Hack4Freedom Nairobi 2026 Ends: Anza Takes 1st Place as African Women Builders Shine in Bitcoin and Freedom Tech
The two-week Hack4Freedom Nairobi 2026 concluded with Demo Day, where women developers from Kenya presented open-source prototypes built with Bitcoin, Lightning, Nostr, and eCash.
Organized in partnership with Dada Devs, the women-only hybrid Bootcamp and hackathon highlighted growing participation by African female developers in freedom technology.
What Is Hack4Freedom Nairobi?
Hack4Freedom is a series of women-only, open-source hackathons focused on freedom technology for developers in the Global South. The Nairobi edition ran from September 22 to October 5, 2026. It combined in-person technical workshops, virtual bootcamp sessions, mentorship, and a final hackathon.
Sponsored by Btrust, Evento, and Soapbox, and hosted in collaboration with Dada Devs, the program required no prior Bitcoin experience but targeted women with technical backgrounds.
Participants explored Bitcoin fundamentals, Lightning, Nostr, eCash, open-source workflows, and local problem-solving. The overall prize pool was structured around $5,000+ in Bitcoin and related awards.
Dada Devs, described as the home of Africa’s first generation of female Bitcoin developers and catalyzed by Lorraine Marcel, played a central role in community engagement, support, and celebration of the “Dadas” (female developers) who participated.
Demo Day and Winning Teams
After two weeks of learning, collaboration, and building, teams pitched on Demo Day.
Dada Devs highlighted the following results:
1st Prize — Anza
Dadas on the team included Aishagojo and Mirrian Njeri. The team also received an additional $500 prize from Dada Devs CEO Lorraine Marcel.2nd Prize — Resilience by Team Nostr Warriors
Dadas on the team: Adreen Nyawira, Mujojojayar, Gracia Mugoiri, Nelly Nakhero, and Daisy Sawe.Nostr/Soapbox Prize — Nuru Women
Dadas on the team included Joylizza Mwangi.A third-place recognition went to the MIKI team, according to participant updates.
Special recognition went to Nelly Nakhero for her support and encouragement of fellow participants throughout the event.
Dada Devs also celebrated additional women contributors across teams, including members from Anza, Nostr Warriors, MIKI, and Nuru Women, noting that the event was about teams collaborating, sharing skills, and building together.
Why This Matters for Bitcoin and African Developers?
Only a small percentage of open-source contributors globally are women. Initiatives like Hack4Freedom aim to expand the pipeline of female builders in Bitcoin and related protocols, particularly in Africa.
Dada Devs has emphasized that African women are not only using Bitcoin but contributing to its development and open-source infrastructure.
The Nairobi cohort followed a proven hybrid model used across other Hack4Freedom cities: Week 1 focused on education, workshops, and ideation.
Week 2 emphasized remote building with mentor support; and Demo Day provided judging, prizes, and connections to further opportunities. Projects were expected to be open-source and documented publicly.
Looking Ahead
Hack4Freedom Nairobi may have ended, but participants and organizers have stressed that building continues.
Dada Devs and partners continue supporting pathways into Bitcoin open-source contribution, mentorship, and community building for African female developers.
For more on the program, visit the official Hack4Freedom site or Dada Devs channels. Photos and updates from Demo Day were shared by @DadaDevs.