#BuildwithAT #WeloveNerds #WomenInTech

Overview:

Join Africa’s Talking for an exciting Women in Technology Hackathon themed Freelancing and Gig Economy Platforms! This hackathon challenges participants to design and build innovative platforms that empower freelancers, gig workers, and digital entrepreneurs across Africa. Using Africa’s Talking APIs (SMS, USSD, Voice, Airtime and Data, Insights, Chat and more), participants will create solutions that simplify job discovery, payments, communication, and trust within the growing gig economy.

From building freelance marketplaces and automated payment systems to creating tools that help workers manage gigs, track earnings, and connect with clients, this hackathon is your chance to shape the future of work. If you’re passionate about digital platforms, entrepreneurship, and financial empowerment, come collaborate with other brilliant women in tech and build solutions that unlock opportunities for millions.

Why Attend?

• Empower the Future of Work: Use technology to create opportunities for freelancers and digital workers across Africa.

• Hands-On API Experience: Learn how to integrate Africa’s Talking APIs to power communication, payments, and automation within your platform.

• Collaborate with Innovators: Work alongside talented women developers, designers, and entrepreneurs passionate about the gig economy.

• Build Portfolio-Ready Solutions: Turn your idea into a functional prototype that demonstrates your technical and product skills.

• Showcase Your Innovation: Present your solution to judges and ecosystem partners who can help bring your platform to life.

Key Focus Areas:

• Freelance Marketplace Platforms

  Develop platforms that connect freelancers with clients for services such as design, development, writing, tutoring, and other gig-based work.

• Secure Payments & Escrow Systems

  Build systems that use Africa’s Talking Payments APIs to enable secure transactions, milestone payments, and escrow services for gig work

• Job Matching & Smart Notifications

  Create intelligent job-matching tools that notify freelancers about relevant gigs using SMS, USSD, or chat integrations.

• Gig Worker Tools & Productivity Platforms

  Design tools that help freelancers track tasks, manage multiple clients, organize contracts, and monitor earnings.

• Trust, Reputation & Verification Systems

  Develop solutions for identity verification, ratings, and review systems that help build trust between freelancers and clients.

• Skills Development & Mentorship Platforms

  Build platforms that connect freelancers to training, mentorship, and community networks that help them grow their careers.

Target Attendees:

The hackathon is open to anyone passionate about hardware, software, IoT, and API integration. This is for:

• Software Developers and Engineers

• Data Scientists and IoT Enthusiasts

• Entrepreneurs and Startup Builders

• People Interested in Fintech and Digital Platforms

• Government and NGOs

Then this hackathon is for you!

These diverse groups of attendees will bring a range of skills, perspectives, and ideas to the hackathon, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment for innovation.

All developers, from all fields, are welcome for the hackathon.

What to Expect as an Attendee:

• Cutting-Edge Tools and Technologies: Gain access to Africa's Talking APIs and SDKs, specifically designed to streamline implementation and ensure a seamless experience.

• Mentorship and Guidance: Collaborate closely with seasoned experts from Africa's Talking, who will serve as mentors throughout the hackathon. Benefit from their guidance, insights, and support as we build together.

• Expand Your Network: As a member of our community, you'll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, potential collaborators, and industry professionals. Build valuable relationships that can propel your career or projects to new heights.

• Exciting Rewards and Recognition: Get a chance to win cash prizes and earn recognition for your innovative solutions. Get to receive accolades for your contributions through our social media, potential collaborators and other platforms.

• Exposure to other women in tech opportunities.

Solution Criteria:

• Use of Africa's Talking APIs: How effectively the project utilizes one or more of the Africa's Talking APIs i.e. SMS, USSD, Airtime, Voice, Insights, Chat.

• Innovation: The originality and creativity of the project idea and implementation.

• User Experience: How well the project meets user needs and provides an intuitive and seamless experience.

• Functionality: How well the project performs the intended functionality and handles errors and edge cases.

• Presentation: The clarity and effectiveness of the project demonstration and pitch.

New to Africa's Talking? Get started here.

Publish on Africa's Talking Marketplace

Marketplace : Publish your plugin/app for our customer and Call Back as a Service

Developer Documentation (We welcome feedback)

THEME: Freelancing and Gig Economy Platforms

The winning solution will receive cash prizes as follows:

• Winner - $100

• 1st Runners Up - $50

• 2nd Runners Up - $25

Social Media give-aways too!

More exclusive prizes and giveaways to attendees.

Contribute to open-source.

Agenda:

1. Introductions

2. Overview

• Technical hands-on session

3. Ideation

• Form teams where need be.

• Feedback

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

5. Demonstration and Wrap-up

• Teams or individuals will demonstrate what they have hacked for feedback or adoption.

Note: Carry a laptop

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

Join our community channels:

• Community Page:

  • Join Africa's Talking Women In Tech Community here

• Twitter (X):

  • Follow Our Page on X here

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

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 Women in Technology Team. 

Everyone is welcome!

Transport:

• Those who register by Monday 23rd March 2026, will receive a transport code to redeem for transport to and from the hackathon venue.