TLDR: Standard Bank’s third annual UniHack competition, held in Cape Town in April 2025, successfully highlighted a range of generative AI and machine learning solutions developed by student teams across South Africa. The event fostered innovation in critical areas such as mental health, education, and support for people with disabilities, demonstrating the region’s burgeoning technological capabilities.
Standard Bank, a leading financial institution in Africa, recently concluded its third annual UniHack competition in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 2nd and 3rd, 2025. This year’s hackathon served as a vibrant platform for young talent to showcase innovative generative AI and machine learning solutions addressing pressing societal challenges across the continent. The event brought together thirteen student teams from prestigious institutions including the University of Cape Town (UCT), the University of the Western Cape (WUC), the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and Stellenbosch University.
The competition underscored Standard Bank’s commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting continuous learning and development within Africa’s rapidly expanding Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. Gerald Perumal, Standard Bank’s Technology Head of Strategy Enablement, lauded the participants, stating, ‘The UniHack Competition has once again highlighted the exceptional talent and innovative spirit of our young participants. Their ability to adapt and design applications to solve challenging problems in these areas is truly inspiring. The innovative use of AI and machine learning, along with the exceptional adaptation and design of code, has demonstrated the potential of technology to create meaningful solutions.’
Among the standout innovations, the ‘High Five’ team emerged victorious, developing an app named ‘Handy’. This groundbreaking solution is designed to assist the hearing-impaired community in South Africa by translating sign language into text in real-time. This functionality promises to significantly enhance communication for teachers, students, and professionals. The winning team comprised Justin Dietrich, Vutivi Makubela, and Bailey McJarrow from Stellenbosch University, alongside Oluphi Vukaphi and Nabeelah Khan from the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
Securing second place was the ‘My EduVault’ team, which presented an AI-powered, multilingual educational platform. This solution aims to democratize education in South Africa by offering NSC-aligned resources, interactive quizzes, and 24/7 AI support, tailoring learning experiences to individual student needs. The platform is a testament to the potential of AI in making education more accessible and engaging.
The third position was awarded to the ‘AI Mental Health Solution Team’. Their innovative project integrates informed AI assistance with peer-to-peer chat rooms, crucially offering support with African language capabilities. This approach seeks to provide accessible mental health resources to individuals across South Africa, addressing a critical need in the region.
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Standard Bank emphasized that by fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration through initiatives like UniHack, it aims to build a robust pipeline of skilled professionals. These professionals are expected to contribute significantly to the growth and development of South Africa’s ICT sector, further solidifying the country’s position as a technological and innovation hub on the continent. The success of UniHack 2025 reinforces the transformative power of generative AI and machine learning in creating impactful solutions for real-world challenges.
