In a statement, the technology company said the pioneering event will bring together some of the brightest minds in AI and technology to create solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful impact in Rwanda.
The AI Connect Hackathon will unite 20 teams of AI developers, data scientists, and problem-solvers, challenging them to harness the power of artificial intelligence to create innovative solutions for public services, healthcare, education, customer service, agriculture, financial inclusion, education, and cybersecurity.
In under 48 hours, participants will work to build functional, AI-driven applications that address critical issues affecting Rwandan society.
'This hackathon goes beyond coding prototypes; it's about unlocking the transformative power of AI to ignite real change where it's needed most,' said Patrick Ndjientcheu, Irembo's Chief Product and Engineering Officer.
'We are committed to leveraging AI's boundless potential to address critical societal challenges, empower communities, and spark innovations that leave a lasting, meaningful impact on people's lives.'
Throughout the three-day event, participants will leverage large language models (LLMs) and locally built technologies to develop practical AI solutions.
Teams will have the opportunity to access IremboPay APIs to integrate cutting-edge digital payment solutions into their projects. Pindo, a partner of the event, will also provide access to its latest speech-to-text and text-to-speech AI model for voice-enabled applications.
Irembo AI experts will guide participants, helping them refine their ideas and push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.
On the final day, teams will pitch their solutions to a panel of distinguished judges, with the top innovations receiving prestigious recognition.
The judging criteria for the AI Connect Hackathon will focus on four key areas:
First, impactâ€"judges will assess the project's long-term potential for growth and its ability to improve people's lives. Second, creativityâ€"the originality and innovation of the AI application will be evaluated. Third, technical implementationâ€"the quality of the technology's execution will be taken into account. Finally, presentationâ€"the team's final pitch will be judged on how compelling and clear it is.
Prizes
The team that secures first place will receive RWF 5 million and VIP passes to the Global AI Summit on Africa in April 2025. The second-place team will be awarded RWF 2 million, while the third-place team will receive RWF 1 million.
In addition to cash prizes, the winning teams will gain invaluable exposure and recognition for their contributions in using AI for social good.
The event is co-organized with C4IR and supported by several other sponsors, including Pindo, GIZ, Andela, and QT Global Software. Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) will also offer internships to the winning teams, providing them with valuable hands-on experience and an opportunity to apply their solutions in real-world scenarios.
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