Pre-Conference Launch Event · July 14th 2026

DU-BRAINS AI
INNOVATION FESTIVAL

DAYSTAR UNIVERSITY NAIROBI CAMPUS, VALLEY RD

Showcasing 20+ deployable AI prototypes solving Africa's most pressing challenges. Innovators, start-ups, and researchers taking AI from Lab to Market.

20+
DEPLOYABLE PROTOTYPES

5
CATEGORY TRACKS

Top 5
ADVANCE TO MAIN FINALS

About the Innovation Festival

The Innovation Festival is the vibrant pre-conference launch event of DU-BRAINS 2026. On this dedicated day, innovators, start-ups, researchers, and students bring functional AI innovation prototypes to a live public exhibition.

Prototypes are evaluated by a panel of expert judges, and the top five finalists are selected to advance to the main conference for the 3-hour Innovation Festival Finals.

Scaling Deployable AI in Africa

We are looking for functional solutions solving defined African problems. Prototypes must be deployable or low-fidelity (not concept-only).

Festival Activities

▸Prototype Exhibition: Open-floor interaction where delegates test and engage with 20+ live AI models across themed booths.
▸Rapid-Fire Pitches: Exhibitors deliver a 3-minute pitch with 2-minute Q&A to our panel of judges and a voting audience.
▸Leaders' Roundtable: A high-level panel on taking AI from the lab to the market.

Innovation Category Tracks

1. Climate & Sustainability

Climate tech, agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, water conservation, and mining solutions.

2. Health & Wellness

Medtech, diagnostics, mental health, insurtech, fintech, mobile money, and pension tech integrations.

3. Work & Skills

Future of work, Edtech, upskilling, job matching, freelancing platforms, and vocational training.

4. Security & Justice

Cybersecurity, data privacy, anti-fraud, legal tech, governance, transparency, and digital rights.

5. People & Culture

Creative economy, gaming, storytelling, tourism, heritage, and social inclusion for marginalized communities.

Festival Timeline & Deadlines

Tuesday, July 14th 2026

Prototype Submission Deadline 8-JULY-2026

Notification of Acceptance 10-JULY-2026

Registration Opens JUNE-2026

Live Innovation Festival 14-JUL-2026

STATUS: CLOSED

Call for Prototypes

Eligibility

Must be deployable or low-fidelity (not concept-only) and solve a defined African problem.

Judging Rubric

Impact, Deployability, Innovation, Technical Quality, and Scalability. Audience voting counts for 20%.

Submission Steps

Submit Now

DOWNLOAD EVENT PROGRAM

Get complete access to the program schedule, keynote topics, workshop details, and networking sessions.

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

Guidelines for the Innovation Festival.

Submissions are strictly open to students, researchers, start-ups, and industry teams with solutions addressing an African challenge.

No. All AI prototypes must be functionally deployable or a working low-fidelity prototype. Concepts without a functional build will not be selected.

Judges circulate the open-floor exhibition, followed by a Rapid-Fire session where teams deliver a 3-minute pitch. Audience votes account for 20% of the final score.

The Top 5 advance to the Main Conference (Day 2) for a 3-hour live judging event in front of investors, industry leaders, and academic experts.

Visit us: Daystar University Nairobi Campus, Valley Rd.

DU-BRAINS 2026 Innovation Festival: Shaping Africa's AI future from Lab to Market.