In a major push to advance tech skills across the continent, co-hosted the , drawing 50 university students from across Africa for a 24-hour innovation sprint.

Participants were challenged to develop in five key sectors: , and . Agriculture, vital to Africa’s economy, emerged as a dominant theme.

The built an AI platform to predict market prices for produce by combining historical data, real-time trends, and weather forecasts. The tool aims to reduce price volatility and empower smallholder farmers.

Two teams tied for second. One created a that works offline and in local languages. The other developed an for infrastructure planning, adapted for agricultural use with features like irrigation mapping.

Winners received , while runners-up were awarded smartwatches. Beyond prizes, participants received mentorship from experts across academia, tech, and government.

Konza Technopolis’ Josephine Ndambuki said the initiative aligns with Kenya’s ambition to become a hub for AI innovation. Qhala CEO Dr. Shikoh Gitau emphasized the need for , while Huawei’s Adam Lane highlighted the importance of local capacity-building.

Organizers hailed the event as a success and plan to scale future editions, reinforcing Africa’s growing role in shaping the global AI landscape.