The process
From application to finale.
The seven stages of On the Edge, in order.
Application
Applications are individual. You apply on your own, and teams are formed later.
Qualification Challenge
Applicants complete the qualification challenge once it is revealed. They prepare a short slide deck and record themselves presenting their response. The presentation must be no more than five minutes. Anything longer is disqualified. The link to the video is submitted with the application.
Selection
Submissions are reviewed. Six applicants progress to become the On the Edge finalists.
Verification
Every one of the six completes student and identity verification.
The Final Six
Six verified students are confirmed as the On the Edge finalists.
Teams Are Drawn
The six finalists are split into two teams of three, each including at least one female and one male student.
Competitors do not choose their teammates, and they do not meet them before the competition. Working with people you have not worked with before, immediately and under pressure, is part of what On the Edge tests.
The Competition
The two teams meet for the first time, and each team chooses its own name. The main project is revealed when the competition begins. Participants research, develop their strategy, work with users, make decisions and develop a technology-enabled solution.
The final output includes:
- Research process
- Slide presentation
- Working MVP
- Recommendations
- Prioritisation
Finale
Each team presents its work before the panel. The panel challenges the team’s research, decisions, strategy, recommendations and solution. The winning team receives the ₦500,000 Grand Prize. Additional cash prizes will be available during other competition activities.
Judging
The panel.
The On the Edge panel is made up of senior professionals in the tech industry. They judge the final presentations, and they challenge each team on its research, decisions, strategy, recommendations and solution.
The panel is introduced to the finalists on the first day of the competition, in the On the Edge house.
Ready?
It starts with the qualification challenge.
Applications open in January 2027. The exact date will be announced.