Group Photo of the Participants
On 14th February 2026, the IEEE University of Eldoret Chapter, in collaboration with Chepparing and PayHero Kenya, successfully hosted a fintech innovation event at the University's Main Campus. The highlight of the day was the Build Bout Vercel Valentine Hackathon, which attracted over 100 tech builders, including participants from Moi University. This build session empowered students with skills to transition from campus innovators to marketplace contenders, fully aware of how to protect their ideas.
The Build Bout Vercel Hackathon served as a vibrant platform for students to engage directly with industry leaders, explore modern development tools, and gain hands-on exposure to deploying real-world fintech solutions. Participants were tasked with building applications integrated with the PayHero API and deployed on Vercel, with a key rule requiring a new feature be developed during the hackathon, ensuring fairness, teamwork, spontaneity, and originality.
The hackathon explored the following diverse range of themes:
- Payments & Transfers – Seamless peer-to-peer and merchant payment solutions
- AI and Payments – Intelligent financial tools
- SaaS – Subscription-based services
- Web3 to Web2 payments – Bridging blockchain and traditional finance
- GIS & Payments – Location-based enterprise payment systems
- IoT and PayHero – Integrating connected devices with fintech
- Wildcard – Emerging and unconventional fintech ideas
Innovation Highlights
The build session yielded an impressive array of innovative projects, showcasing the depth of creativity and technical skill among participants. Among the standout innovations were:
- A peer-to-peer payment solution featuring an intuitive interface and seamless PayHero API integration, enabling instant, frictionless money transfers.
- A location-based payment system for enterprise services, with promising applications in smart cities, event ticketing, and proximity-based marketing.
- A subscription management SaaS tool designed to help small businesses automate recurring payments and customer subscriptions, noted by judges for its market readiness.
- An AI-powered financial assistant that analyzes spending patterns and offers personalized savings insights through real-time PayHero integration.
A total of Ksh 50,000 in cash prizes was awarded to the top three teams, and it was especially gratifying to see University of Eldoret students dominate the top positions, which is a testament to the growing culture of innovation on our campus. The strong performance of our students across all categories affirms the value of investing in student-led innovation initiatives and reinforces the University's position as a hub of emerging tech talent.
Inspiring Talks from Industry Leaders
Godfrey Chidi, Founder of Chepparing, which empowers developer communities beyond Nairobi. He urged students to tap into their creativity and innovation, especially as job opportunities remain limited for every graduate. He also emphasized building a sustainable AI future to counter the impact on the climate.
Ronald Ngoda, Founder of PayHero and a proud alumnus of the University of Eldoret, delivered a powerful keynote on the future of fintech in Africa. His journey from student to industry leader resonated deeply with participants, offering a compelling vision of what is possible with determination, curiosity, and the right support.
A particularly valuable session was led by Kelvin Kiuna from the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, who educated students on the importance of safeguarding intellectual property. Topics covered included:
- Process of filing for patent rights and industrial designs.
- Copyright protection for software and digital creations
- Legal implications of infringement
- Practical steps to protect innovations.
This session empowered students with the knowledge they need to transition from campus innovators to marketplace contenders, fully aware of how to protect their ideas.
This event exemplifies the growing synergy between academia and industry, equipping students with the skills, networks, and mentorship necessary to build market-ready, scalable solutions. By bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, the hackathon strengthened students' understanding of digital payment ecosystems and product development. The successful planning and coordination of the event were made possible through the support of the University's Intellectual Property Management Office (IPMO).
