Hackathon theme background
Hack4Futo 2025
October 15-16, 2025

Unlocking Access, Fueling Innovation

Develop impactful solutions that expand access, empower people, and solve pressing problems—whether through software, hardware, or hybrid innovations

48-Hour Hackathon
₦2M in Prizes
4 Challenge Tracks
Theme Overview

Unlocking Access, Fueling Innovation

This hackathon challenges participants to develop impactful solutions that expand access, empower people, and solve pressing problems—whether through software, hardware, or hybrid innovations.

Innovation with purpose

Innovation with Purpose

Creating technology that makes a real difference

The Challenge

Develop innovative solutions that expand access, empower people, and solve pressing problems across financial wellbeing, learning, future-ready skills, and everyday impact.

Our Approach

We believe in human-centered design. Your solutions should be developed with a deep understanding of the needs and constraints of the communities they aim to serve.

The Impact

The most promising solutions will have the opportunity to be developed further with support from our industry partners and potential funding opportunities.

Challenge Tracks

Choose Your Impact Area

Participants can choose to focus on one of the following challenge tracks. Each track addresses a critical area where technology can make a significant impact.

Financial Wellbeing
Enable individuals—especially young adults and underserved communities—to better manage their finances, access opportunities, and build long-term financial resilience.

Budgeting & saving tools

Financial literacy education

Access to funding opportunities

Learning & Personal Development
Improve the learning experience and personal growth journey—both in and beyond traditional academic settings.

Stress reduction tools

Productivity enhancement

Collaborative learning platforms

Future-Ready Skills
Equip individuals with the skills and tools needed for a rapidly changing world.

Career readiness platforms

Digital literacy tools

Entrepreneurship support

Everyday Impact (Hardware/Hybrid)
Design hardware or hybrid solutions that solve real-world problems or make daily life better.

Health & accessibility tools

Safety & efficiency devices

Sustainable living solutions

Judging Criteria

How Projects Will Be Evaluated

Each track has specific judging criteria to ensure solutions are evaluated based on their relevance to the challenge.

Financial Wellbeing

  • 1

    Relevance

    Does the solution address real financial challenges faced by the target audience?

  • 2

    Impact

    Can it meaningfully improve the financial health of users?

  • 3

    Usability

    Is it intuitive and easy to adopt for non-experts?

  • 4

    Innovation

    Does it offer a unique or transformative approach to financial wellbeing?

Learning & Personal Development

  • 1

    Problem-Solution Fit

    Does it solve a real problem related to learning or personal development?

  • 2

    Effectiveness

    Can it enhance outcomes like knowledge retention, focus, or personal growth?

  • 3

    Scalability

    Can it be adopted by a broad audience?

  • 4

    User Experience

    Is it enjoyable, accessible, and engaging to use?

Future-Ready Skills

  • 1

    Skill Relevance

    Are the targeted skills aligned with future job markets and life challenges?

  • 2

    Engagement

    Does the solution encourage active learning or participation?

  • 3

    Accessibility

    Can people from diverse backgrounds benefit from it?

  • 4

    Innovation

    Does it use creative methods or formats for teaching and growth?

Everyday Impact (Hardware/Hybrid)

  • 1

    Practical Impact

    Does the solution solve a real and relatable problem effectively?

  • 2

    Feasibility

    Can it realistically be built, deployed, and used at scale?

  • 3

    Sustainability

    Is it resource-efficient and built for long-term use?

  • 4

    Creativity

    Is the design or use of technology novel, elegant, or unique?

Event Timeline

Key Dates & Deadlines

Mark your calendar with these important dates to ensure you don't miss any part of the Hack4Futo 2025 experience.

June 10, 2025

Registration Opens

Registration for Hack4Futo 2025 begins. Early registrants gain access to exclusive resources and mentorship.

June 15, 2025

Pre-Hackathon Workshops & Briefing

Online sessions on technologies, design thinking, and problem-solving to help participants prepare for the hackathon.

June 20, 2025

Initial Build Period Begins

Teams officially begin developing their solutions. Use this time to turn your ideas into working prototypes.

July 15, 2025

Initial Build Period Ends

Teams must submit their initial builds for review. No edits will be accepted after this deadline.

July 16, 2025

Initial Build Presentations

Teams will present their initial projects to judges. Evaluations will determine which teams advance to the finals.

July 17, 2025

Final Team Announcement

Finalists are announced based on performance. These teams will move forward to the final stage of the hackathon.

August 9, 2025

Demo Day

Finalists showcase their solutions to investors, tech leaders, and the public. Includes awards and closing ceremony.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about the hackathon theme and challenges.

Can I work on a challenge that spans multiple tracks?

Yes! We encourage interdisciplinary solutions. You can work on a project that addresses challenges across multiple tracks, but you'll need to specify a primary track for judging purposes.

Do I need to have a technical background to participate?

Not necessarily. We welcome participants with diverse backgrounds, including design, business, and domain expertise. Teams with a mix of skills often create the most innovative solutions.

Can I start working on my project before the hackathon?

You can research and brainstorm ideas before the event, but all coding and design work must be done during the 48-hour hackathon period. Pre-existing code or projects are not allowed.

What technologies can I use for my solution?

You can use any technology stack or platform of your choice. We encourage you to use technologies that best address the problem you're trying to solve, whether that's mobile, web, AI, blockchain, or hardware.

Will there be mentors available during the hackathon?

Yes, we'll have mentors from various technical and domain backgrounds available throughout the hackathon to provide guidance, feedback, and support to all teams.

What happens to the intellectual property of my project?

You retain all intellectual property rights to your project. However, we encourage open-source development and sharing of solutions that can benefit the wider community.

Ready to Make an Impact?

Join us at Hack4Futo 2025 and be part of the movement to unlock access and fuel innovation.