AI Solutions for
Everyday Life in Kigali
A one-day hackathon to build AI tools to solve for urban challenges
1,000,000 RWF
Grand prize awarded to Wide Skills, the top AI solution of the day.
12 Teams
Twelve teams competed, built, and shipped AI solutions in one day.
Event Complete
Lyftathon Kigali 2026 has concluded. Thank you to all participants!
Lyftathon Kigali 2026
Meet the Winners
Congratulations to all 12 teams who built and shipped AI solutions at Lyftathon Kigali 2026. Here are the top performers.
🥈
Runner Up
Nukta Kab
500,000 RWF
🏆
First Place
Wide Skills
1,000,000 RWF
🥉
Finalist
Grand Prize Only
250,000 RWF
All Participating Teams
12 teams competed at Lyftathon Kigali 2026
Umoja Grid
Mind Bridge AI
Project Pioneers
Grand Prize Only
Mind Mesh
Vibeon
Wide Skills
Nukta Kab
SMART-250
ABISHYIZEHAMWE
Cyber Knights
Algo Riders
Developer Value Proposition
Three direct reasons why this hackathon is worth your time.
Real-World Project Build
Move beyond basic tutorials. You'll spend 12 high-intensity hours shipping a functional AI prototype that addresses actual urban challenges in Kigali. From data ingestion to UI deployment. Lyftathon is a full-stack sprint.
Technical Portfolio Asset
Build a significant technical case study for your GitHub. This is a demonstration of your ability to apply AI models (LLMs, NLP, or Vision) to solve specific, local problems with a polished frontend using Chakra UI.
Cash Prizes
Direct financial rewards for technical excellence. We value your time and skill, providing substantial cash injections to the winning teams to help fuel further development or personal growth. No fluff, just rewards.
Build Tracks
Focus your innovation on these key everyday areas.
City & Community
Solve urban challenges using AI: smart waste management, traffic flow, or community safety tools tailored for Kigali neighborhoods.
Urban Tech
Logistics
Small Businesses & Work
Empower local vendors and freelancers. Think AI inventory for Umudugudu markets or productivity tools for the growing remote workforce.
SaaS
Retail AI
Tourism & Language
Leverage Kinyarwanda NLP or AI travel assistants to boost Rwanda's tourism sector and make cultural navigation effortless.
NLP
Hospitality
The Rewards
Cash Prize Pool
Prizes have been awarded. Congratulations to our winners!
Runner Up
Second Place
500,000
RWF
🥈 Nukta Kab
First Place
1,000,000
RWF
🏆 Wide Skills
Awarded May 2nd, 2026
Finalist
Third Place
250,000
RWF
🥉 Grand Prize Only
One Day. Maximum Impact.
09:00 AM
Check-in & Kickoff
Welcome, team registration, and opening remarks.
10:30 AM
Coding Phase 01
Architecture, data preparation, and initial AI integration begins.
01:00 PM
Lunch Break & Networking
Refuel and chat with peer and mentors.
02:30 PM
Deep Build & UI Design
Connecting the AI backend to the frontend using Chakra UI.
07:00 PM
Demos & Judging
5-minute pitches followed by Q&A with the expert panel.
08:30 PM
Winners Announcement
Celebrating the top solutions and networking mixer.
Build With Discipline
Codebase Standards
All projects must meet these baseline technical requirements.
Public GitHub Repository
All code must live in a public GitHub repo. Your commit history is part of the submission, showing your process and progression throughout the day.
Chakra UI for the Frontend
Your UI must be built with Chakra UI v3. No other component libraries are permitted. This is a core requirement tied to our partner track.
Real AI Integration
The AI component must be live and functional, not hardcoded or simulated. LLMs, NLP pipelines, and Vision models all qualify.
Secure Credentials
Never commit API keys or secrets to your repo. Use environment variables and include a .env.example file so judges can run your project locally.
README & Setup Guide
Include a clear README: what your app does, how to run it locally, your tech stack, and what AI model or API powers the core feature.
Stable & Runnable Build
Your app must run without crashes during the demo window. Handle edge cases and ensure the core user flow works end to end before submission.
What You Submit
Expected Deliverables
Here's exactly what you need to hand in by the end of the hackathon.
Required
1
RequiredPublic GitHub Repository
A clean, organized repo with meaningful commits. Judges review your code structure, README quality, and commit history as part of scoring.
2
RequiredWorking Live Demo
Your app must be deployed to a live URL by demo time. Local-only builds will not be accepted; the product must be accessible online.
3
Required5-Minute Team Pitch
A structured walkthrough: problem you solved, how your AI component works, and a live demo of the product, followed by Q&A with the judges.
How We Score
Judging Criteria
Projects will be judged on five key areas.
Relevance to Kigali
Does the solution address a real local problem or need?
Use of AI
Is AI used in a meaningful and practical way?
Real-World Usability
Is the product clear, useful, and easy to understand?
Product Quality
How well is the solution designed and built?
Demo & Storytelling
Did the team clearly explain the problem, solution, and product?
Innovation & Creativity
Does the solution take a unique or original approach to solving the problem?
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but you should have a solid foundation in software development or UI design. We welcome teams with diverse skills as long as there is an AI component in the final product.
No. We prioritize pre-formed teams of 4–5 people. Individual applicants may be placed on a waiting list or paired if spots are available, but team applications are guaranteed priority.
Bring your laptop, chargers, and an open mind. We provide the power, high-speed internet, and refreshments for the entire duration of the hackathon.
Applications are reviewed, and selected teams will receive a confirmation email with next steps and event details.
If applications exceed capacity, teams will be selected based on experience, team composition, and overall fit for the event. This ensures a diverse mix of skills and backgrounds as our aim is to create balanced teams that can effectively tackle the hackathon challenges.
You can discuss ideas as a team, but all building must happen during the event.
Lyftathon Kigali 2026
What an incredible day. 12 teams. 12 hours. AI solutions built for Kigali. Congratulations to all participants and especially our winners!