Innovate Africa Fund Wicked Innovation Labs Hackathon 2025 ($2,000 prize)

The Innovate Africa Fund backs innovators addressing the world’s most wicked problems through innovative and sustainable solutions. This year, they are pleased to launch the annual Wicked Innovation Prize Competition in partnership with the Innovate Africa Foundation.

“Necessity is the mother of invention, and true innovation solves problems.” This mantra challenges innovators, creators, thinkers, and tinkerers to collaborate and develop impactful solutions. The ideathon serves as a catalyst, identifying pressing problems and inspiring teams to tackle them with creativity and ingenuity. Innovation is not just about new ideas; it’s about solving real-world challenges that matter. When necessity drives invention, groundbreaking solutions emerge—ones that transform industries, improve lives, and shape the future. This challenge calls for bold minds to form teams, pool expertise, and harness their collective potential to create meaningful change. By focusing on the most compelling problems, participants can push the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether through technology, design, or strategy, true innovators recognize that the best ideas address genuine needs. Step up, embrace the challenge, and let necessity spark the next great invention.

Prize of Innovate Africa

• $2,000 prize for the team with the strongest and best tested prototype at the end of the second Hackathon sprint.

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Eligibility for Innovate Africa

• Open to innovators, creators, thinkers and tinkerers.
• Applicants should be based in Africa.

Criteria

• Depth of understanding of the problem.
• Novelty and feasibility of the product approach.
• Team’s combined skills and expertise.
• Successful sprint completion.
• Successful test of prototype.

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Application

Applicants must select one of the shortlisted problem statements and submit information about their complete team and approach.

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