Are you a builder, technologist, or innovator based in Africa? The Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025 is now accepting applications—and this year’s competition is offering $20,000 in equity-free grants to outstanding solutions focused on resource-constrained computing. Whether you’re building offline-first apps, edge AI systems, or energy-efficient hardware, this is your opportunity to showcase how constraints fuel innovation.
Deadline to Apply: July 31, 2025 (2:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM EDT)
What is the Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025?
The Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025 is a prestigious, pan-African competition organized by the Africa Deep Tech Foundation, powered by Future Africa, in collaboration with CcHub, Ilorin Innovation Hub, and IHS Towers.
This challenge empowers African tech talent to build functional prototypes that address real-world challenges in environments with limited power, compute, memory, or internet access. Solutions can range from optimized telecom power systems to intelligent, offline-first software applications.
What to Build
Participants are expected to create a functional prototype tackling a real problem using deep-tech approaches under constraints like:
- Limited compute (e.g. low-memory processors, edge devices)
- Power constraints (e.g. solar, battery optimization)
- Offline access or low-bandwidth environments
- Cost-effective hardware design
Submission Requirements
Your submission package must include:
- A working prototype or proof-of-concept
- A clearly written problem statement and breakdown of resource constraints
- Technical documentation including:
- Tool and tech stack selection
- Performance metrics
- Constraint-aware decision making
- A 2-minute video walkthrough
- Screenshots or diagrams
- Open-source references where applicable
Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications Close | July 31, 2025 |
| Semi-finalists Announced | August 14, 2025 |
| Semi-final Submissions Due | August 28, 2025 |
| Finalists Announced | Early September 2025 |
| Live Finals | September 13, 2025 |
Who Can Apply?
- Teams of up to 4 people, or solo participants
- Must reside in Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and 40+ others)
- No prior startup experience required
- Must submit original work (open-source usage encouraged)
Prizes
Total prize pool: $20,000 in non-dilutive grants, including:
- 🥇 1st Prize – $8,000 + mentorship, exposure, investor connections
- 🥈 2nd Prize – $5,000 + same support package
- 🥉 3rd Prize – $3,000 + post-challenge support
- ⚡ IHS Power Management Award – $4,000 for best energy optimization solution in telecom and infrastructure
All finalists will also receive:
- Raspberry Pi kits
- Cloud credits
- Access to future incubation, investor networks, and mentorship
Judging Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Technical Implementation – 30%
- Creative Problem Solving – 30%
- Documentation of Development Process – 20%
- Tool Orchestration – 10%
- Usability & Relevance – 10%
How to Apply
To join the Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025:
👉 Apply Now via Devpost
Deadline: July 31, 2025
💡 Expert Tip from GrantsDatabase.org
“We strongly advise applicants to focus not just on the prototype but on storytelling. Judges want to understand your why—the local problem, your thought process, and how your tech choices directly address real-world constraints. Visuals and clarity in documentation can make or break your proposal.”
— GrantsDatabase.org Editorial Team
If you’re unsure how to structure your proposal, contact GrantsDatabase.org for proposal drafting, refining, and review.
Final Thoughts
The Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025 is not just a funding opportunity—it’s a launchpad for African innovators to solve local problems with cutting-edge thinking. If you’re passionate about resourceful, resilient tech, this challenge is built for you.
Let your ideas thrive under pressure—because innovation isn’t about having more, it’s about doing more with less.
