uild groundbreaking, efficient, and scalable technologies that could shape the future of computing in Africa—and beyond. The most compelling innovators will get funding, mentorship, and access to a pipeline of deep tech investment opportunities.

Funding Information

• First Prize:
  • $8,000 USD Equity-Free Grant
  • 2 Months of Tailored Mentorship
  • Direct Access to Investment Pipeline
  • Media Exposure + Feature Spotlights
  • Post-Challenge Support
• Second Prize:
  • $5,000 USD Equity-Free Grant
  • 2 Months of Tailored Mentorship
  • Direct Access to Investment Pipeline
  • Media Exposure + Feature Spotlights
  • Post-Challenge Support
• Third Prize:
  • $3,000 USD Equity-Free Grant
  • 2 Months of Tailored Mentorship
  • Direct Access to Investment Pipeline
  • Media Exposure + Feature Spotlights
  • Post-Challenge Support
• IHS Challenge Prize
  • Power Management Category:
    • $4,000 USD Equity-Free Grant
• Finalists (At Most 10):
  • Live demo opportunity during the finals
  • 1:1 mentorship with deep tech professionals
  • Professional documentation support
  • Access to partner network
• Semi-Finalists (At most 20):
  • Recognition certificate
  • Access to mentorship, workshops, and extended learning resources

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to individuals or teams of up to 4 members.
• Participants must be aged 18 or older and reside in any of the listed African countries.
• No prior startup or funding status required—this challenge is for emerging innovators.
• All submissions must be the original work of the team.
• Teams can use open-source tools or libraries but must cite them clearly.
• You agree to the Challenge Participation Agreement.

Judging Criteria

• Technical Implementation
  • Functionality and performance in resource-constrained environments
  • Application and understanding of first principles
  • Code/Hardware quality and efficiency
  • Integration of complementary deep technologies
  • Effective use of limited computing resources
• Creative Problem-Solving
  • Novel approaches to addressing constraints
  • Elegant solutions to complex problems
  • Innovative application of existing technologies
  • Adaptability to varying resource limitations
• Process Documentation
  • Quality and comprehensiveness of development documentation
  • Clarity of thought process and decision-making
  • Evidence of learning and iteration
  • Transparency about challenges and solutions
• Tool Orchestration
  • Effective use of AI and other tools in the development process
  • Strategic application of automation where appropriate
  • Balance between human creativity and AI assistance
  • Documentation of tool selection and usage
• Relevance to African Context
  • Practical application in African contexts
  • User experience considerations
  • Potential for real-world impact
  • Scalability in resource-constrained environments

Application Requirements

• A working prototype that addresses a real-world challenge using resource-constrained computing principles (e.g., limited power, low compute, offline functionality).
• A comprehensive documentation package including:
  • Problem definition and identified constraints
  • Alternative design explorations and final decisions
  • Tools and technologies used (especially AI, IoT, ML, etc.)
  • Technical implementation details and performance benchmarks
  • Screenshots or short video walkthroughs of the development process
  • Final video presentation (max 2 mins) demonstrating the solution and journey
• Semi-finalists and finalists will be required to submit updated documentation and enhanced versions of their solutions.

For more information, visit Devpost.