A new collaboration between SheCode Africa and Apify aims to bridge the gap between African developers' technical skills and their ability to earn from software. According to Saurav Jain, Senior Developer Community Manager at Apify, the company identified a significant gap in the African market where developers possess strong software skills but struggle to monetise them. This partnership seeks to address this issue, particularly for women developers in Nigeria.
The partnership was showcased at the SheCode Africa–Apify BuildHer Hackathon 2026, a two-day hybrid programme that brought together women and girls from engineering tracks to develop solutions to real-time problems. The hackathon focused on areas including fintech and cybersecurity, providing a platform for participants to build software and learn how to monetise it on Apify. This initiative is part of Apify's effort to expand into African markets.
Community Manager at SheCode Africa, Mfonobong Umondia, highlighted that the partnership is a strategic move by Apify to tap into the African market, with SheCode Africa serving as its first partner organisation in Africa. Through this collaboration, developers can make their software available to other users on the Apify platform and potentially monetise them in the long run.
The hackathon projects were assessed based on five criteria: technical quality, use of Apify, local community impact, local relevance, and the quality of the demonstration. A panel of judges evaluated the submissions, and the top three teams were awarded prizes. The winners received direct access to the Apify team and participated in a live workshop.
According to Oluwaseun Oladeji, Community Associate at SheCode Africa, the top three teams received additional support, including direct access to the Apify team and participation in a live workshop. Other participants will continue to receive resources, workshops, and technical support to improve their software development skills and monetise their projects on Apify.
The collaboration between SheCode Africa and Apify aims to empower women developers in Nigeria and address the software monetisation gap in the African market. By providing a platform for developers to build and monetise software, the partnership seeks to unlock the economic potential of African developers and promote innovation in the region.
The SheCode Africa–Apify BuildHer Hackathon 2026 demonstrated the potential for partnerships to drive innovation and address specific challenges in the African tech ecosystem. The initiative provided valuable insights into the skills and creativity of women developers in Nigeria and highlighted the need for continued support and resources to help them succeed in the tech industry.
Key points
- SheCode Africa and Apify partner to help women developers build and monetise software.
- The partnership aims to address the gap between African developers' technical skills and their ability to earn from software.
- The collaboration provides a platform for developers to build software and learn how to monetise it on Apify.
