Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2026
The Laptop
LLM Challenge
On-Device AI for the Hardware Africa Actually Has
AI that belongs to you, running on the hardware you already have.
You could be the one to democratize access to low-cost inference for the continent.
The Three-Gate Funnel
Build to pass. There is no proposal-only stage.
Gate 1 - Submission Package
Due August 25, 2026
Submit your open-source repo, structured REPORT.md, and 2-minute demo video.
Deliverables
- Open-source GitHub repo (ADTC 2026 submission template)
- REPORT.md — problem definition, constraints, design decisions, tools & benchmarks
- Screenshots or short video clips showing your model running
- 2-minute video — your solution and development journey
- Bonus claims: African language support / budget laptop
Gate 2 - Activities & Audit
September 8 - September 29, 2026
Technical reproducibility audit and technical Q&A session.
Deliverables
- 30-minute technical Q&A session (scheduled)
- Prompt responses to reviewer clarification requests
- Optional: 1-page response to feedback
- Optional: updated benchmark report
Gate 3 - The Final Package
Due October 17, 2026
Finalists prepare for the live defense and winner announcement.
Deliverables
- Final pitch deck (max 10 slides)
- Live-session attendance confirmation
- Technical setup verification
Prizes & Recognition
Recognizing breakthrough efficiency and local innovation.
Grand Prize
The main prize. Includes the 6-month scale-up residency suite: Venture Demo Day, Pilot Matchmaking, legal/patent clinics, and the ADTC Certified badge.
Top prize
$8,000
Cash award
Runner-Up
Core finalist award. Includes a 3-month residency with Pilot Matchmaking and Venture Demo Day access.
Best Integration Award
Specialized award for the team that builds the most load-bearing and robust cross-disciplinary deep-tech pairing.
Best Localisation Award
Specialized award for demonstrating the deepest integration with African languages, offline data, or local contextual depth.
GPU Credits (Finalist)
$250 in GPU cloud compute credits for training and inference, awarded to up to 10 finalists.
GPU Credits (Semifinalist)
$50 in GPU cloud compute credits for training and inference, awarded to up to 20 semi-finalists.
Get Started
Three steps to enter.
Gate 1 is open. Register, form your team, and start building.
Register on DevPost
Create your free submission on DevPost and officially join the challenge.
Form your team
Work solo or form a team of up to 3 people. Pick your problem domain from the 7 tracks.
Check the rules and build
Read the submission requirements, clone the starter template, and start engineering.
Partners
The ecosystem behind the builders.
ADTC 2026 depends on infrastructure, community reach, technical support, and deployment pathways. These partners represent current and previous ADTF challenge and conference collaborators relevant to this work.
Ecosystem Partners
Community Partners
