Build for Hardware Lagos is a high-impact innovation hackathon focused on creating digital solutions that transform how hardware businesses market, sell, and grow in Lagos.

Lagos is home to thousands of hardware merchants, distributors, and suppliers who power construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure development. Yet many of these businesses still rely on traditional marketing and manual processes. This hackathon challenges developers, designers, and entrepreneurs to build smart, scalable tech solutions that modernize hardware marketing using APIs, AI, mobile technology, and digital platforms.

Participants will collaborate in teams to design and prototype products that improve customer engagement, inventory visibility, payments, logistics, and business analytics for hardware traders and suppliers.

Powered by Africa’s Talking, GoMyCode, and Interswitch, this event provides mentorship, technical resources, and industry exposure to help innovators turn ideas into real-world solutions.

The hackathon is not just about coding — it’s about building practical tools that solve real problems in Lagos’ hardware ecosystem and create sustainable business opportunities.

📌 Problem Statement

Lagos is one of Africa’s largest hubs for hardware trading, supplying materials for construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects. Despite its scale and importance, many hardware businesses still rely on manual processes, word-of-mouth marketing, and fragmented supply chains.

Key challenges include:

• Limited online presence and poor digital marketing

• Difficulty reaching new customers

• Inefficient inventory and order management

• Lack of real-time pricing and product visibility

• Poor access to digital payments and financing

• Weak customer engagement and retention

These challenges reduce business growth, limit competitiveness, and create inefficiencies across the hardware ecosystem.

The Build for Hardware Lagos Hackathon challenges innovators to design and develop technology-driven solutions that modernize how hardware businesses market, sell, and operate in Lagos.

🚀 Challenge Tracks

Participants can build solutions under any of the following tracks:

1️⃣ Digital Marketing & Customer Engagement

• Platforms for promoting hardware products online

• SMS, WhatsApp, and voice marketing tools

• Customer loyalty and referral systems

• Business listing and discovery apps

2️⃣ E-Commerce & Marketplaces

• Online marketplaces for hardware suppliers

• B2B ordering platforms

• Price comparison and quotation systems

• Bulk purchasing solutions

3️⃣ Inventory & Supply Chain Management

• Smart stock tracking systems

• Supplier–retailer connection platforms

• Logistics and delivery coordination tools

• Warehouse management solutions

4️⃣ Payments & Financial Solutions

• Digital payment integrations

• Credit and installment platforms

• Invoice and billing systems

• Sales and revenue tracking tools

5️⃣ Data, AI & Business Analytics

• Demand forecasting tools

• Sales trend analysis systems

• AI-powered recommendation engines

• Business intelligence dashboards

🏆 Prizes & Benefits

💰 Prizes

• 🥇 1st Place: Cash prize + Startup incubation support

• 🥈 2nd Place: Cash prize + Product development grants

• 🥉 3rd Place: Cash prize + Mentorship package

(Exact amounts to be announced)

🎯 Benefits for All Participants

• Access to Africa’s Talking APIs and tools

• Mentorship from industry experts and founders

• Startup exposure and investor visibility

• Networking with tech and business leaders

• Opportunity for partnership with sponsors