Absa Bank Kenya, in partnership with GirlCode, has launched a 30-hour Women-in-Tech Hackathon empowering 112 young women to develop digital solutions for Africa’s financial ecosystem.

• The hackathon, themed “Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI,” takes place on October 11–12, 2025, at Absa’s headquarters in Westlands.
• It is a pan-African initiative across seven cities in five countries, offering a grand continental prize of USD 5,500.
• Participants will create AI-enabled, digital-first financial solutions aligned with Kenya’s national innovation priorities.
• Julius Kamau, Chief Operating and Digital Officer at Absa Bank Kenya, highlighted the creation of inclusive spaces for women in tech.
• Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO and Founder of GirlCode, stated the mission is to bridge the gender gap in tech and equip women innovators.
• The event attracted over 450 participants across Africa this year, a significant increase from 280 in 2024.