This is a one-day, hands-on building sprint where developers, designers, students, freelancers, and innovators come together to prototype fintech applications. The core challenge: build something meaningful using Vercel (for deployment and frontend magic) and integrate PayHero’s API (a Kenyan payment gateway that handles M-Pesa, bank transfers, cards, Paybills, Till numbers, and more in a secure, unified way).
Key themes participants can tackle:
- Payments & Transfers
- AI and Payments
- SaaS solutions
- Web3 → Web2 payment bridges
- GIS & location-based payments
- IoT-integrated payments
- Wildcard / truly creative ideas
It’s explicitly beginner-friendly—no need to be a fintech expert. Amateurs and pros alike are welcome, and you can participate solo or in teams of up to 3 people.
Event Logistics (February 14, 2026)
- Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (GMT+3 / EAT), though the full day runs roughly 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM with arrival, demos, and wrap-up.
- Location: University of Eldoret – physical attendance only (no remote option).
- What to bring: Your laptop, charger, extension cord. Everything else is provided: Wi-Fi, coffee, snacks, lunch, and even some fun seedball activities during breaks.
- Capacity: Around 50 participants (it’s already listed as full, but there’s a waitlist—RSVP soon if interested!).
- Cost: Completely free.
Schedule at a Glance
- 8:00–8:30 AM → Arrival & setup
- 9:00–9:45 AM → Welcome + opening remarks
- 10:00 AM–1:00 PM → Core building time (3 focused hours)
- 1:00–2:00 PM → Lunch & networking
- 2:00–4:30 PM → Team demos (3–5 minutes each) + show-and-tell
- 4:30–5:00 PM → Judging, winners announced, closing
Prizes That Actually Matter
- 1st place: Ksh 50,000 cash + Vercel v0 credits + seedballs (fun eco-touch!)
- Additional prizes for runners-up and creative entries.
Vercel is also offering free v0 credits to anyone who signs up before February 12, 2026—perfect for prototyping during (or after) the event.
Why This Hackathon Feels Timely for Kenya’s Tech Scene
Kenya’s fintech ecosystem is one of the most vibrant in Africa—M-Pesa literally changed the game for mobile money. Events like this one lower barriers for new builders to experiment with modern payment rails, AI enhancements, cross-border ideas, or even IoT-linked micropayments. Pairing PayHero’s practical Kenyan-focused APIs with Vercel’s lightning-fast deployment tools makes it super accessible to ship something real in just a few hours.
If you’re in Eldoret (or can make the trip), this is a fantastic way to spend Valentine’s Day: coding, snacking, networking, and maybe walking away with cash and new connections. Even if you’re not attending, it’s inspiring to see grassroots hackathons still thriving in 2026.
