Building Bridges in Tech

This year’s hackathon promises to build upon the remarkable achievements of our previous events while pushing new boundaries in technology and inclusion.

A Legacy of Impact and Commitment

From scholarship recipients to hackathon contributors to hired tech professionals—the journeys of Bobbie Musiimenta and Vanessa Nalugya demonstrate the transformative power of community investment. Both women have not only graduated from the Groundbreaker Talents Program but are now actively contributing to the tech industry, turning opportunity into achievement. Their success stories remind us why we remain deeply committed to creating pathways for talented individuals from financially constrained communities to access careers in technology.

While unique circumstances in Uganda following the recent presidential elections prevent us from hosting a Groundbreaker scholar at this year’s hackathon, we’re using this moment to strengthen our commitment for the future. In 2027, we’re planning to welcome not one, but TWO talented women from the Groundbreaker Talents program, doubling our impact and expanding opportunities for emerging female tech talent from Uganda.

Catching Up with Our Groundbreaker Talents

We’re excited to share an inspiring update from Bobbie, Vanessa, and Peruth Arishaba, who was originally scheduled to join us in 2026. Their continued growth and development showcase the lasting impact of the Groundbreaker Talents program and the CloudFest Hackathon community. Their stories exemplify how our community’s collaborative efforts create lasting change, open new opportunities in tech, and build bridges across continents.

The Power of Community Impact

The CloudFest Hackathon stands as more than just a coding event—it’s a catalyst for positive change in the tech industry. Through our ongoing partnership with Groundbreaker Talents, we help expand access to full-time, residential scholarships in Software Engineering. The program supports young women from financially constrained communities in Uganda to train intensively, build portfolios, gain industry exposure, and launch careers in tech.

This transformative initiative equips talented individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the digital landscape and contribute to building a more accessible and inclusive web for everyone.

The Awards: Celebrating Your Impact

Our award categories celebrate innovation, collaboration, and the spirit of open-source development. Each award contributes to our charitable fundraising goal, supporting the Groundbreaker Talents initiative and other worthy causes that advance diversity and inclusion in technology.

Once again, we’re aiming to raise enough money for one full scholarship funding through our collective efforts at the CloudFest Hackathon, setting the foundation for our expanded 2027 program.

Award Categories Spotlight

	#CFHack2026 OVERALL WINNER	sponsored by	For the team that hacks its way to the top, emerging as the ultimate #CFHack Champion at the CloudFest Hackathon 2026.
	Tech Visionary Award	sponsored by	Awarded to the team whose project demonstrates the most innovative technical implementation and creative use of technology.
	Dream Team Award	sponsored by	For the team that demonstrates exceptional teamwork, collaboration, and communication throughout the hackathon.
	Social Media Master Award	+++booked+++	Highlighting the team that creates the most buzz on social media during the hackathon.
	Pitch Perfect Award	co-sponsored by Andreas Biberacher &	Rewarding the team that delivers the most compelling and engaging project presentation for all.
	Breaking Barriers Award	sponsored by	Rewards practical implementation of inclusive design principles while breaking down barriers for both development teams and end users

The jury

We are excited and proud to announce the amazing jury for this year’s CloudFest Hackathon Awards:

• Lucas Radke, president of the jury, Automattic WordPress VIP – Hackathon project mentor
• Thomas Maroschik, jury member, TYPO3 Association – Hackathon partner
• Milos Krasojevic, jury member, Supermicro – Hackathon partner
• Marco Keul, jury member, hosttest – Hackathon media partner
• Bob Dunn, jury member, Open Channels FM – Hackathon media partner
• Simon Kraft, jury member, Patchstack – Hackathon project mentor
• Alain Schlesser, jury member – Hackathon project mentor
• Carole Olinger, jury secretary (not voting), CloudFest, Head of Hackathon

Supporting the Cause

Want to make an even bigger impact? Consider these ways to contribute: