GDG HiLCoE School of Computer Science

Ideas are better when they’re tested. Join IDEEZA × Women Techmakers Ethiopia for the BUILDERS’ LAB Community DevShop, where builders come together to showcase, test, and improve real projects. Whether you’re working on an app, software product, hardware prototype, or an AI-powered idea, this is your chance to present it live and receive honest feedback from mentors, developers, engineers, and fellow creators. What you’ll get: ✨ Live project reviews and community feedback ✨ Free access to the latest IDEEZA AI hardware design platform ✨ Opportunity to join our Summer Internship Program ✨ Certificate of participation 📅 Date: August 15, 2026 🕑 Time: 2:00 PM 📍 Location: 6 Kilo, Teferi Mekonnen Map (https://maps.app.goo.gl/wZzdD3sRz1FWFKkXA?g_st=ac) Spots are limited, so register now: https://forms.gle/xaZDvRMNe2uBXniw8 In collaboration with Finn Church Aid (FCA). Come build, learn, and connect with Ethiopia’s next generation of innovators.

Join IDEEZA × Women Techmakers Ethiopia for the BUILDERS’ LAB Community DevShop! Bring your app, software, or hardware project for live reviews, mentorship, and user testing. Or simply join us to test projects, share feedback, and connect with fellow creators and innovators. Women in tech, developers, engineers, makers, and builders are invited to showcase their ideas and get valuable insights from the community. During the event, each team will have the opportunity to present their app, software, or hardware project and receive real feedback from fellow creators, mentors, and community members. Participants will also get: ✨ Free access to the latest IDEEZA AI hardware design platform ✨ Opportunity to join our Summer Internship Program ✨ Certificate of participation Limited spots available! Register now and be part of the next generation of builders. 📅 Date: To be announced soon Register here: https://forms.gle/xaZDvRMNe2uBXniw8

Session in starting now...

🎙 Control Architecture: a series on how your favorite apps actually work Have you ever wondered what happens in the few seconds between requesting a ride and getting matched with a driver? This time, we’re breaking down the systems that power real-time mobility. Episode 2: Uber Matchmaking & Google Maps Routing 🚗🗺 How does Uber find the right driver among thousands of nearby vehicles? How does Google Maps calculate fast routes while traffic conditions constantly change? We’ll explore geospatial indexing, rider-driver matchmaking, dispatch algorithms, real-time data pipelines, ETA prediction, road graphs, Dijkstra and A*, hierarchical routing, live traffic processing, rerouting, and the systems that keep everything working when parts fail. 📅 July 19 | 🕐 8:00pm | 📍 Meeting link RSVP 👉HERE👈 #GDSC #GDG #SystemDesign #Uber #GoogleMaps #DistributedSystems #TechTalk

Here is all the resources from today's session Including the slides

Session starting in ~ 10 minutes

🎙 Control Architecture: a series on how your favorite apps actually work Have you ever wondered how the apps you use every day handle millions of people without falling over? We're pulling back the curtain, one app at a time. Episode 1: Discord 🎧 How does a platform with millions of concurrent users not collapse under its own weight? We're breaking down Discord's real architecture — sharded gateways, the Elixir process model behind instant message fan-out, a trillion-message database migration, and the encryption protecting your calls right now. 📅 Saturday June 11, 2026 | 🕐 2:00 LT evening | 📍 https://meet.google.com/utg-veuq-tei RSVP 👉HERE👈 #GDSC #SystemDesign #Discord #TechTalk

🚀 Want to Join the GDG Core Team? Here’s Your Chance! 🚀 We are officially launching the FinTech Building Challenge! This is your ultimate opportunity to showcase your skills, solve real-world problems, and earn a coveted spot on the HiLCoE GDG Core Team. 💡 The Challenge: compete with fellow tech enthusiasts to conceptualize and design an innovative website or app focused on financial services tailored to our local context. Whether you're a seasoned UI/UX designer, an aspiring developer, or a novice ready to learn, your creativity is what matters most! keep in mind that this is an individual event and teams are not allowed 📅 Ready to make an impact? Take action now: 🔗 Step 1: Register for the Event 👉 Click here to sign up on the GDG Portal 🔗 Step 2: Submit Your Project 👉 Click here to access the Submission Link Bring your creativity, collaborate with your team, and let your innovation shine. Your journey to the core of the HiLCoE GDG community starts here! 🚀✨

Did you know? The original “computer bug” was a literal bug!🐞 In 1947, engineers working on the Harvard Mark II relay computer traced an unexpected malfunction to a moth trapped between two relay contacts. They carefully taped the insect into their logbook with the note:

First actual case of bug being found.

That moth, now on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, gave us the term we still use daily: debugging. So next time you squash a software bug, remember it all started with a real one. 💻 #GDGHiLCoE #Bug #DidYouKnow @GDSCHiLCoE

Break the Pattern featured an inspiring fireside chat with Samiya Abdulkadir, Chairperson of AAYEA and Founder of Aim View General Educational Consultancy. She shared her journey from running a business in middle school to building ventures aimed at reducing Ethiopia’s import dependence through localized manufacturing. After finding Applied Chemistry too theoretical, she redirected her path toward transforming education and started her first startup in university. Key insights: ✅ Ideas alone are not enough; execution needs strong teams, planning, timing, and the right tools, including AI ✅Build solutions you would personally use ✅ Success requires commitment, sacrifice, trusted partnerships, and legal awareness ✅ Not everyone must be a founder; supporting roles are equally valuable She also recommended *The Social Network*, *The Founder*, and *Steve Jobs* as inspiration. Her message: stay prepared, stay informed, and keep learning. #BreakThePattern #WTMEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE

Reminder for our community 🚨 As Community Partners for the Dev3Pack Hackathon, we’re now heading into the final application window. This hackathon is strictly for students and women builders, so apply accordingly and make sure your submission is solid. Key flow: 1. Apply to the hackathon (deadline: May 6): Here 2. Then apply to join our Web3 Ethiopia local hub: https://luma.com/141qx9gz We’ll be hosting selected participants in person with mentorship and a structured hacking environment. Important: Access to our IRL hub and workspace (May 8–10) is only for participants accepted into the hackathon. No acceptance means no access to the physical event. What selected hackers get: * $10K+ USD in cash prizes * 12 Solana Seeker phones * $70+ in AI partner tools per hacker * Accelerator access for underrepresented talent * Global demo day exposure Tracks: * Best apps on Solana * Best mobile apps (Solana Mobile) * Best cross-chain apps (LI.FI) * Best ElevenLabs integration * Best AI agent in real-world environments Top teams progress further into the ecosystem, with a pathway leading to Colosseum. If you’re eligible, apply with intent 🎯 Deadline is close ⏳

Ideas in motion. Progress in real-time. ⚡️ The hackathon is officially under way! #BreakThePattern #WomenTechmakersEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE

Your Tech Journey Starts This Saturday! 🚀 Join WTM Ethiopia, GDG on Campus BITS, and GDG on Campus HiLCoE for a unique Break the Pattern "vibe coding" hackathon. Worried about skills? Start with an AI problem-solving prep workshop to build and win. Why Join? 🏆 Exciting Prizes 🌍 International Recognition 🛠 Vibe Coding Hackathon - Beginner to builder in one day Event Details 📅 Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 📍 Venue: Aurora Co-working – Dani Plaza, 4th Floor Register here - https://luma.com/goh9p860 Sponsors: Premium: Professor Abebe Rorissa| Dashen Bank Gold: Dala Studio | Aurora | Vercel | Notion Silver: gheero

Meet Our Judges We’re honored to have an incredible panel of judges who bring diverse expertise, creativity, and vision to #BreakThePattern. Etsub Mekonnen — Architect and designer, specializing in creative planning, visual design, and functional solutions. Ribka Zewde — Bio-Technologist, climate advocate, and women’s rights ally, driving innovation and community‑focused solutions. Kenenisa Alemayehu — Software Engineer and Competitive Programmer, expert in backend systems, system design, and performance optimization. Together, they will be evaluating projects with a focus on creativity, functionality, innovation, and impact. ✨ Join us as we celebrate #BreakThePattern by turning bold ideas into real‑world applications. Present your project, get expert feedback from our judges, and be part of a movement shaping the future. 📅 Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 📍 Venue: Aurora Co‑working – Dani Plaza, 4th Floor 🎟 Register Here #BreakThePattern #WomenTechmakersEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE

🥇 Gold Sponsor Spotlight: Dala Studio We are proud to spotlight Dala Studio, a forward-thinking tech innovator empowering creators, developers, and businesses to bring ideas to life faster than ever before. Turn Your Ideas Into Working Apps In Minutes, Not Months Describe your app in your own language — Amharic, Swahili, Hausa, or any African language — and watch Gebeya Dala generate production-ready code instantly. Built by Africans, for Africa. Dala Studio is redefining how digital products are built by combining creativity, accessibility, and cutting-edge technology. From concept to deployment, they enable individuals and teams to design, build, and launch solutions with speed and confidence. Thank you, Dala Studio, for being a Gold Sponsor and supporting our community. Event Details: Date: April 25th Venue: Aurora Co-working – Dani Plaza, 4th Floor Status: Registration OPEN – https://luma.com/goh9p860 #DalaStudio #Sponsor #BreakThePattern #WomenTechmakersEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE

Meet our Judge: Ribka Zewde Ribka Zewde is a professional working at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact. She supports ventures that use technology to address real-world challenges, especially in health and climate resilience. Through her work with organizations such as @Lanchi, she advances accessible and inclusive solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities. She is also deeply engaged in the startup ecosystem, with a passion for empowering women and youth to step into leadership and problem-solving spaces. As a judge, Ribka will evaluate projects based on impact, innovation, and their potential to drive meaningful change. ✨ Join us as we celebrate #BreakThePattern by turning bold ideas into real-world applications. Event Details 📅 Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 📍 Venue: Aurora Co-working – Dani Plaza, 4th Floor 🎟 Register Here: https://luma.com/goh9p860 #BreakThePattern #WomenTechmakersEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE

Meet our Hackathon Judge: Kenenisa Alemayehu Kenenisa Alemayehu is a Software Engineer and Competitive Programmer, and former Head of Development at A2SV. He led the development of A2SV Hub, focusing on platform architecture, performance, and developer tooling. With deep expertise in backend systems using Go and Node.js, Kenenisa specializes in system design and performance optimization. He is currently building Ora Browser, an open-source browser project, pushing the boundaries of modern web technology. As a judge, he will be evaluating projects with a focus on system design quality, performance optimization, and innovation in architecture. ✨ Join us as we celebrate #BreakThePattern by turning ideas into real‑world applications. Event Details 📅 Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 📍 Venue: Aurora Co-working – Dani Plaza, 4th Floor 🎟 Registration OPEN → Register Here #BreakThePattern #WomenTechmakersEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE

Meet our Judge: Etsub Mekonnen Etsub Mekonnen is an architect and designer with experience in residential and commercial projects, specializing in creative planning, visual design, and functional solutions. Her background spans architectural drafting, interior and landscape design, as well as graphic and brand design. She focuses on combining practical functionality with creative thinking to deliver designs that are both effective and visually engaging. As a judge, Etsub will be evaluating projects with a focus on creativity, functionality, and overall design execution. ✨ Join us as we celebrate #BreakThePattern by turning bold ideas into real‑world applications. Event Details 📅 Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 📍 Venue: Aurora Co-working – Dani Plaza, 4th Floor 🎟 Registration OPEN → Register Here #BreakThePattern #WomenTechmakersEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE

Meet our Workshop Lead: Firehiwot Kebede Firehiwot Kebede is a Computer Engineer and AI researcher with over 5 years of experience as a lecturer and technical trainer. Her work focuses on AI, particularly Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning, and using Python for data analysis. She has experience teaching and applying these tools in practical, real-world contexts. Firehiwot will be leading a hands-on workshop, introducing participants to key concepts in AI and how to apply them in real projects. Join us to #BreakThePattern by exploring how AI can transform ideas into impactful solutions. Event Details 📅 Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 📍 Venue: Aurora Co-working – Dani Plaza, 4th Floor 🎟 Registration OPEN → Register Here #BreakThePattern #WomenTechmakersEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE

Meet our Judge: Etsub Mekonnen Etsub Mekonnen is an architect and designer with experience in residential and commercial projects, specializing in creative planning, visual design, and functional solutions. Her background spans architectural drafting, interior and landscape design, as well as graphic and brand design. She focuses on combining practical functionality with creative thinking to deliver designs that are both effective and visually engaging. As a judge, Etsub will be evaluating projects with a focus on creativity, functionality, and overall design execution. ✨ Join us as we celebrate #BreakThePattern by turning bold ideas into real‑world applications. Event Details 📅 Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 📍 Venue: Aurora Co-working – Dani Plaza, 4th Floor 🎟 Registration OPEN → Register Here #BreakThePattern #WomenTechmakersEthiopia #GDGoCBITS #GDGoCHiLCoE