ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Deep Learning Indaba𝕏 South Africa 2026 is a community-driven, non-profit Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) conference dedicated to growing Africa’s AI ecosystem through education, collaboration, and opportunity.
Hosted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal from 6 - 10 July 2026, the event will bring together over 400 students, researchers, developers, academics, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals from across Africa.
Our mission is to make high-quality AI education and opportunities more accessible, especially for students and early-career talent from underserved communities. Through keynote talks, hands-on workshops, hackathons, poster sessions, research showcases, and networking opportunities, Indaba𝕏 South Africa helps participants gain practical skills, connect with mentors, and explore careers in AI research and industry.
The event is part of the wider pan-African Deep Learning Indaba movement, which now spans 47 African countries and focuses on strengthening Africa’s machine learning and AI community from within the continent.
Knowledge Sharing
✨ PARTNER WITH US — BUILD AFRICA’S AI FUTURE
We are inviting partners, sponsors, and supporters to help us expand access to world-class AI education across Africa.
By partnering with Deep Learning Indaba𝕏 South Africa 2026, you will directly support students, researchers, and innovators who are shaping the future of AI on the continent. Partnerships help us fund travel grants, accommodation support, and participation for talented individuals who would otherwise be unable to attend.
📩 To partner, support or general enquiries about the event, contact us at: ditiro.rampate@indabax.co.za / fundraising@indabax.co.za
✔ Section 18A Tax Benefits (South Africa)
Donations to our registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) may qualify for a Section 18A tax certificate, allowing eligible donors to claim tax deductions on contributions made. This provides a meaningful incentive for supporting education, innovation, and community development while receiving tax benefits. Reach us at the provided email addresses above if you require one.
BACKGROUND
Africa has some of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing tech talent, yet access to advanced AI education, mentorship, research opportunities, and industry exposure remains limited for many students and young professionals. Financial barriers such as travel, accommodation, and conference costs often prevent deserving participants from attending transformative events like Deep Learning Indaba𝕏 South Africa.
Over the years, Indaba𝕏 South Africa has become more than just a conference, it has become a launchpad for future researchers, engineers, startup founders, and community leaders. Alumni have gone on to join leading AI companies, pursue postgraduate studies, contribute to open-source projects, and build impactful African startups.
Our 2025 edition in Stellenbosch University welcomed over 400 attendees, 60+ speakers, participants from more than 20 countries, 60 research posters, and multiple AI exhibitions and hackathons. For 2026, we aim to grow that impact even further by increasing accessibility and support for attendees who would otherwise be unable to participate.
THE PLAN
Our goal is to raise funds that will directly support travel and accommodation grants for students and financially constrained participants attending Deep Learning Indaba𝕏 South Africa 2026.
The funding will help us:
- Provide accommodation support for participants attending the full 5-day event
- Increase representation from underserved communities across South Africa and the African continent
- Support students and early-career professionals with limited financial resources
- Create an inclusive environment where talented individuals can access world-class AI education and mentorship opportunities
- Strengthen Africa’s growing AI ecosystem through community building and skills development
The conference programme will include:
- Keynote talks from AI leaders and researchers
- Hands-on machine learning workshops
- Beginner-to-advanced hackathons
- AI research poster sessions
- Startup and innovation showcases
- Community networking opportunities
- Career and mentorship sessions
Every contribution helps open doors for future African AI leaders.
YOUR REWARDS
Pledge R250 = Reward #1: The Community Backer
- The heartfelt thank-you email from the IndabaX SA team + Section 18A tax-deductible receipt.
Pledge R1,000 = Reward #2: The IndabaX Alumni
- Everything in Tier 1,
- PLUS a digital "IndabaX Supporter" badge they can share on LinkedIn, and your name listed on a dedicated thank-you page on our website.
Pledge R5,000 = Reward #3: The Tech Visionary
- Everything in Tier 1&2,
- PLUS your name or small company logo featured on a "Community Sponsors" slide during the event's opening remarks.
Project FAQ
Who are we?
- Deep Learning Indaba𝕏 South Africa NPC is a registered non-profit organisation based in South Africa and part of the wider Deep Learning Indaba movement focused on strengthening Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning across the African continent.
- We are a passionate team of volunteers, researchers, engineers, educators, students, and community builders dedicated to growing South Africa’s AI ecosystem through education, mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive access to opportunities.
- Our work focuses on creating platforms where students, early-career researchers, developers, and innovators can access world-class AI training, connect with experts, showcase research, and build solutions for African challenges. Through conferences, workshops, hackathons, research showcases, and community initiatives, we aim to make AI knowledge and opportunities more accessible to communities that are often underrepresented in technology.
- Deep Learning Indaba𝕏 South Africa has become one of the fastest-growing Indaba𝕏 chapters on the continent, helping nurture the next generation of African AI leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and engineers.
- We are also committed to transparency and public benefit, and donations may qualify under Section 18A provisions in South Africa.
Why Crowdfunding?
- Crowdfunding gives the broader community an opportunity to directly contribute to the growth of AI intelligence and ML in South Africa and across Africa.
- Every year, we receive interest from talented students, researchers, and aspiring AI practitioners who are eager to attend Deep Learning Indaba𝕏 South Africa but are unable to do so because of financial barriers such as travel, accommodation, and conference-related costs. Through crowdfunding, we can collectively help remove those barriers and make the event more accessible and inclusive.
- As a volunteer-driven non-profit organisation, we believe that building Africa’s AI future should be a community effort. This campaign allows individuals, alumni, professionals, organisations, and supporters of African innovation to become part of that mission.
- The funds raised will directly support participant grants, educational activities, workshops, hackathons, and community-building efforts that help nurture the next generation of African AI researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
- This is more than fundraising for an event, it is an investment in African talent, education, research, and long-term technological growth.
What is the plan once 100% funding is received?
Once we reach 100% funding, the funds will immediately be allocated toward supporting Deep Learning Indaba𝕏 South Africa 2026 and increasing accessibility for participants who require financial assistance.
The funding will primarily be used to:
- Provide travel and accommodation grants for financially constrained participants.
- Support students and early-career professionals from underserved communities.
- Help deliver workshops, hackathons, mentorship sessions, and educational activities during the conference.
- Strengthen community engagement and collaboration opportunities across South Africa and the wider African AI ecosystem.
Selected beneficiaries will receive support to attend the full conference experience at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in July 2026.
We also plan to provide transparent post-event reporting to our supporters, highlighting the impact of the campaign, participation statistics, stories from beneficiaries, and how the funding contributed to growing Africa’s AI community.
Our long-term vision is to continue building sustainable and inclusive AI communities across Africa where talented individuals can access opportunities regardless of their financial background.
Attendee Presenting a Research Poster