We’re excited to officially announce a strategic partnership between Rust Africa and the Africa Deep Tech Community!
At Rust Africa, our mission has always been clear: To empower communities across Africa by investing in the positive impact of the Rust programming language, fostering innovation, and building strong networks.This partnership with ADTC marks a major milestone in that journey.
The Africa Deep Tech Community is a leading force in accelerating Africa’s transition to a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy through deep technology. Their commitment to next-generation digital infrastructure, frontier innovation, and sustainable tech ecosystems aligns seamlessly with Rust Africa’s goal to make systems programming accessible, inclusive, and scalable across Africa.
What This Collaboration Means
Together, Rust Africa and ADTC will:
- Co-create learning programs focused on systems programming
- Support local ecosystems through innovation hubs and community-led initiatives
- Bridge academia and industry with cutting-edge projects and research
- Empower African talent to build resilient, scalable, and safe software systems
This partnership is an investment in Africa’s long-term digital sovereignty. By combining forces, we aim to push the boundaries of what’s possible in African tech; equipping developers, researchers, and innovators with the knowledge and networks to thrive in the deep tech era through the power of Rust.
Spotlight on the Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025
As a key part of this collaboration, we’re thrilled to support the Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025 — a pan-African hackathon designed to spotlight innovators solving high-impact problems under real-world constraints.
Participants, from individuals to teams of up to four, are invited to develop working prototypes that address challenges in:
- Health
- Agriculture
- Fintech
- Education
- Smart Cities
What makes this challenge unique is its emphasis on constraint-driven development. Solutions must be built with a clear understanding of:
- Power limitations
- Connectivity constraints
- Hardware or compute restrictions
Submissions should include a working demo, detailed documentation of constraints and design choices, performance benchmarks, and a concise explainer video of the journey.
Why It Matters
The ADTF Challenge is proving ground for African innovation. It champions:
- Creative, real-world problem solving
- Transparent and thorough documentation
- Practical, scalable tech for the continent
Prizes & Recognition
- 🥇 1st Place: $8,000 + mentorship, visibility, and access to deep-tech investors
- 🥈 2nd Place: $5,000 + mentorship
- 🥉 3rd Place: $3,000 + support
- ⚡ IHS Power Management Award: $4,000 for standout solutions tackling telecom power challenges (e.g., solar, hybrid energy models, analytics)
Who Can Apply?
- Open to individuals and teams (up to 4 members)
- No startup or prior funding required
- Must be aged 18+
- Open to participants across 50+ African nations
Are you a Rustacean building for real-world impact?
This is your chance to show what Rust can do in the deep tech space.
To apply, kindly visit their website for more details.
