Three young Africans are proving that game-changing technology can emerge from anywhere.
Andrew, Mercy, and Joshua, three African young entrepreneurs, have combined their talents to create “Soroban by Example,” an innovative platform that simplifies learning Soroban, Stellar’s smart contract language.
Their project is gaining rapid recognition as a revolutionary step in blockchain education, making it easier for people to grasp this complex technology.
Their journey began with a shared vision: to make blockchain technology accessible to everyone, especially in regions often overlooked in global tech conversations. The irony wasn’t lost on them – blockchain’s potential to democratize access to financial services and more was well-known, yet the tools themselves were often impenetrable to all but the most experienced developers.
Recognizing this gap, the trio set out to create a solution that would change the game for emerging markets.
Their solution took shape as ‘Soroban by Example’, a platform designed to breathe life into the abstract world of Soroban. By pairing real-world examples with an intuitive AI assistant, they created a learning environment that’s both guided and hands-on.
With this, developers can now experiment, tweak, and build upon existing code, gradually taming the complexities of Soroban and making it their own. This innovation has been able to help many in the tech industry. The innovation didn’t go unnoticed.
They had competed in a global challenge hosted by a major developer platform for opportunities, challenges and learning called DEV, where they emerged as winnners. ‘Soroban by Example’ earned the top prize of $13,000, with a sponsored trip to London for the Annual Meridian conference, held at the iconic Church House in Westminster.
This was an incredible achievement, especially with the current exchange rate in Africa. It was a huge challenge that was foreseen to be unachievable but the trio made it seem seamless after their victory.
Beyond the financial reward, the win also positioned their work as a beacon for Africa’s growing tech ecosystem.
Like many success stories, their journey to triumph wasn’t without its learning curves. Despite their groundbreaking success, the team encountered a temporary setback: a longer-than-expected wait for visa approvals. Tickets to London were booked, and a coveted spot at a prestigious event awaited – the team’s excitement was simmering just below the surface.
A delay might have derailed lesser ambitions, but for Andrew, Mercy, and Joshua, it only strengthened their resolve. They saw this moment as more than just a showcase for their innovative solution – it was a chance to redefine the narrative around African tech and prove that groundbreaking innovation can come from anywhere.
Rather than dwell on the setback, Andrew, Mercy, and Joshua channeled their energy back into their platform. Their ambition remains unwavering. They are expanding ‘Soroban by Example’ to include multilingual support, aiming to make it accessible to developers across continents. Plans are also underway to enhance the platform’s usability with additional tools that will allow seamless collaboration and contributions from a global audience.
Their story represents resilience and a spirit that never allows failure. With the reoccurence of the tech landscape who overlooks talent from Africa, this trio are not only building solutions but also challenging the global narrative. From Africa, they are creating tools that make a real-world impact, showing that innovation isn’t tied to geography—it’s driven by creativity and determination.
‘Soroban by Example’ is a statement and a force to reckon with. It signals the rise of a new wave of African tech talent, capable of solving global challenges while putting their communities on the map. Their journey serves as a reminder that, even in the face of obstacles, ingenuity knows no boundaries.
What started as an ambitious idea in Africa is quickly becoming a global movement for the trio. For Andrew, Mercy, and Joshua, this is only the beginning.