Frequently asked
questions.

b54 is a foundation that discovers, promotes, and develops talent across Africa. We run three programmes: hacks and challenges for builders, and Prizes for academic research. Campus Reps grow the community by starting hubs at their universities.

Prizes are academic research awards across six fields — Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, and Engineering. Undergraduate winners receive $1,500 and postgraduate winners receive $2,500. Submit your thesis or original research and have it evaluated by expert panels.

Hacks are hackathons, hack days, and live competitions, virtual or in-person: a day or a weekend to form a team, pick a real problem, and demo something that works. Challenges run longer: multi-week briefs on one real problem, with mentor feedback and a final demo. Both bring teams together to build, compete, and ship real work across Africa. On build54.com, hacks and challenges appear as Builds.

Anyone based in Africa or of African descent. Prizes are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Builds welcome builders, developers, designers, and researchers.

We partner with organizations across Africa to run Builds, fund Prizes, and provide infrastructure, technology, mentorship, and opportunities. Every partnership is designed around clear contributions and measurable outcomes.

Submit research for a Prize or register for an upcoming Build. You can also become a Campus Ambassador to help spread the word at your university.

You can browse public pages without an account. Sign in when you need to register for a Build, manage a team, view an event pass, update your profile, or access certificates and perks.

b54 does not charge an application or registration fee unless a specific opportunity page clearly states otherwise. Never pay an individual to secure a place, result, or award.

Prizes are designed for eligible applicants across Africa and the diaspora. Builds may be virtual or tied to a city or campus; each event page states its location and participation rules.

Check the Prizes and Builds pages and follow b54's official announcements. Registered participants also receive relevant event updates at the email linked to their account.

Current Prizes cover Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, and Engineering. The individual Prize page is the source of truth for its scope and current deadline.

Submit eligible original research or a thesis that fits the selected field and level. Follow the requirements on the individual Prize page and provide a working link to the complete work.

Publication does not automatically make work ineligible, but you must own the submission, identify any co-authors, and follow the originality and eligibility rules for that Prize.

You may submit separate eligible work to relevant Prizes unless an individual Prize says otherwise. Each application must be complete and must match the chosen field.

Submissions are considered against the eligibility requirements and published judging criteria for the relevant Prize. Read the Prize page and Prize Guide before applying.

Deadlines and result updates are published with each Prize. b54 contacts applicants through the email on their submission when an individual update requires their attention.

b54 contacts the selected applicant to complete any required verification and confirm next steps. Public recognition and award details follow the terms published for that Prize.

Start with the individual Prize page, then read the Prize Guide for the shared process, conduct, integrity, and award requirements.

Open the Build page, review its date, location, eligibility, and registration status, then sign in and register. Your event workspace will appear under My events.

Team rules vary by event. Some Builds let you register first and create or join a team later; others require a complete team by a stated deadline. Check the event page and your workspace.

Only when the Build is marked virtual or explicitly supports remote participation. In-person and campus events require attendance at the listed venue unless the event rules say otherwise.

Bring the equipment and identification listed by the organizer, arrive in time for check-in, and plan for the full published schedule. Any venue-specific instructions will be shared with registered participants.

Each Build publishes its own judging criteria and maximum scores. Judges assess submitted teams against those criteria, so teams should review them before deciding what to build.

Participants retain ownership of their work unless the specific Build terms clearly say otherwise. Partners do not automatically receive ownership; review the event rules before submitting.

Treat participants, volunteers, judges, and hosts with respect. Harassment, cheating, false submissions, unsafe behavior, and attempts to influence judging can lead to removal or disqualification.

Certificates may be issued for verified attendance, volunteering, mentorship, or results. They are not automatic: the organizer must confirm the qualifying participation before a certificate appears in your account.

Volunteer opportunities are assigned for specific Builds. Contact the event organizer or b54 through an official channel; accepted volunteers receive access only to the event tools needed for their role.

Campus Reps propose and organize approved Campus Builds, coordinate their campus team, follow the Build Guide, submit required evidence, and close out the event through their dashboard.

Yes. Apply to become a Campus Rep, then submit a Campus Build request with the proposed institution, plan, date, and venue. Approval is required before representing the event as a b54 Build.

Organizations can co-create a Build, support a Prize, or contribute technology, mentors, infrastructure, community reach, or opportunities. Use the Partnership page to start the conversation.

We use the information members and applicants provide to operate programs, communicate about participation, verify outcomes, and protect program integrity. Public profiles are shown only when an eligible member chooses to be featured.

Use the contact form on the Partnership page for collaboration enquiries, or reply through the official b54 channel connected to your application or event. Do not send sensitive documents through unofficial accounts.