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Mizan build challenges

Build something useful. Learn in public.

Mizan hackathons bring students, graduates, designers and builders together around practical Ethiopian problems. You leave with a tested idea, a working prototype, mentor feedback and teammates you know by work.

Register interest View institute events

Next challenge

Registration interest is open. Dates, venue, challenge brief and shortlist will be announced after mentor and partner confirmation.

No entry payment is collected through this form. Confirmed participants receive the official instructions directly from Mizan.

Challenge themes

Technology shaped around a real user and a real need

AI for useful work

Responsible assistants, workflow automation, data tools and locally relevant intelligent systems.

Web products that matter

Accessible digital services for education, business, communities and public-interest problems.

Design & storytelling

Inclusive user experiences, campaign systems, visual communication and creative technology.

How it works

A build sprint with standards, not a presentation contest

Teams are evaluated on problem understanding, usefulness, technical execution, inclusion, evidence and the honesty of their demo. A smaller complete solution is stronger than an oversized promise.

  1. 1

    Discover

    Choose a real problem and validate who experiences it.

  2. 2

    Form

    Bring a team of 2–5 or join team matching based on complementary skills.

  3. 3

    Build

    Work in focused sprints with technical, design and product mentors.

  4. 4

    Present

    Demo a working outcome, explain decisions and receive structured feedback.

Recognition, mentorship and pathways

  • Structured review from technology, design and product mentors.
  • Certificates or recognition for eligible completed participation.
  • Showcase opportunities for strong, responsibly built projects.
  • Possible follow-on incubation, internship or client-project conversations — never guaranteed, always merit-based.

Past challenges and project archive

A verified public archive will list completed challenges, teams, mentors and project outcomes after results are approved. We do not publish placeholder winners or unverified participant claims.

Follow Mizan announcements

Registration interest

Tell us what you can build and what problem you care about

This is an interest and screening form, not automatic acceptance. Strong applications are specific about the user, problem, evidence and skills they bring. Solo builders can request team matching.

Application preview for the next Mizan hackathon

Your response is private to authorized Mizan staff until a team or project is intentionally announced.

Choose a challenge theme
How will you participate?