Tembi Labs
Students collaborating on laptops during a Tembi Labs AI hackathon at a university campus

Democratising access to AI & Tech for the Global South

AI is reshaping the future, but access to it is still unequal. Tembi Labs runs AI hackathons at universities across the Global South, empowering students to build real, impactful solutions with modern AI tools.

Host an AI HackathonBecome a Partner

From alumni & supporters

University of CambridgeUniversity of OxfordTU BerlinUniversität MannheimHochschule ReutlingenUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of OxfordTU BerlinUniversität MannheimHochschule ReutlingenUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of OxfordTU BerlinUniversität MannheimHochschule ReutlingenUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of OxfordTU BerlinUniversität MannheimHochschule Reutlingen

The Mission

Give people fish and youfeed them for a day.

The challenge

Without access, talent is left behind

Access to technology decides the wellbeing or the decline of societies and communities, especially in the age of AI. Without it, talented individuals and whole communities risk being left behind.

Tembi Labs bridges the gap by organising AI hackathons across the Global South and by providing universities with cutting-edge devices.

The starting point

The Tech Divide of the Global North & South

The Global North

Research & development of the newest AI models.

The Global North develops frontier models, accesses them, and shapes the future of tech and AI.

The Global South

Active training, but no equity.

Data workers in the Global South are the invisible backbone of the AI industry. They label data, train algorithms and filter content, without ever accessing the AI they help release.

The Global North

Abundance of cutting-edge devices.

Easy access to modern technology and multiple devices per person (smartphone, tablet and PC or laptop at once), students included.

The Global South

Limited access, outdated devices & e-waste.

Smartphones are often the only entry point to digital tools. Students end up writing their essays on mobiles, which limits opportunity and long-term AI access.

The Global North

Fruition of science, education & entrepreneurship.

These factors combine into strong science research, digital literacy and real economic value created.

The Global South

Scarce tech resources, great outcomes.

The same talent and minds, limited by lack of access, still show extraordinary growth with the few resources they have. What they could do with more access would be groundbreaking.

How we work

The Tembi Approach

Request a hackathonSupport the programme
A student working late at a shared computer workstation
“Tech access should be a human right, for everybody, everywhere.”

The programme

From AI Hackathons to Device Donations

Step 1

Hackathons that build real things

AI hackathons are the foundation and the immediate impact in our partnerships with universities. AI is at the forefront of technology and evolving rapidly. Through hands-on application we help students ignite their spark and build with this technology responsibly, giving them one of the most important skills of their career. The hackathons help us understand each university's needs, infrastructure and priorities, build strong relationships with university leadership, and make sure every donated device is placed where it has the greatest long-term impact.

Organise your own hackathonWhat are hackathons→
Hackathons that build real things

Step 2

Chapter Leads & AI Champions

Through the empowerment of Chapter Leads and AI Champions we enable students on the ground to keep the fire going after the hackathon. We prepare them with the AI education of the companies and research labs we partner with. A Chapter Lead organises further AI events on the ground and advances digital, tech and AI literacy. AI Champions are the experts other students turn to for questions and help.

Become a Chapter LeadJoin as AI Champion→
Chapter Leads & AI Champions

Step 3

Hardware & Computer Rooms

Building computer rooms at universities in the Global South and equipping them with modern devices, like PCs, laptops and lab equipment, is our ultimate goal. This way we reach many students at once, help them gain a stronger foothold in the digital world, and enable them to build solutions for their communities and economies.

Request hardwareBecome a partner→
Hardware & Computer Rooms

Our impact

Tembi Labs in numbers

0+

AI hackathons organised

0%

success rate

0

partners & supporters

0

countries operating in

0

students impacted

0

solutions built

In their words

Our Partners & Collaborators

Tembi Labs works alongside universities, companies and funding partners to run AI hackathons and to open doors for the students and participants who shine. Our focus is disciplined progress, from a first event to a self-sustaining ecosystem.

“We do not run charity. We run talent-activation programmes. Participants are the authors of their success, not recipients of alms.”
Tembi Manifesto, How we work
“Tembi Labs exists to remove the hardware and access barriers that shut talented builders in the Global South out of the global tech economy.”
The Tembi team
“We report our failures as openly as our wins. All our KPIs are public.”
Radical Transparency
“We do not run charity. We run talent-activation programmes. Participants are the authors of their success, not recipients of alms.”
Tembi Manifesto, How we work
“Tembi Labs exists to remove the hardware and access barriers that shut talented builders in the Global South out of the global tech economy.”
The Tembi team
“We report our failures as openly as our wins. All our KPIs are public.”
Radical Transparency
“We do not run charity. We run talent-activation programmes. Participants are the authors of their success, not recipients of alms.”
Tembi Manifesto, How we work
“Tembi Labs exists to remove the hardware and access barriers that shut talented builders in the Global South out of the global tech economy.”
The Tembi team
“We report our failures as openly as our wins. All our KPIs are public.”
Radical Transparency
“We do not run charity. We run talent-activation programmes. Participants are the authors of their success, not recipients of alms.”
Tembi Manifesto, How we work
“Tembi Labs exists to remove the hardware and access barriers that shut talented builders in the Global South out of the global tech economy.”
The Tembi team
“We report our failures as openly as our wins. All our KPIs are public.”
Radical Transparency
“We do not run charity. We run talent-activation programmes. Participants are the authors of their success, not recipients of alms.”
Tembi Manifesto, How we work
“Tembi Labs exists to remove the hardware and access barriers that shut talented builders in the Global South out of the global tech economy.”
The Tembi team
“We report our failures as openly as our wins. All our KPIs are public.”
Radical Transparency
“We do not run charity. We run talent-activation programmes. Participants are the authors of their success, not recipients of alms.”
Tembi Manifesto, How we work
“Tembi Labs exists to remove the hardware and access barriers that shut talented builders in the Global South out of the global tech economy.”
The Tembi team
“We report our failures as openly as our wins. All our KPIs are public.”
Radical Transparency

Countries we operate in

On the ground, not flying in.

  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
World map highlighting the countries Tembi Labs operates in

Get involved

Join the hottest Tech mission in the world

University students working together during a campus hackathon weekend

For universities

Are you a university?

Bring a hackathon to your campus. You provide the venue, access to students and a contact person. Tembi brings the format, facilitation, jury, sponsored AI tools and mentors.

Learn more
Company employees and students discussing a corporate challenge brief

For companies

Are you a company?

Sponsor a Corporate Challenge Day. You set a real problem, your jury takes part, you own the IP of the solutions, and you meet the talent. EUR 5,000 to 15,000.

Learn more

Book a call

Host an AI hackathon or become a partner

Pick a slot that works for you. We will walk you through the next steps, from first call to your first event.

Booking calendar

To load the booking calendar, please accept functional cookies.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

It starts with a short 30-minute call. The university provides the venue, access to students, a local contact, plus power and internet. Tembi brings the format, facilitation, jury, sponsored AI tools and credits, mentors and storytelling. From there it takes roughly 6 to 8 weeks of lead time to run the first hackathon.

We are a diaspora team that knows these contexts first-hand and works as peers, not outsiders flying in. We run talent-activation programmes, not charity, and we report our impact, budget and failures openly. All our KPIs are public.

Companies sponsor a Corporate Challenge Day (EUR 5,000 to 15,000). You set a real problem with sample data, your jury takes part, you own the IP of the solutions, and you gain brand presence and access to a talent pipeline.

Roughly 4 hours of introduction to AI tools, then about 24 hours of team building, then a business pitch to a jury with prizes. Participants use AI-native tools and build working prototypes in 24 to 48 hours. The strongest builders join the Fellows network.

Taking part is free. Students pay nothing. Tembi brings the format, facilitation, a jury with prizes, sponsored AI tools and credits, and mentors. Students bring their idea, their curiosity, and a laptop if they have one.

Devices are earned, not given away. A hackathon first proves local demand. After that, refurbished enterprise laptops are built into computer rooms for institutions, with local owners and a check-in after 6 months.

Yes. Universities across the Global South are our core partners. The university provides the venue, access to students and a local contact; Tembi brings everything needed to run the format and, once vetted, sets the cornerstones for device distribution.

Yes. Every partner has a direct point of contact at Tembi Labs who guides you from the first call through the hackathon and beyond.