Standard Bank Concludes Third Annual UniHack Competition
Standard Bank is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the third annual UniHack Competition, held in Cape Town on April 2nd and 3rd, 2025. This year's event showcased incredible talent and harnessed technology to address South African challenges in education, mental health, and support for people with disabilities. Thirteen teams of students competed in this competition.
Gerald Perumal, Standard Bank Technology Head of Strategy Enablement, remarked, "The UniHack Competition has once again highlighted the exceptional talent and innovative spirit of our young participants. Their ability to adapt and design applications to solve challenging problems in these areas is truly inspiring. The innovative use of AI and machine learning, along with the exceptional adaptation and design of code, has demonstrated the potential of technology to create meaningful solutions."
The competition emphasised the need to develop young talent and the importance of involving our youth in technology and its future applications to address societal challenges. By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, UniHack aims to build a pipeline of skilled professionals who can contribute to the growth and development of South Africa's ICT sector.
Winners of the UniHack Competition
First Place: High Five Team
The winning team developed an app called "Handy," which caters to the needs of the hearing-impaired community within South Africa. Handy can read sign language and translate it into text in real-time, enabling teachers, students, and professionals to communicate more seamlessly and directly. Team members include Justin Dietrich from Stellenbosch University, Vutivi Makubela from Stellenbosch, Oluphi Vukaphi from UWC, Nabeelah Khan from UWC, and Bailey Mc Jarrow from Stellenbosch.
Second Place: My EduVault Team
My EduVault is an AI-powered, multilingual platform designed to make education in South Africa more accessible. It offers NSC-aligned resources, interactive quizzes, and 24/7 AI support to engage and tailor learning to each student’s needs. Powered by Standard Bank, this initiative aims to build a strong customer bond by helping both parents and children achieve matric education.
Third Place: AI Mental Health Solution Team
The third-placed team built an AI-powered mental health solution that integrates informed AI assistance and peer-to-peer chat rooms with African language support. This innovative approach aims to provide accessible mental health support to individuals across South Africa.
Standard Bank remains committed to nurturing young talent and promoting continuous learning and development. The UniHack Competition is a testament to the bank's dedication to innovation, skills development, and economic growth. By providing a platform for young talent to showcase their skills and develop innovative solutions, Standard Bank is helping to shape the future of South Africa's ICT sector and drive the country's growth and development.