Who can enter?
Anyone aged 18 or over who is building for African markets. You can be anywhere on the continent or in the diaspora. Students, professionals and existing early-stage founders are all welcome.
Does it cost anything to enter?
No. Entering is free, and it gives Forge no rights in your idea.
Do I need a team?
No. Enter alone or as a team of up to 5. If you enter alone, tell us whether you would like to be matched with teammates for the hackathon.
Do I need a finished product or a registered company?
No. A clear problem and a credible direction are enough. Prototypes and companies in their first months are welcome too, as long as they have not raised institutional venture funding.
Do I have to be in Lagos?
Not to enter, and not for the online build. Shortlisted teams are invited to the final in person in Lagos. Details for finalists, including logistics, are shared with the shortlist.
What do the winners get?
Up to $15,000 in seed investment, shared among the winning teams, and an invitation into Cohort 01, the ten-week Forge programme. Any investment is made on standard terms shared with the winning teams in advance, and is subject to the hackathon terms.
Do I keep ownership of my idea?
Yes. You keep full ownership of your idea and your work. Forge reads your submission to judge it and does not use it for anything else. Please do not include anything genuinely confidential, because Forge does not sign confidentiality agreements at the submission stage.
How is my submission judged?
Every complete submission is read and scored against the same five questions: a real problem, a credible solution, a route to customers, the right team and a business. Polish is not scored. A clear answer beats a beautiful deck.
Can I submit more than one idea?
One submission per person. If you have two ideas, send the one you would work on for the next five years.
When will I hear back?
From 2 November. Everyone who submits hears back by email, shortlisted or not.
What if I am not shortlisted?
You stay part of the Forge community and can apply to future cohorts. Strong entrants who are not shortlisted may also be invited to paid project work with Forge ventures and partners.
What happens to my data?
It is used to run the hackathon and nothing else, and it is stored securely. The privacy notice sets out exactly what is collected, why, and your rights.