CANEX Create-Thon

CANEX Create-Thon, a $50,000 USD competitive pan-African AI creative challenge operated by pan-African AI company Gebeya in partnership with Afreximbank (Creative Africa Nexus – CANEX) and IREX.

The program aims to enable African creators to build functional, AI-powered creative products on African digital infrastructure without requiring traditional software coding experience.

• Direct Cash Prize Pool: $50,000 USD total in non-dilutive prize money awarded across top projects in music, video, and gaming tracks.

• Equity Terms: 0% Equity / 100% Non-Dilutive Grant.

• Downstream Funding Pipeline: Standout teams/creators gain access to Afreximbank’s $1B Film Finance Facility and venture accelerator pipelines (offering up to $250,000 USD in equity support).

• Technical Platform: Built on Gebeya's Dala Studio (powered by Cassava Technologies' African compute infrastructure), allowing non-technical creators to generate AI applications using natural language prompts (including native African languages).

1. Music Track: AI-powered composition, sample generation, production software, and pan-African audio tools.

2. Video & Storytelling Track: AI-driven video editing, scriptwriting engines, virtual production, and African storytelling media tools.

3. Gaming & Interactive Track: AI game mechanics, interactive digital experiences, and character/world-building platforms.

• Participant Profile: Open to African creators, artists, storytellers, game designers, software builders, and non-technical innovators across all 54 African countries (as well as African diaspora creators).

• Dedicated IREX Pathway: Features an exclusive application and mentorship pathway for alumni of IREX programs.

• No-Code / Low-Code Accessibility: Open to non-technical entrants—participants build applications using natural language describing what they want to build.