The Africa’s Talking Open Hackathon is an immersive, innovation-driven event that brings together developers, engineers, and tech enthusiasts to build groundbreaking construction technology (ConTech) solutions. The construction industry is ripe for digital transformation with the growing demand for smart infrastructure, safety, and efficient project management. This hackathon provides a unique opportunity for participants to develop innovative applications using Africa’s Talking APIs to enhance construction workflows, safety protocols, and communication across teams and sites.

The focus of this hackathon is to bridge the gap between the construction sector and digital communication, empowering developers to create solutions that improve site safety, optimize project timelines, and foster real-time collaboration. Participants will leverage Africa’s Talking tools, collaborate on real-world construction challenges, and develop applications that streamline operations and improve outcomes in the construction, engineering, and real estate sectors.

This event is not just about coding; it is about building impactful, real-world construction tech solutions. Developers, innovators, and ConTech enthusiasts will collaborate, prototype, and deploy functional solutions that leverage Africa’s Talking’s robust APIs for enhanced efficiency and communication in construction projects.



Challenges Addressed in the Kenyan Market

Kenya, like many nations, faces numerous challenges in the construction sector, including delays, budget overruns, safety issues, and lack of transparency. This hackathon aims to tackle these problems using Africa’s Talking API capabilities to improve efficiency, accountability, and communication on construction sites.

Real-time Communication and Project Coordination

• Instant site updates and progress tracking via SMS or USSD.

• Real-time alerts for project milestones, delays, and material deliveries.

• On-site/off-site team coordination using Voice and SMS.

Construction Safety and Compliance

• Emergency alert systems using SMS and Voice APIs.

• Safety incident reporting platforms with real-time notifications.

• Worker attendance and check-in systems using USSD.

Material and Asset Tracking

• Inventory and equipment tracking systems using SMS-based updates.

• Automated restocking alerts and delivery confirmations.

• Site access control and monitoring using API-integrated authentication.

Workforce and Labor Management

• Daily worker logs and time tracking through USSD/SMS.

• Payment disbursement solutions via Africa’s Talking Payment APIs.

• Shift management and labor deployment dashboards.

And More

Hackathon Objectives

The Africa’s Talking Open Hackathon aims to empower developers, startups, and innovators by providing tools and platforms to create high-impact ConTech solutions. Our key objectives include:

• Improving Site Communication and Coordination
  Enable developers to build tools that streamline communication between stakeholders and teams.

• Enhancing Safety and Compliance
  Leverage Africa’s Talking APIs to build systems that prioritize worker safety and ensure regulation compliance.

• Optimizing Project Management
  Address challenges in project planning, material tracking, and labor management with tech-driven solutions.

• Building Scalable and Deployable Solutions
  Develop construction tech projects that can be implemented across different scales and project types.

• Fostering Collaboration and Learning
  Bring together tech enthusiasts and construction experts to collaborate, learn, and build impactful solutions.

• And More
  

What Nerds Should Expect

If you’re a developer, engineer, or construction tech enthusiast, this is your chance to push the boundaries of innovation. Here’s what you can expect:

Hands-on API Access

• Learn how to integrate Africa’s Talking SMS, USSD, and Voice APIs in construction use cases.

• Explore real-time site monitoring, team coordination, and alert systems.

Access to Africa’s Talking Developer Tools

• Free access to Africa’s Talking APIs throughout the hackathon.

• Documentation, sample codes, and expert support from Africa’s Talking engineers.

Mentorship from Industry Experts

• Sessions with construction engineers, project managers, and API developers.

• Personalized guidance to help shape your ideas into scalable solutions.

A Collaborative, High-energy Environment

• Meet like-minded innovators and network with potential collaborators, investors, and mentors.

• Exchange ideas and explore future tech partnerships.

Competitive Prizes and Recognition

• Cash prizes, incubation opportunities, and developer credits for winning teams.

• Recognition in the Africa’s Talking developer community and beyond.

Real-world Problem Solving

• Work on solutions that can be implemented nationwide and across Africa.

• Collaborate with industry leaders to turn your ideas into impactful projects.

Target Nerds:

The hackathon is open to anyone passionate about construction technology, software development, and API integration. If you are:

• A software developer eager to explore ConTech applications.

• A construction enthusiast interested in building smart construction systems.

• A startup founder looking to innovate in construction, engineering, or real estate.

• A student or tech enthusiast willing to learn and collaborate.

• Construction industry experts

Then this hackathon is for you!

New to Africa's Talking? Get started here

Developer Documentation: here (We welcome feedback)

THEME: Construction  Solution

The winning solution will receive cash prizes as follows (This can change depending on with the resources available):

• Winner - $100

• 1st Runners Up - $50

• 2nd Runners Up - $25

Africa's Talking powers communications solutions across Africa with simplified access to telco infrastructure, developers use our powerful SMS, USSD, Voice, Chat, Insights, Airtime, and Mobile Data to bring your ideas to life, as you build and sustain scalable businesses.

Agenda:

1. Warm-Up

• Introductions

• Form teams where needed.

• Feedback

• Feature requests

2. Building/hacking: Code in GitHub/GitLab/BitBucket and deploy in Docker/Automated CI/Travis CI/Bamboo

Note: This section needs additional setup.

• Upon commit, the repository is built and deployed to an accessible web server or an S3 bucket. Technology used.

3. Demonstration and Wrap-up

• Opportunities

• Network

• Innovate

• Access to our Talent bench (You can get a job or a gig on the spot)
  

Submit your Idea:
Hackathon idea submission form

Gigs:

We would love to reach out to you so that you can build for our customers, please fill out this form with details to ensure we have your details:

• GIG/HACK DEVELOPER PORTFOLIO FORM

Join community channels:

1. Slack & WhatsApp:

   Join Africa's Talking slack community here

   Join Elarian Slack community here

2. Please follow us on Twitter handles to:

• @AfricasTalking

You can get our videos, recaps, and event interviews on our youtube channels, subscribe to get updates:

• Africa's Talking Youtube Channel

• Elarian Youtube Channel

Africa's Talking community allows developers to learn skills for the modern-day African Developer. We are language and framework agnostic. All developers are welcome. This is where Africa's Talking developers community meets to build, learn and exchange knowledge.

We are helping software developers and businesses to bring their ideas to life through easy-to-use APIs quickly.

Would you like to partner with us? Kindly contact the Developer Experience Team.