Geekulcha Annual Hackathon 2025
FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED

What is it about?

The Geekulcha Annual Hackathon is the ultimate hackathon with a collection of diverse skills from across the continent, building and create solutions for impact for the common society. Curated together with Lolwe AI & Robotics Studio.

In 2025, no new solutions will be allowed at the hackathon and developers/innovators are challenged to finish what they started, especially from other hackathons.

How do we register?

You simply need to fill in your email address below and then create a Sonke account for the hackathon workspace. If you already have Sonke account, you will be redirected into the workspace (you may need to login).

All team members need to register and be added to your team.

CAN I WORK ALONE? Yes but you still need to profile your team on Sonke.

What are the requirements?

• Register for the hackathon (before 29 August 2025) using the form below to, enter your email address for Sonke.
• After creating the Sonke account, register your team (click PROFILE TEAM) button on the dashboard. Check if your team members have not done this.
• Fill in the team profile and the project you want to work on.
• For South Africa: Fill in the Technology Readiness Level, up to Level 3 is a key requirement.
• If selected for physical participation, bring along an item donate for needy (e.g. cans of food, books, sanitary towels, clothese, etc.).

What do we build actually?

The hackathon has a high level theme of Harnessing Intelligence for Sustainable Development is a key theme of the hackathon with an aim to:

• Encourage participants to develop intelligent systems (AI, data-driven tools, automation, IoT, etc.) that tackle sustainability issues in local communities.
• Promote solutions that are not only technically viable but also ethically sound, environmentally conscious, and socially inclusive.
• The theme reflects a growing need to apply data, digital intelligence, and innovative thinking to address the most pressing sustainability challenges, social, economic, environmental, and infrastructural.

NB: For South Africa, work on any project (from your localhost or past hackathons) or a winning solution from the Telkom 10-X Hackathons.

How will virtual participation work?

A Virtual Command Centre will be set up at the hackathon venue to support virtual participation as well as always-on breakout rooms for virtual conferencing. Sonke will be used for reach to mentors and organisers for your needs.

Presentations and other hackathon sessions will be done through a conference call.

The Kenya and South Africa story

This is one hackathon with same schedule for submission and judging process. There may be additional activities in the different countries to help the experience even more worthwhile and look forward to hosting you in Centurion (South Africa), Kisumu (Kenya) and Virtual.

Kickoff will be 3PM on the Friday and then ends on Sunday 4PM SAST (4PM and 5PM Kenyan time, respectively).