The 2022 AR/VR Africa Metathon – by Imisi 3D, BlackRhino VR & Meta
Calling all who love creativity, innovation and learning in Africa! The AR/VR Africa Metathon is open for applications and focuses on the rapidly evolving immersive technologies of Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality. Registration starts on August 22nd, 2022.
What is the AR/VR Africa Metathon?
The AR/VR Africa Metathon is an expanded program built around our flagship hackathon, the AR/VR Africa Hackathon. A call to all who love creativity, innovation and learning; an opportunity to get hands-on experience in AR and VR design and development, and meet others who also want to learn and create with AR and VR.The 2022 AR/VR Africa Metathon is a planned program of events which comprises of three (3) major events:
– AR/VR Africa Pre-hackathon training
– AR/VR Africa Hackathon
– AR/VR Africa Bootcamp
What is the AR/VR Africa Pre-hackathon Training?
The AR/VR Africa Pre-hackathon training is a program to acquire skills or upskill in XR. Everyone who signs up will have access to curated learning resources on our Discord server, as well as XR experts who will provide mentorship, and facilitate masterclasses and workshops.In addition, we will run trainer-led XR classes from September – November 2022. Sign up for these on Discord.
What is the AR/VR Africa Hackathon?
The AR/VR Africa Hackathon is an African competition and opportunity to create with, and learn about Virtual and Augmented Reality. The hackathon is fun, fast-paced, challenging and highly rewarding. You get to work on project ideas with developers/coders, designers, strategists, and enthusiasts and win prizes.The hackathon is a hybrid event where you will use your XR skills to create solutions to everyday problems in Africa. You can participate in the hackathon – offline – in one of the 16 In-person 48 hour Hackathons across Africa, or -online – in the Virtual Hackathon. The online & offline hackathons will take place in November and December 2022.What is the AR/VR Africa Bootcamp?
Following the 2022 AR/VR Africa Hackathon, 1st place teams in the different countries/country groups of the hackathon will have the opportunity to participate in our bootcamp.The AR/VR Africa Bootcamp is an intensive 3-month virtual program which will support the teams to advance their solutions. Teams will receive financial and technical support to build out their MVPs, alongside a structured curriculum, facilitated by industry experts, based on the start-up equation.It will conclude with a Demo Day where teams will pitch their solutions to investors. They will present a range of extended reality solutions representing the 2022 verticals. After the bootcamp, teams are expected to successfully apply for incubator and accelerator programs.
Who should register?
Everyone! Developers, programmers, UI/UX designers, artists, animators, storytellers, enthusiasts, professionals, students, and all that want to spend time creating solutions with augmented, virtual, and mixed reality, and are resident in an African country.
Once you register and join the discord server, your learning will begin! Remember, anyone can take part in a hackathon regardless of their level of expertise.
How Do I Register For The Metathon?
Please fill out this form.
I Registered! Does This Guarantee Me A Spot for The Training?
Yes. Once you join the AR/VR Africa Discord Server, you will have access to learning resources on our Discord server and the Pre-hackathon training. Everyone will have access once they have applied.
Where and how will the training take place?
The training will be done by AR/VR Instructors online via the Discord server. Where an AR/VR instructor is resident in your country, the training may be hybrid. Any in-person training will be facilitated by the AR/VR Africa Country Partner; you will also have access to XR experts via Discord.
Do I Have To Be On a Team? What If I Don’t Have One?
No, you don’t have to be on a team to apply. Accessing our Discord server is done individually. However, for the Hackathon, you are expected to hack in teams to create your solution.
If you do not have a team, you can join the AR/VR Africa Discord Server to find team members for the hackathon.
If you already have team members, great! You can join the community with your team members, but each team member must complete their own application form.
Once again, all members of your team MUST register individually for the opportunity to participate.
What Type Of Things Should We Build?
There are five verticals for the hackathon – Education; Health; Tourism; Social Impact and Business Applications.
Imagine and conceptualise ways in which you can create solutions in these 5 areas for African communities.
What Language Or Platform Can I Use?
The choice is yours! As long as you are confident that you can come up with a working augmented, mixed or virtual reality experience by the end of the hackathon, we are fine.
Who Owns The Code After We’re Done?
You do! However, you can choose to open source your code, expand on it, etc. This is a great opportunity to make use of advice from industry experts!
What Should I Bring?
You should bring your A-game, great ideas, and have access to a laptop, power, internet, and any augmented and/or virtual reality equipment available. That’s it!
Remember, It isn’t just about technology. It’s also about learning, design, creation, and problem-solving. If you have an interest in art, graphics, 3D modelling, film, education, sound design, game design, or business, you will enjoy the AR/VR Africa Metathon.