Nigerian health-tech startup Sane AI has clinched the top prize at the Hackaholics 6.0 Ideathon in Akure, edging out 101 other innovators across Ondo State, Nigeria, to secure a place in the grand finale in Lagos.
The event, organised by Wema Bank and ALAT, brought together some of the brightest builders and changemakers in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
Oryzon emerged in second place, while LOCOMMO, a female-led team, took home the women-led category award. The hackathon segment of the competition was won by Trust Lock and DYTAL, further highlighting the diversity and quality of solutions presented at the event.
Speaking after the announcement, Sane AI founder Oluwabukunmi Babatunde described the win as “a validation of the startup’s mission to build Africa’s first AI-powered mental health infrastructure, providing monitoring and diagnosis tools.”
He added, “This is more than an award. It reinforces the urgent need for preventive and scalable emotional care systems across institutions on the continent.”
Since its inception in 2019, Hackaholics has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest tech-innovation challenges. Across its six editions, it has engaged more than 300,000 participants in over 37 universities across all six geopolitical zones of the country, awarding over $200,000 in grants to standout ideas and startups.
Past editions have produced some of the most promising ventures in Africa’s startup ecosystem. IRETI Health, the winner of Hackaholics 4.0 in 2023, developed a breast cancer detection platform and received a ₦15 million grant that fueled its expansion. Other notable alumni include GRIP, Trakka, and Outsidee, which have gone on to raise funding and scale operations. In 2024, Feegor, a fintech startup focused on wholesale trading and buy-now-pay-later solutions, won Hackaholics 5.0, walking away with ₦30 million from the ₦75 million prize pool.
The firm’s win at Hackaholics 6.0 positions it among this prestigious alumni network. As Africa’s first platform to integrate AI-powered mental health screening with culturally relevant data insights and real-time organisational dashboards, the startup is tackling the continent’s widening mental health care gap. With recognition from Hackaholics, the company is poised to accelerate partnerships, attract strategic investment, and scale its impact beyond its early footprint.
The Hackaholics 6.0 victory not only shines a spotlight on the work Sane AI is doing but also reinforces the broader impact of the initiative in shaping the next generation of African
problem-solvers. All eyes will now be on Lagos as Sane AI competes in the grand finale, aiming to secure the top prize and further its mission of transforming mental health care across Africa.
