Banj, in partnership with the Digicel Foundation, announces the launch of the "AI Challenge for Social Impact" a competition dedicated to creating high-impact, locally-based, socially-driven technological solutions using artificial intelligence to address critical challenges. Winners will receive an innovation fund of up to five (5) million gourdes.

The AI ​​Challenge & Social Tech is designed as an AI-driven & Social Tech approach, aiming to create cross-sectoral technological solutions with a strong social impact. It invites participants to develop AI-based innovations that serve humanity, address critical challenges, and contribute to strengthening the innovation ecosystem and the Haitian digital economy.

Target Audience :

Specialized Developers: Full-stack, backend, and frontend developers, as well as AI specialists (ML, Data Science);

Women in Tech : To promote inclusive and representative innovation;

Computer Science Students : Haitian universities seeking to transform their knowledge into concrete solutions;

Innovators & Startups : Social Tech founders eager to integrate AI;

Investors & Mentors : Interested in funding and scaling up Made in Haiti solutions.

The 4 Pillars of the Challenge

1 - Business & Strategic Training :

• Business Model Canvas AI & Impact

• Marketing & Acquisition

• Finance & Operations

• Fundraising & Investment Strategy

2 - Technical Workshops (Hands-on) :

• Collaborative Debug Sessions

• Peer-Learning on AI Architectures

• Expert-Supervised Hack Workshops

• Impact-Oriented Optimization

3 - Personalized Mentoring :

• Technical and Business Diagnostics

• 30-Minute "Problem-Solution" Sessions

• Social Tech Impact Support

• Follow-up with Digicel Foundation Experts

4 - Pitch Preparation :

• Impact Storytelling

• Pitch Simulation in Front of Mentors

• Q&A Management

• Finalization before the 6th June

Eligibility Criteria :

Team Composition :

• Team of 3 to 5 people

• At least one woman on the team

• At least one AI developer (ML, Data Science, NLP, Computer Vision)

• Profiles sensitive to social issues

Geographic Location :

• At least 2 members residing in Haiti

• Open to the diaspora

• Solutions co-created with communities

• Adapted to local realities

Availability & Commitment:

• Available from February to June 2026

• Active participation in hybrid workshops

• Attendance at mentoring sessions

• Genuine and sustained commitment

Nature of the Project:

• AI at the heart of the solution (AI-driven)

• Mandatory Social Tech approach

• Measurable social impact

• Original creation by the team

Areas of Application :

• Health - Solutions for Access to Care

• Inclusive Finance - Accessible Financial Services

• Agriculture - Modernization and Productivity

• Education - Accessible Learning

• Governance - Optimized Public Services

• Insurance - Accessible Protection

• Logistics - Efficient Distribution

• Energy & Environment - Sustainability

Application Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EQG00Jvyo0xyLkaqP2FgC6iQvug1KRPtp_2YcKyW-5Y/viewform

Calendar :

February 25 to March 25, 2026

Call for Applications

Application period via the official form

April 1st to May 30, 2026

Pre-incubation

Training sessions, technical workshops with mentors

June 6, 2026

DevExpo 2026 - Grand Finals

Pitch Competition & Announcement of the 5 National Winners

June 15 to December 15, 2026

Incubation

6-month intensive mentoring program at Banj

October 2026

Konbit pou Chanjman Ceremony

Presentation of progress and demonstration of impact

Prizes & Funding :

1st Prize : 2 million Gdes + 6 months of incubation

2nd Prize : 1.5 million Gdes + 6 months of incubation

3rd, 4th, and 5th Prizes : 500,000 Gdes each + 6 months of incubation

HL/ HaitiLibre