ACM Hackathon 2025 is officially open for applications. Organized by Africa Creative Market (ACM) in partnership with Ascend Studios Foundation, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Co-Creation Hub Africa (CcHub), this pan-African hackathon will award a ₦10 million grand prize to the winning team.
The ACM Hackathon 2025 is themed “Distribute Africa: Hacking the Future of Music & Film Access.” It challenges Africa’s brightest tech and creative talents to design cutting-edge solutions that transform how music and film are distributed, protected, and monetized across the continent.
“At ACM, our goal is to bring innovation into the creative sector in a big way — using the brightest of African talents to solve our most urgent creative economy challenges.” — Inya Lawal, Founder, Africa Creative Market
ACM Hackathon 2025: Event Details
The hackathon in Lagos will run from September 16 to 19, 2025, with teams working on bold solutions to fix the bottlenecks stalling Africa’s film and music industries. Key issues include piracy, poor infrastructure, limited discovery tools, and revenue leakage.
This 4-day innovation sprint will provide mentorship, investor access, and post-hackathon incubation, ensuring that projects developed have real-world commercial potential.
Vision & Challenge
The vision of ACM Hackathon 2025 is to create Africa-led innovation that makes creative distribution more profitable and inclusive for creators. The challenge is clear: Africa’s current systems are fragmented, insecure, and under-monetized. The solution lies in mobile-first, AI-powered, and scalable platforms tailored for African creators and consumers.
ACM Hackathon 2025: Team Structure
Teams must consist of 3–5 members with a balance of skills in:
- Software development
- UI/UX design
- Content strategy
- Legal or business modeling
- Data science (optional)
Participants will work from the ACM Landmark Event Centre on September 16, 17, and 19, and at the CcHub headquarters on September 18. Daily hacking sessions run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM with meals, WiFi, and mentorship included.
Prizes & Opportunities
The ₦10,000,000 prize is just the start. Winners will also receive:
- AWS technical support and credit programs
- Incubation at CcHub Startup Studio
- Investor engagement at Demo Day
- Media visibility across ACM’s global platforms
- Legal/IP, business development, and go-to-market support
Key Dates
- Applications Open: Monday, August 29, 2025
- Deadline to Apply: Friday, September 5, 2025
- Selected Teams Announced: Monday, September 8, 2025
- Hackathon Dates: September 16–19, 2025
- Demo Day & Final Pitch: Friday, September 19, 2025
How to Apply
Apply now at www.acmhackathon.com.
Eligibility: Open to African innovators aged 18–40 with a passion for building creative-tech solutions for Africa.
Media & Contact
Email: info@acmhackathon.com
Phone: +234 916 766 7376
