AI Yako
AI Yako, Swahili for “Your AI”, is a one-week hackathon hosted with Node NBO in Nairobi. Build useful AI that runs on your own device with QVAC.
Who can take part
Join in Nairobi or remotely. Remote participants can submit and win prizes under the same judging criteria and submission requirements. You do not need to travel to Nairobi to be eligible. Build solo or in a team of up to three.
What to build
Choose one of three tracks: offline AI apps, moving a cloud product onto a device, or on-device agentic finance with WDK. Your AI inference must work offline. For finance projects, explain which wallet or network actions need a connection, separately from the local AI.
Event and submissions
Kickoff: 24 October 2026. Demo day: 31 October 2026.
Submit by Friday 30 October at 5 p.m. EAT (Nairobi), 3 p.m. WAT, or 2 p.m. UTC. Registering on Luma does not submit your project.
Submit your project on AI Yako DoraHacks. Check the page for the full requirements. Include your source repository, demo video, device and model details, and evidence that the AI works offline.
Support and updates
Join the AI Yako Discord for help, team coordination and updates. Daily office hours are at 1 p.m. WAT (UTC+1), which is 3 p.m. in Nairobi (EAT). Check the channel for joining details.