This edition features an interview about A2SV's hackathon initiative - fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across African tech communities through generative AI.

What inspired A2SV to create the hackathon, and what was the vision behind it?

A2SV created the hackathon to spark ideas that could evolve into viable products "built by Africans, for Africans, in Africa." When OpenAI introduced public interfaces to generative AI, we recognized the potential to revolutionize industries and inspire the next generation of African tech leaders. We wanted to create a continent-wide event to highlight African talent and go beyond the usual short-term boot camps.

How did the 2023 hackathon go? What were the results?

The inaugural event exceeded all expectations. Despite limited marketing budgets, it reached 47 countries with over 3,700 participants. The response was overwhelming, with brilliant ideas coming from talented students across the continent. We maintained a $30K prize pool, and the hackathon spanned three months with multiple stages.

The hackathon structure:

• Quarterfinals: Participants paired with industry mentors
• Semifinals: Projects assigned domain-specific advisors, lasting approximately two months
• Finals: Top 8 teams traveled to Ethiopia for expo showcases and judging

Some finalists and winning projects have continued their journeys beyond the hackathon, incorporating and securing additional funding.

What's new for the 2024 edition?

This year features expanded global mentorship networks, with registrations from Meta, Google, TikTok, Salesforce, and LinkedIn - significantly broadening expertise beyond A2SV's internal network. We've improved the support structure and increased the scale of the event.

What's the future vision for the hackathon?

Plans include building a founder community encompassing all participants, enhanced post-hackathon support systems, and eventual expansion to worldwide hackathons, though current focus remains on Africa. We want to create a lasting platform where the best minds come together.

How has A2SV's broader mission evolved over these 5 years?

In five years, A2SV has provided free tech education for 800+ African students, launched 7 impactful projects addressing healthcare, education, and community development, created 150+ jobs for alumni, and secured 60+ job offers from leading tech companies.