Call for Applications: Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025 ($20,000 in prizes)

Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025 is powered by Future Africa and in collaboration with Ilorin Tech Hub, CcHub, and IHS. The theme Resource-Constrained Computing is a pan-African challenge designed to spotlight and empower the next generation of innovators solving complex problems with limited resources.

Whether it’s building AI models on edge devices, designing offline-first systems, decentralized compute or developing energy-efficient tech, this challenge invites you to rethink what’s possible when constraints inspire creativity.

Resource-constrained computing solutions focus on optimizing computational tasks when resources like power, memory, and processing capabilities are limited, often in devices like communication devices, sensors, and embedded systems.

This isn’t just about code or hardware—it’s about the journey. We’re looking for builders who can not only create solutions, but also tell the story of how they solved for Africa’s unique infrastructural realities.

From agriculture to fintech, education to health, participants are encouraged to build in any domain—so long as your solution thrives under real-world constraints.

Requirements

What to Build:

Build a working prototype that solves a real-world problem using resource-constrained computing. This could mean low-power solutions, offline capabilities, small-data AI models, efficient edge computing, or any smart adaptation to limited computing environments.

Your solution can apply to any domain: healthcare, education, smart cities, fintech, climate, entertainment, agriculture, gaming and beyond.

What to Submit:

• A functional prototype or demo of your solution
• A comprehensive project report including:
  • Problem definition and context
  • Identified constraints (e.g. power, data, compute, connectivity)
  • Documentation of design alternatives and final decisions
  • Tools used (AI, IoT, etc.) and why they were chosen
  • Performance tests and benchmarks
  • Screenshots or short videos showing your build in action
• A short video (max 2 minutes) explaining your solution and development journey
• Updated documentation and video (if part of semi-final or final round)

Prizes:

First Place: $8,000 in cash, 1 winner

• $8,000 USD Equity-Free Grant: Fuel your growth with capital—no strings attached. Use it to refine your prototype, conduct more testing, or kickstart your startup journey.
• 2 Months of Tailored Mentorship
Get matched with top-tier engineers, product experts, and industry mentors to help you enhance your solution and prepare for investment.
• Direct Access to Investment Pipeline
Fast-track conversations with early-stage deep tech investors interested in Africa’s most promising wildcard talent.
• Media Exposure + Feature Spotlights
Get profiled across our platforms and partner media outlets, giving your work and your voice visibility across the continent and beyond.
• Post-Challenge Support
Continued visibility and support through our innovation network, including startup accelerators, dev communities, and infrastructure partners.

Second Place, $5,000 in cash, 1 winner

• $5,000 USD Equity-Free Grant: Fuel your growth with capital—no strings attached. Use it to refine your prototype, conduct more testing, or kickstart your startup journey.
• 2 Months of Tailored Mentorship
Get matched with top-tier engineers, product experts, and industry mentors to help you enhance your solution and prepare for investment.
• Direct Access to Investment Pipeline
Fast-track conversations with early-stage deep tech investors interested in Africa’s most promising wildcard talent.
• Media Exposure + Feature Spotlights
Get profiled across our platforms and partner media outlets, giving your work and your voice visibility across the continent and beyond.
• Post-Challenge Support
Continued visibility and support through our innovation network, including startup accelerators, dev communities, and infrastructure partners.

Third Place, $3,000 in cash, 1 winner

• $3,000 USD Equity-Free Grant: Fuel your growth with capital—no strings attached. Use it to refine your prototype, conduct more testing, or kickstart your startup journey.
• 2 Months of Tailored Mentorship
Get matched with top-tier engineers, product experts, and industry mentors to help you enhance your solution and prepare for investment.
• Direct Access to Investment Pipeline
Fast-track conversations with early-stage deep tech investors interested in Africa’s most promising wildcard talent.
• Media Exposure + Feature Spotlights
Get profiled across our platforms and partner media outlets, giving your work and your voice visibility across the continent and beyond.
• Post-Challenge Support
Continued visibility and support through our innovation network, including startup accelerators, dev communities, and infrastructure partners.

IHS Challenge Prize – Power Management Category, 1 winner
$4,000 in cash
• Category Focus: This prize recognizes innovative solutions that address power management challenges in telecom infrastructure, emphasizing sustainability, efficiency, and new business models. Solutions should align with IHS’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint, enhancing operational efficiency, and future-proofing its energy services across diverse environments.

• What We’re Looking For: Participants are encouraged to submit ideas that support innovation in Power Managed Services, including but not limited to:

– Solar Off-Grid Power Solutions
– Hybrid Power-as-a-Service Models
– Battery Optimization and Lifecycle Management
– Remote Power Monitoring Tools
– Carbon Reduction Technologies for Site Operations
– Power Efficiency Algorithms or Embedded Systems
– Predictive Maintenance for Energy Equipment
– Energy Trading/Load Balancing Between Sites
– Power Infrastructure Analytics

Get more details and apply HERE