M-PESA, Africa Tech Festival Launch Innovation Safari Hackathon in Cape Town

Africa Tech Festival and M-PESA have announced the launch of the Innovation Safari hackathon, scheduled to hold from November 17 to 19, 2026, in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of Africa Tech Festival 2026.

The initiative is aimed at bringing together African developers, fintech startups and technology innovators to develop practical solutions that promote financial inclusion and economic growth across the continent.

M-PESA, a leading mobile money platform operating across six African countries, is partnering with the annual technology conference to host the competition. The platform has a network of more than 170,000 developers, according to the organisers.

During the three-day event, participating teams will build and present their projects live, focusing on real-world challenges faced by individuals, businesses and communities across Africa.

The Innovation Safari model is designed to go beyond the traditional hackathon format by combining field discovery with intensive collaboration and product development. The approach is intended to ensure that proposed solutions are based on actual needs and can address practical challenges.

The organisers said the initiative would provide a platform for developers and entrepreneurs to turn innovative ideas into technology-driven solutions capable of improving access to financial services and supporting economic opportunities.