The DPI Health Hackathon is an intensive event designed to surface problem-led ideas, build rapid prototypes, and accelerate the next generation of African health innovation. By bringing together healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry partners, the hackathon uses Groote Schuur Hospital, Africa's leading academic hospital, as a sandbox for development. This initiative aims to create the conditions for breakthrough innovation by focusing on clinically grounded problems and solutions that are built to last.
Program Overview
• Dates: 10 - 12 July 2026
• Location: Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town
• Prize Pool: R 140,000 in cash prizes
• Format: A hybrid model consisting of 2 virtual bootcamp days and 3 in-person hackathon days
• Applications: Open in May 2026 for teams of 3-5 members. Individual applicants are also welcome and will receive support in finding teammates.
Innovation Tracks
The hackathon features six innovation lanes, each built around a real, validated problem statement from the frontline and supported by a dedicated clinical mentor.
• Digital Health & AI: Focuses on EHR, clinical decision support, AI diagnostics, and patient engagement tools.
• Biotechnology: Explores novel therapeutics, biosensors, genomics applications, and lab innovations.
• Medical Technology: Centers on point-of-care devices, diagnostics, imaging, and assistive health technology.
• Health Financing & Access: Addresses NHI readiness, digital payments, referral tools, and equitable access solutions.
• Supply Chain & Operations: Tackles procurement, logistics, last-mile delivery, and operational efficiency.
• Emergency & Critical Care: Involves emergency response, trauma care, blood services, and triage support systems.
Participant Profile
The hackathon is open to anyone with a stake in improving healthcare in Africa, encouraging multidisciplinary teams.
• Healthcare Professionals: Doctors, nurses, allied health, and clinical staff.
• Entrepreneurs & Startups: Health tech founders and early-stage teams.
• Engineers & Designers: Developers, engineers, and product designers.
• Researchers & Academics: Individuals from UCT, Stellenbosch, and partner institutions with ideas for commercialization.
• Students: Undergraduate and postgraduate medical and health science students.
• Industry & NGO: Professionals from corporate health, pharma, medtech, and public health.
Prizes and Recognition
A total of R 140,000 in cash prizes will be distributed among the top three teams, who will also gain recognition from a panel of experts.
• 1st Place: R 80,000
• 2nd Place: R 40,000
• 3rd Place: R 20,000
Judging Criteria
Submissions are evaluated by a multidisciplinary panel of clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners across six key criteria.
• Clinical Relevance & Problem Validation: The reality, significance, and validation of the problem within the South African healthcare context.
• Innovation & Originality: The novelty of the solution's approach or its meaningful improvement on existing methods.
• Technical Feasibility: The ability to build and deploy the solution within realistic time and resource constraints.
• Business Viability & Scalability: The credibility of the pathway to commercialization, sustainability, and scale across Africa.
• Team Capability & Diversity: The team's mix of clinical, technical, and entrepreneurial skills.
• Impact Potential: The potential scale of impact on patient outcomes, system efficiency, or healthcare access.
Judging Panel Composition
The final judging is conducted by a rotating panel drawn from four distinct perspectives to ensure comprehensive evaluation.
• Senior Clinicians: Heads of department and consultants from Groote Schuur Hospital and partner hospitals.
• Investors & Funders: Early-stage health investors and foundation leaders.
• Health Entrepreneurs: Founders with experience scaling health ventures on the continent.
• Hospital & Industry Leaders: Executives from hospital groups, medtech, pharma, and public health bodies.
Application Process and Timeline
The program follows a structured path from application to Demo Day over three months.
• May 2026 - Applications Open: Applications open and challenge statements are published. Shortlisting and notification of selected participants will occur.
• June 2026 - Virtual Bootcamp: Two mandatory online sessions on June 10 (10:00 - 13:00) and June 24 (16:00 - 19:00) will cover team formation, human-centered design, rapid prototyping, and problem framing with clinical mentors.
• July 2026 - In-Person Hackathon: The event kicks off at Groote Schuur Hospital on Friday, July 10 (16:00 - 20:00), continues with a full day of building on Saturday, July 11 (08:00 - 20:00), and concludes with final building, pitching, and the awards ceremony on Sunday, July 12 (08:00 - 18:30).
• July 2026 Onwards - Community: Participants gain access to the alumni network for continued collaboration, mentorship, and future opportunities.
Program Details
• Participation Cost: Participation is free for all selected teams. Meals, workspace, and mentorship during the hackathon are covered.
• Idea Stage: Applicants do not need a fully-formed idea; concepts can be developed during the Virtual Bootcamp.
• Location Requirements: Participants are expected to attend the in-person hackathon in Cape Town. Travel and accommodation are at the participant's own expense.
• Intellectual Property: Teams retain full ownership of their IP. The organizers do not take any equity as a condition of participation.
• Sponsorship Inquiries: Interested sponsors can request a sponsorship deck by emailing gshicteam@gmail.com.
This event presents a unique opportunity for innovators to engage directly with clinical challenges and develop solutions with real-world impact. Interested parties are encouraged to prepare for the application period and join the effort to build the future of healthcare in Africa.