Maternal and infant mortality remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing healthcare challenges. Every day, thousands of mothers and newborns face risks that technology can help prevent. If you’re a tech innovator ready to make a real difference, the HelpMum Africa CareCode Hackathon 2.0 is your moment to shine — and win big while doing good.
HelpMum, a leading social enterprise dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality across Africa, is back with the second edition of its flagship hackathon. This high-impact event calls on developers, AI experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, new graduates, and students to create innovative, low-cost, and scalable tech solutions that tackle critical issues in maternal care, newborn health, nutrition, and related areas.
With a massive ₦10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) prize pool, this isn’t just another hackathon — it’s a powerful platform to turn your ideas into solutions that can save lives while accelerating your career or startup journey.
Massive Cash Prizes Up for Grabs
- 1st Place: ₦5,000,000
- 2nd Place: ₦3,000,000
- 3rd Place: ₦2,000,000
These equity-free cash prizes give winners the financial boost needed to scale their innovations, build prototypes, or grow their registered businesses.
Who Should Apply? Full Eligibility Breakdown
This hackathon is open to ambitious young talents who meet these criteria:
- Aged between 18 and 35 years
- Currently resident in Nigeria (final physical demonstrations and presentations will take place in Lagos)
- Demonstrated proficiency in software development and/or Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Must own or be part of a registered business with a clear path to long-term sustainability
- Open to all genders
- Apply as an individual or as a team of maximum 3 members
Whether you’re a seasoned developer, an AI researcher, a fresh graduate with big ideas, or an entrepreneur passionate about healthtech, this is your opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem.
What Makes a Winning Solution?
Your project must:
- Focus on solving real challenges in maternal care, newborn health, or nutrition
- Integrate HelpMum’s open-source innovations (a mandatory feature in your MVP or proof of concept)
- Be low-cost with minimal implementation investment for easy real-world adoption
- Demonstrate brilliance, originality, and creativity
- Feature a clean, professional, user-friendly interface (AI-generated “slop” designs will be disqualified)
A functional Minimum Viable Product (MVP) gives you a strong competitive edge, but a solid Proof of Concept is also acceptable.
Hackathon Journey: From Pitch to Grand Finale
The programme unfolds in three exciting stages:
- Pitch Application — Submit your innovative idea and explain how it addresses maternal and infant health challenges.
- Development Stage — Shortlisted teams build and refine their solutions with expert mentor support from industry leaders.
- Grand Finale — Present and demo your final solution physically in Lagos at HelpMum’s office and during the SmartVerge Event.
Winners and promising participants receive post-hackathon support from HelpMum to help implement and scale their solutions in real communities.
How to Apply – Simple & Straightforward
- Craft a compelling pitch that highlights your solution’s innovation, impact, integration with HelpMum’s open-source tools, and sustainability plan.
- Submit your application through the official google form
- Read the full Terms and Conditions at https://helpmum.org/hackterms before submitting.
Extended Deadline: July 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM — This is your final chance!
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Why This Hackathon Matters
Beyond the cash prizes, participants gain:
- Direct mentorship from healthtech and AI experts
- National visibility at the Lagos grand finale
- The satisfaction of building solutions that can reduce maternal and infant mortality
- Potential long-term partnership and scaling support from HelpMum Africa
This is tech for good at its finest — using software development and AI to create meaningful change in one of Nigeria’s most critical sectors.
Ready to change lives and win big?
Share this post with every developer, AI specialist, healthtech enthusiast, student, and entrepreneur in your network. Tag your teammates and friends who have the skills to build impactful solutions.
Let’s come together to revolutionize maternal and infant healthcare in Nigeria using technology.
Summary Table: HelpMum CareCode Hackathon 2.0 at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Prize Pool | ₦10,000,000 (1st: ₦5M, 2nd: ₦3M, 3rd: ₦2M) |
| Age Range | 18 – 35 years |
| Residency | Must be resident in Nigeria (final demos in Lagos) |
| Skills Required | Proficiency in software development and/or AI |
| Business Requirement | Registered business with sustainability plan |
| Team Size | Individual or maximum 3 members |
| Key Integration | Must include HelpMum’s open-source innovations |
| Judging Focus | Innovation, low-cost design, clean UI, originality, MVP advantage |
| Stages | Pitch → Development with mentors → Grand Finale in Lagos |
| Deadline | July 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM |
| Website | https://helpmum.org/hackathon |
Deadline is approaching fast. Prepare your pitch, gather your team, and submit today. Your innovation could be the breakthrough that saves mothers and babies across Nigeria.
