InventAfrika x Octoco Hackathon
Playful Machines
August 2-3, 2025 • Stellenbosch
Overview
Our third hackathon marked a significant milestone as we partnered with Octoco for our largest event yet. This two-day intensive hackathon brought together 40 talented students from Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town to explore the theme of "Playful Machines."
Teams competed throughout the weekend in an energetic and collaborative atmosphere, culminating in exciting project presentations and winner announcements on Sunday. The event showcased the growing momentum of hardware innovation in the South African student community.
Event Details
- • 40 students total
- • Stellenbosch University
- • University of Cape Town (UCT)
Playful Machines
Building on our inaugural theme, participants created innovative hardware solutions that blend fun, creativity, and technology.
Weekend Competition
Teams worked intensively over Saturday and Sunday, with final presentations and winner announcements on Sunday evening.
Achievements & Highlights
With 40 participants, this became our largest hackathon to date, demonstrating the growing interest and momentum in hardware innovation among South African students.
Successfully partnered with Octoco, establishing a model for future collaborations with industry partners and expanding our reach and impact.
The weekend format allowed for deeper project development and more sophisticated solutions, pushing the boundaries of what participants could achieve in the hackathon setting.
Secured support from multiple high-quality sponsors, providing participants with excellent resources and establishing valuable industry connections for future events.
Our Sponsors
We're grateful to our sponsors who made this weekend event possible:
Octoco
Workshack
Switch Energy Drink
Next Dimension Electronics