The SandBox Africa - powered by ufuon
Africa's Hardware
Evolution Bang
You cannot build a country without builders. You cannot create technology without tools. And you cannot build Nigeria's future without hardware.
Partners & Sponsors
Join the amazing companies supporting innovation and technology in Africa
Luckyjoe
Portdealer
Meta
Thexora
Autoline Ufuon
Lisk
Reality3dhub
GitHub
Solnxlab
AutolineLuckyjoePortdealerMetaThexoraAutoline UfuonLiskReality3dhubGitHubSolnxlab AutolineLuckyjoePortdealerMetaThexoraAutoline UfuonLiskReality3dhubGitHubSolnxlab AutolineFrom Theory… to Practice. From Ideas… to Reality.
Show Real Impact
01 Get hands-on with real electronics tools and kits.
Identify real problems and design solutions that matter to real people.
02 Turn your ideas into working prototypes.
Turn your ideas into real projects through guided support and hands-on learning.
03 Share your innovation with the world.
Take your solution into the real world and begin your journey as a founder.
We believe Nigeria’s future lies not only in software, but in hardware as well. True innovation happens when both work together to create solutions that are designed, built, and controlled by us.
Celebrating African Creativity
A hackathon inspired by African excellence, where culture, technology, and problem solving come together to shape the future!
Sandbox Africa is focused on providing an ecosystem that helps Africans transform early ideas into projects that are capable of solving real world problems!
Build, Innovate, and Startup!
Build smart hardware solutions, collaborate with creative minds, and turn bold ideas into real-world projects through hands-on innovation.
Become a Partner
Become a partner and help move, ideas opportunity to real-world innovation and become the next generation of builders shaping the future of our country.
Empowering the Next Generation of Builders!
Help students gain access to the hardware, tools, and opportunities needed to create solutions for Nigeria's future.
01 Team Collaboration Hub
Work with teammates remotely, share ideas in real time, and build innovative hardware solutions together!
02 Prototype Development Experience
Transform concepts into working prototypes using electronics, IoT systems, and creative problem-solving throughout the hackathon journey.
03 Share your innovation with the world.
Present your project to mentors, judges, and fellow innovators through engaging online demonstrations and live presentations.
₦10 million+in prizes
Winners also receive mentorship, accelerator access, and the opportunity to pilot solutions with a federal government agency.
Grand Prize — First Place
Plus 2-month incubation and free showcase on Ufuon startup.
Second Place
Plus 6-month accelerator access and incubation in Ufuon startup.
Third Place
Plus 12-month accelerator access and seed mentorship programme.
Various Problem Areas, One Goal
Building solutions. Empowering innovators. Shaping Africa's future.
Fintech & Financial Inclusion
• Build innovative hardware solutions that expand access to banking, payments, and financial services for underserved communities.
Fintech & Financial Inclusion
COMMUNITY THOUGHTS
Here is what our community has to say about SandBox Africa and DEV.
"I have met incredible people, surrounded myself with a circle who has spirit like me. I started to think more like the SandBox Africa fellows, in and out of so many hackathons. I understand products better."
peace Pathipati
University of port harcourt
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the hackathon
Yes, participation is completely free. We want to make hardware accessible to everyone.
Students, developers, engineers, and anyone passionate about building hardware solutions.
You can join solo or as a team. We’ll also help match participants into teams.
Projects will be evaluated based on innovation, impact, execution, and real-world usability.
Top teams will be selected based on performance and community voting.
FAQ for Partners / Sponsors
Learn more about partnering or sponsoring SandBox Africa Event
SandBox Africa is a 7-week virtual hackathon that brings together developers, hardware innovators, designers, and tech enthusiasts from across Africa to build solutions to real-world challenges. Participants will collaborate remotely, receive mentorship from industry experts, and transform ideas into impactful innovations while competing for prizes and recognition.
Interested in partnering? Contact our team →