The third ImpactLab Hackathon ran from March 24–28, 2025, at NUST’s HTTPS Building in Windhoek. Jointly hosted by Schoemans, NUST, HTTPS, and MTC under the theme “Innovating for an Inclusive Tomorrow,” the five‑day event challenged NUST students to develop tech‑driven solutions for socio‑economic issues in society.
A Competitive, Collaborative Selection Process
Prospective participants applied via the Hackathon landing page and from a highly competitive pool, only 20 students were chosen to advance. The finalists were organized into five multidisciplinary teams of four, each group selected its own name and chose one of five critical socio-economic issues. These issues were youth unemployment, mental health awareness and support, substance abuse and addiction, drought resilience and sustainable farming, or market access and post-harvest management. This marked the official start of the hackathon. The teams—AgriSync, The Launch Pad, Feed Forward Namibia, GroundShakers, and TechTonics—competed to secure the coveted first place.
Live Presentations and Public Engagement
The culmination of the event saw all five teams present their solutions to a panel of judges comprising representatives from each organizing partner. The final presentations were streamed live on Facebook, allowing the broader community to witness the ingenuity and engage through an open chat. You can watch the full presentations below
First Place: TechTonics – Mental Health Awareness & Support
TechTonics earned first place with Here For You, an AI-powered web platform aimed at supporting individuals facing stress, anxiety, and depression. Recognizing the need for accessible mental health resources, the team—Monteo Rossner, Faith Mulife, Tsepo Tubaundule, and Tinomudaishe Ndhlovu—developed a solution to reach those who often feel unheard. It also targets those who lack access to professional help.
Here For You combines empathetic AI with self-care tools, guided exercises, and community forums. It offers a safe, scalable platform that could transform mental health support in Namibia and beyond.
Second Place: Feed Forward Namibia – Drought Resilience & Sustainable Farming
Feed Forward Namibia claimed second place with an AI-powered app designed to tackle livestock feed shortages caused by drought. The team—Abraham Mabuta, Timotheus Likoro, Thomas Dax, and Nyasha Mandizvidza— In response to frequent droughts and the high cost of imported feed developed a platform. This platform connects farmers with local producers to ensure a sustainable and affordable supply of high-quality animal feed.
By utilizing agricultural by-products and drought-resistant plants, Feed Forward has the potential to significantly reduce dependence on costly imports. It also seeks to foster local agricultural resilience.
Looking Ahead
As the third edition of the ImpactLab Hackathon concluded, organizers and participants celebrated not only the winning projects but also the spirit of collaboration and creativity that defined the week. Moving forward, efforts are underway to further develop the prototypes presented.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all participants and look forward to seeing how these pioneering solutions evolve. Together, we are Innovating for an Inclusive Tomorrow.
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