The 2026 Standard Bank Group Technology Hackathon officially got underway as more than 252 innovators from across Africa answered a challenge to harness artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to solve some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. Now in its 11th year, the Standard Bank Hackathon attracted a record 1,208 idea submissions, nearly double the previous year’s total. Following a rigorous evaluation process, the top 44 teams from across the African Continent were selected to participate in the three-day event at the Standard Bank Global Leadership Centre in Morningside, Johannesburg.
Participants will spend the next three days developing practical solutions using artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, automation and digital platforms to address real-world challenges facing customers, businesses and communities across Africa.
Opening the event, Standard Bank leaders challenged participants to think beyond incremental improvements and focus instead on solving problems in ways that would not have been possible before the emergence of AI. The challenge reflects Standard Bank’s belief that Africa’s next wave of innovation will come from applying technology to uniquely African opportunities and challenges, much as mobile money transformed financial inclusion by responding to the continent’s distinctive realities.
Khomotso Molabe, Deputy Chief Information Officer at Standard Bank says: “The bank wants to be at the forefront of shaping how artificial intelligence can drive growth and development across Africa. Artificial intelligence gives us an opportunity to solve uniquely African problems with uniquely African solutions. Just as Africa pioneered new approaches to financial inclusion through mobile technology, we believe AI can help address some of the continent’s most important challenges, from expanding access to financial services to unlocking new insights in areas such as healthcare, economic development and business growth.”
Molabe said the bank is encouraging participants to focus on meaningful challenges rather than simply applying technology for technology’s sake.
“We want our teams to start with the problem, not the solution. The real opportunity is not simply making existing processes better. It is using AI to solve problems that previously seemed impossible to solve. That is when you begin to unlock the true power of technology and create experiences that genuinely surprise and delight customers.”
The Hackathon forms part of Standard Bank’s broader innovation strategy and ongoing investment in artificial intelligence. The bank is currently implementing a number of AI initiatives across its businesses, aimed at improving customer experience, improving efficiencies and enabling more personalised financial services. The event also builds on a strong track record of implementation. Four of the five winning teams from the 2025 AI-led Hackathon went on to implement their solutions, demonstrating Standard Bank’s commitment to turning promising ideas into practical outcomes that create value for customers and the organisation.
The Hackathon will conclude with a Dragon’s Den-style final, where teams will present their solutions to an executive judging panel. Projects will be evaluated on innovation, feasibility, potential business impact and ability to scale across the bank and broader African markets.
