BTL Hackathon 2025 · Lagos State University

Build what's
never been
built before.

48 hours. AI + General tracks. Physical event at Lagos State University. Open to every builder with something worth building. Courtesy of Bad Theory Labs.

Register for freeSee tracks
DateJul 18–20, 2025
VenueLagos State University
Spots200 builders
Registrations open

Hackathon starts in

00days
:
00hrs
:
00min
:
00sec
Prize pool₦1,000,000+
200Buildersmax capacity
₦1M+Prize poolcash + perks
48hHackingnon-stop
2Tracksai · general
LASUVenueLagos State University
What you'll build

Two tracks,
one mission.

Whether you're building with AI or without it — there's a place for you. One winner. One podium.

01

AI Track

Anything that uses AI — large language models, agents, retrieval systems, embeddings, computer vision, voice, automation. If AI is meaningfully part of what you built, you're in this track. No gatekeeping on tools or approach.

LLMsAgentsRAGComputer VisionVoice AIAutomationMultimodal
02

General Track

Build anything that doesn't lean on AI. Web apps, mobile, CLI tools, hardware, games, developer utilities — whatever solves a real problem with clean engineering and a clear problem statement.

WebMobileCLI ToolsAPIsDevToolsHardwareGames
Judging is combined across both tracks. One 1st place, one 2nd, one 3rd — best project wins regardless of track.
Prizes & Perks

What you win
when you win.

Beyond cash prizes, every participant who ships gets something real. The top three teams get cash and direct access to BTL's team, tools, and network. Non-winning teams get spot cash prizes and perks too.

→
Cash prizes
₦300k · ₦200k · ₦100k for top 3 — plus spot cash awards for non-winning teams
→
API Credits
Free credits for OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere during the hack — all participants
→
BTL Beta Access
Top 3 teams get early access to RetainDB + Marrow private beta
→
Mentorship
Office hours with BTL founders and research partners — open to everyone
→
Certificate
Official BTL hackathon certificate for every participant who ships
→
Network
Direct introductions to the BTL team, researchers, and broader community
1st Place
₦300,000
Cash · API credits · BTL beta access · Mentorship
2nd Place
₦200,000
Cash · API credits · BTL beta access · Mentorship
3rd Place
₦100,000
Cash · API credits · Certificate · Mentorship
Spot Prizes
Cash awards
Best non-winning teams · Special category picks by judges
Every participant who ships gets a BTL certificate, community membership, and post-event research session access. Best project wins — track doesn't matter.
Timeline

48 hours,
planned.

Jul 18 · 09:00
Kickoff & Opening
Welcome address, track announcements, team formation begins
Jul 18 · 11:00
Hacking Begins
48 hours start. Build, commit, ship.
Jul 19 · 14:00
Midpoint Check-in
Optional check-in with mentors. Office hours open.
Jul 19 · 20:00
BTL Research Talk
Internal research presentation — open to all participants
Jul 20 · 09:00
Submissions Due
All projects submitted. No late entries.
Jul 20 · 11:00
Demo Day
Live presentations. Each team: 5 min demo + 3 min Q&A
Jul 20 · 17:00
Winners Announced
Prizes awarded. Afterparty begins.
FAQ

Questions,
answered.

Is it free?
Yes. Registration is free and open to all. No entry fees, no paid tiers.
Do I need a team?
No. Solo builders are welcome. You can also find a team in our Discord before the event.
How do I register?
Click any Register button on this page — it opens a Google Form. Takes under 2 minutes.
Who owns the IP?
You do. BTL makes no IP claims on hackathon projects.
Where is it?
Lagos State University — this is a physical, in-person event. You need to be there.
New to hackathons?
Perfect time to start. Beginners are explicitly welcome. We run workshops and office hours throughout.
BTL EverywhereWant to bring a BTL hackathon or community event to your campus or city? We partner with organisers worldwide — any country.
Apply to host →
Don't wait

48 hours to build
something unforgettable.

Register free →Join the Discord

Courtesy of Bad Theory Labs · hello@badtheorylabs.com