Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025 Launches with $1 Million Prize Pool
Two nonprofit organizations, the Hashgraph Association and the Exponential Science Foundation, have jointly announced the Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025, a major initiative aiming to catalyze Web3 and artificial intelligence adoption across the African continent.
The hackathon, running from August 1 to September 30, boasts a prize pool of $1 million USD and targets participation from over 10,000 developers, students and entrepreneurs across 15 African nations, officials announced.
Organized by the Switzerland-based Hashgraph Association and the tech-focused Exponential Science Foundation, the event is open globally, with emphasis on identifying and nurturing technological innovation directly applicable to African contexts.
“We aim to use technologies that converge Web3 with AI to create transparent cognitive solutions that optimize processes and facilitate decision-making and automate execution,” explained Kamal Youssefi, president of the Hashgraph Association’s board of directors.
Four Technical Tracks and On-Site Engagement
All competitive projects will be constructed upon the Hedera network, with submissions required to adhere to four specified tracks:
- On-chain Finance & Real-World Asset Tokenization
- ESG Sustainability & Traceability
- Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) & AI
- Gaming, Metaverse & Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
Juries will evaluate approximately 15 top teams based on factors including innovation, business impact, and alignment to the event’s overarching objectives in awarding the prize money.
Significant onsite activities are scheduled for more than 20 African cities, including Lagos, Cairo, Nairobi, Kinshasa, Cape Town, Casablanca and Tunis.
Interest in the continent’s Web3 possibilities has markedly increased, with over 50 ecosystem partners and more than 100 universities along with tech innovation hubs already having committed to the initiative.
Africa’s Tech Talent and Web3 Imperative
The organizers stress Africa’s unique position in the global tech landscape — citing its substantial youth demographic, which offers enormous potential alongside its tech innovation capabilities.
“Africa brings a unique advantage to Web3, a demographic edge and a proven capacity for digital adoption,” observed Paolo Tasca, executive chairman of the Exponential Science Foundation. “Yet considerable work remains regarding foundational infrastructure and educational frameworks.”
Contemporary government initiatives also demonstrate growing strategic interest, exemplified by Nigeria’s recent commitment to annually train 1,000 individuals in artificial intelligence and blockchain expertise.
