented, clean, and professional?

### **3. Potential Impact (5 Points)**

- **Community Value:** How significant is the potential impact on end-users in Ghana?

- **Scalability:** Does the project show potential for wide adoption across different regions or cities?

- **Ecosystem Contribution:** Does the project provide substantial new value to Tech Hub Africa’s mission of solving infrastructure and environmental challenges?

### **4. Quality & Innovation of the Idea (5 Points)**

- **Originality:** How creative and unique is the approach? Is it a fresh take on a persistent problem?

- **Vision:** Does the project show a deep understanding of the problem and a visionary way to fix it?

- **"Wow" Factor:** Does the idea stand out from standard solutions in the field?

Who can win the prizes?

# Contact us

[https://techhubafrica.org/contact-us](https://techhubafrica.org/contact-us)

# About us

**Our Vision**

To create a future where Africa is recognized as a global leader in technology, science, and engineering, where innovation thrives, and talent is nurtured, and where the continent's contributions are celebrated and valued, leading to a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous digital age for all Africans.

**Our Mission**

Empowering Africa's tech ecosystem by connecting innovators, fostering talent, and showcasing excellence in technology, science, and engineering, to promote a vibrant and inclusive digital future for the continent.