01
Build
Turn ideas into working solutions.
- Product thinking
- Functionality
- User experience
- Technical implementation
Google Developer GroupsDevFest Abeokuta 2026Developers and Builders in the Agentic Era
Buildathon
Build. Secure. Scale.
Two weeks to turn ideas into real products, collaborate with other builders, get mentored, and showcase what you built at DevFest Abeokuta 2026.
- Abeokuta + Remote
- Grand Finale ·
What is the Buildathon?
Build Something Real.
The DevFest Abeokuta Buildathon is a two-week community building sprint for developers, designers, product thinkers and technology enthusiasts.
You’ll work individually or in teams to turn an idea into a working product, receive guidance from experienced mentors, and compete for the opportunity to showcase your project on the DevFest Abeokuta stage.
Not just a coding competition
- BuildingShip a working product, not slides.
- CommunityFind a team. Help another one.
- LearningMentors who’ve done it before.
- ShowcaseFinalists demo on the DevFest stage.
The journey
- 1Discover
- 2Team Up
- 3Build
- 4Get Mentored
- 5Submit
- 6Demo
The challenge
What Will You Build?
There’s no single track and no fixed brief. Pick a problem you’ve seen up close — in Abeokuta, in your school, in your work — and build something that makes it smaller.
- Education
- Healthcare
- Agriculture
- Transportation
- Financial inclusion
- Local commerce
- Productivity
- Community
- Public services
- Developer tools
- AI / Agentic applications
- + your idea
Not on the list? Good. Bring it anyway.
“We care about the problem you solve, the product you build, and how thoughtfully you engineer it.”
The three pillars
Build. Secure. Scale.
Great Buildathon projects don’t stop at “it works”. They work safely, and they’re built to keep working when real people show up.
- 02
Secure
Protect users, data and systems.
- Authentication
- Data protection
- Secure APIs
- Responsible technology
- 03
Scale
Build for real-world growth.
- Architecture
- Performance
- Reliability
- Scalability
How it works
Six steps from sign-up to stage.
Step 1: Register
Tell us who you are and what you can bring to a team.
Step 2: Form Your Team
Build with your existing team or connect with other participants.
Step 3: Pick a Problem
Identify a meaningful problem worth solving.
Step 4: Build
Spend two weeks designing and developing your MVP.
Step 5: Get Mentored
Receive guidance from experienced developers, builders and product people.
Step 6: Submit & Demo
Submit your project and selected teams will pitch and demo at DevFest Abeokuta.
Timeline
Sixteen days, start to stage.
Kick off on October 16, ship by October 28, and the finalists close out DevFest on October 31.
- Oct 16
Buildathon Kickoff
Teams, briefing and first mentor hours.
- Oct 16–28
Build Sprint
Two weeks of heads-down building.
- During the sprint
Mentorship + Check-ins
Office hours and progress reviews.
- Oct 28
Final Submission
Repo, demo video and deck in.
- Oct 29–30
Judging + Finalist Selection
Judges review every submission.
The culmination
DevFest Abeokuta Grand Finale
Finalists pitch and demo live on stage.
Capricorn Cinemas, June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta
Who can participate
Who Can Participate?
If you like making things, you belong here. You don’t need to be a senior engineer — teams need people who can design, research, test, pitch and ask good questions too.
- Developers
- Designers
- Product thinkers
- AI builders
- Students
- Software engineers
- Entrepreneurs
- Tech enthusiasts
Every skill level is welcome
- BeginnerYou’ve built a few things and want to ship a real one.
- IntermediateYou’re comfortable shipping and want to go deeper.
- AdvancedYou’ve shipped to users and can lift a whole team.
You don’t need to be a senior engineer. You need to want to build.
Team structure
Build Together.
Teams of 2–5 people work best. Bring the team you already have, or register solo and we’ll help you find people to build with.
2–5people
per team
per team
Got a team?
Register together and name your team. You can still add members before kickoff.
Flying solo?
Tick “help me find a team” and we’ll connect you with builders whose skills complement yours.
A strong mix looks like
FrontendBackendProduct / DesignAI / Cloud
The strongest teams mix complementary skills. You don’t need every role — a focused two-person team can ship something great.
What you need to submit
What You’ll Submit
Every team submits:
submission.checklist7 items
1.Working MVP
Deployed or runnable — something we can use.
2.GitHub repository
Public or shared with the judges.
3.Short project description
The problem, who it’s for, what it does.
4.Architecture / technical overview
How it’s put together and why.
5.Short demo video
A few minutes walking through it.
6.Pitch deck
The story you’d tell on stage.
7.Team member details
Who built what.
Detailed submission guidelines will be shared after registration.
Judging
How Projects Are Evaluated
A good idea helps. A working, well-engineered product that solves a real problem wins.
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Problem & User Value | 20% |
| Product & Functionality | 25% |
| Technical Implementation | 20% |
| Security & Responsible Design | 15% |
| Scalability & Architecture | 10% |
| Demo & Presentation | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Judging criteria will be shared with participants before the sprint begins.
Grand Finale
Take The Stage at DevFest Abeokuta.
Selected finalists will take the stage at DevFest Abeokuta 2026 to pitch and demo what they built in front of the community, judges and fellow builders.
- Buildathon
- Finalists
- Stage
- Demo
- Awards
DevFest Abeokuta · Kuto, Abeokuta
Prizes and recognition will be announced ahead of the finale.
Get on that stageMentors & community
Build With People Who’ve Built Before.
Mentors will be around for the full sprint — in office hours, check-ins and the community chat — to help you scope, unblock, review and sharpen your pitch.
- Coming soon
Mentor
Role
- Frontend
- Web performance
- Coming soon
Mentor
Role
- Backend
- APIs
- Coming soon
Mentor
Role
- Security
- Auth
- Coming soon
Mentor
Role
- AI / Agents
- Cloud
- Coming soon
Mentor
Role
- Product
- Design
- Coming soon
Mentor
Role
- Pitching
- Startups
Mentor line-up will be announced before kickoff. Want to mentor? Get in touch.
What is the Buildathon?
A two-week community building sprint run as part of DevFest Abeokuta 2026. You build a working product around a real problem, get mentored along the way, and the best projects are demoed at the DevFest Grand Finale.
How long is the Buildathon?
Two weeks. The sprint runs from October 16 to October 28, 2026, with judging on October 29–30 and the Grand Finale on October 31.
Who can participate?
Developers, designers, product thinkers, AI builders, students, entrepreneurs and anyone who enjoys building. Beginners are welcome — you don’t need to be a senior engineer.
Do I need to already have a team?
No. Register on your own and tell us you want help finding a team. We’ll connect you with people whose skills complement yours.
How many people can be on a team?
We recommend 2–5 people. You can also build solo if you prefer.
Can I participate remotely?
Yes. The sprint runs in Abeokuta and remotely. Mentorship and check-ins will have online options. Finalists will be expected to present at the Grand Finale.
What technologies can I use?
Anything you like — any language, framework, cloud or platform. Pick the tools that best fit your problem.
Can I use AI tools?
Yes. This is the agentic era, so use AI assistants, models and agents where they help. Be ready to explain what you built, how it works and how you used AI responsibly.
Do I need a finished product before the sprint?
No. You can arrive with just an idea — or with nothing but curiosity. The building happens during the two weeks.
How will projects be judged?
On problem and user value, product and functionality, technical implementation, security and responsible design, scalability and architecture, and the demo. Full criteria are shared before the sprint begins.
What happens after I submit?
Judges review every submission on October 29–30. Selected finalists are notified and invited to pitch and demo at the Grand Finale.
Where is the Grand Finale?
At DevFest Abeokuta 2026 on October 31 — Capricorn Cinemas, June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
Ready to Build?
Two weeks. One challenge. Something real.