Behind the Judging Panel: An Exclusive Interview with Gbenga Akingbulere on the Dratech Hackathon

The Dratech Hackathon is more than just a competition. It is a celebration of bold ideas, local ingenuity, and Africa’s next generation of tech leaders. Organized by Dratech International, the hackathon is one of the flagship initiatives under the Dratech International Innovation Awards (DIIA), a platform regarded as one of the most prestigious recognitions in […]

The Dratech Hackathon is more than just a competition. It is a celebration of bold ideas, local ingenuity, and Africa’s next generation of tech leaders. Organized by Dratech International, the hackathon is one of the flagship initiatives under the Dratech International Innovation Awards (DIIA), a platform regarded as one of the most prestigious recognitions in Africa’s technology and innovation space.

Known for spotlighting excellence across categories like artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, edtech, and software engineering, the Dratech Awards attract top talent, global investors, and policy influencers. To serve as a judge or receive a Dratech award is to be recognized at the highest level of technical rigor, leadership, and impact within the continent’s innovation ecosystem.

This year’s hackathon gathered developers, product designers, and startup founders from across Africa to build solutions to real-world problems such as fraud detection engines, credit scoring APIs, and blockchain-backed financial tools. Behind the scenes, a carefully selected panel of expert judges reviewed and mentored each team.

In an exclusive interview with Gbenga Akingbulere, a Staff Software Engineer at Palo Alto Networks, we unpack what it meant to serve as a judge, which projects left a mark, and what Africa’s innovation future looks like through his eyes.

Gbenga, thanks for making time. What was your overall impression of the Dratech Hackathon?

It was incredibly energizing. The hackathon wasn’t just about tech demos. It was about real people solving real problems. I was blown away by the range of ideas and the ambition behind them. These weren’t surface-level builds. Teams were digging deep into financial inclusion, automation, and digital trust. The energy was focused, the ideas were fresh, and the intention was clear: to create technology that moves Africa forward.

What initially convinced you to say yes to judging?

For me, Dratech represents a unique intersection of excellence and authenticity. It is not just well-organized, it is deeply respected. The awards have become a benchmark for innovation across the continent. When I looked at the past recipients and saw how the platform elevates their visibility, I knew this was something I wanted to contribute to. I have worked on systems powering banks, payment processors, and fraud engines, and this was a chance to give some of that knowledge back.

Which category did you judge, and how closely did it align with your background?

I was focused on the Software Engineering and Fintech category, which fits perfectly with my experience. That space is where I have spent most of my career, building scalable systems for banking, creating fraud detection infrastructure, and designing APIs that are meant to last. So reviewing these projects wasn’t just academic. I was looking at them through the lens of someone who has built and scaled similar tools in production.

Were there any projects that stood out during judging?

Absolutely. A few teams made a strong impression. One built a fraud detection engine designed specifically for smaller fintechs, using real-time data streams to monitor activity. It was impressive to see such thoughtful architecture aimed at under-resourced regions. I gave feedback based on real-world deployment conditions, particularly around latency, edge cases, and infrastructure constraints.

Another team developed a cloud-based tax automation platform. Their modular API-first design immediately resonated with me, especially because it mirrored some of the challenges I’ve encountered in large-scale financial systems. I offered suggestions on improving their security layers and preparing for regulatory compliance at scale.

There was also a team working on a credit scoring solution that relied on alternative data sources. It was an ambitious concept with strong potential. I appreciated their creativity, but I also encouraged them to think more deeply about user privacy, data ethics, and compliance frameworks. They were very receptive and shared how they planned to adapt the product based on that input.

What was the judging process like behind the scenes?

It was a mix of structured scoring and open mentorship. What I appreciated was that Dratech gave judges space to engage with the teams. We were not just handing out points. We were asking questions, pushing for clarity, and offering insights that the teams could immediately apply. Some of the best moments came after the pitches, when founders stayed on to ask follow-ups. That kind of dialogue doesn’t happen at every event. It is something special.

What, in your view, sets Dratech apart from other hackathons or award platforms?

Dratech is intentional. It doesn’t just reward flashy ideas. It rewards substance, scalability, and long-term impact. Being a part of it, whether as a judge or a finalist, is not just about that moment on stage. It opens doors. It signals that your work has been vetted by leaders in the field and that it stands up to critical scrutiny. That kind of credibility matters, especially when you are trying to attract partners or scale into new markets.

What did you want the teams to walk away with, beyond the competition?

I wanted them to know that iteration is power. No idea comes out perfect, but feedback, discipline, and courage can shape something incredible over time. I also emphasized that things like security, compliance, and user experience are not “later problems.” They should be part of your build mindset from day one.

Looking back, what would you say this experience meant to you personally?

Gratitude. I am grateful to the Dratech team for curating such a powerful experience. I am grateful to my fellow judges for their insight and diversity of thought. And most of all, I am grateful to the participants for their vulnerability, creativity, and hunger to solve. If this is a glimpse into the future of African tech, then I am genuinely hopeful. These builders are the real deal.