If someone asked you how your Q1 went, what would you say?

(Go on, we’ll wait...)

Q1 was a full-course meal, served hot, fast, and with no breaks in between. From day one, we promised to stay locked in. And we did. We locked the doors, threw away the keys, and got to work.

The days were long, the pace was wild, but the results? Worth every second.

Now, with the doors finally open (yes, we found the keys… sort of), we’re letting you in on all the action.

We’re excited to let you in  to show you what we’ve been working on, and the milestones we’ve hit, 

This newsletter is a look back at our Q1 journey  and trust us, it’s been one for the books.

Let’s take it from the top.

Q1 Milestones

📍Launching The AyaHQ x Lisk Builder Hub In Kilifi

One of the standout moments for us this quarter was the official launch of the AyaHQ x Lisk Builders Hub in Kilifi brought to life through our exciting partnership with Lisk.

More than just a physical location, the Builders Hub is a purpose-driven space designed to empower Africa’s next generation of tech talent. Located in the heart of Kilifi, this hub offers onsite accommodation, co-working facilities, reliable internet, and a dedicated environment for builders, developers, and creators to focus, collaborate, and innovate.

It’s a space where community and creativity intersect where workshops, hackathons, and meetups can happen organically.

This collaboration with Lisk is a testament to what’s possible when we invest in ecosystems that nurture talent at the grassroots level. The AyaHQ x Lisk Builders Hub is built for builders, by builders with the vision of fostering long-term, sustainable impact in the African tech scene.

📍AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation Program Roadshow

This quarter, we took our mission on the road to bring builders onchain and grow the Web3 movement across the continent.

We hosted 5 roadshows in 4 African countries Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda connecting with over 700 passionate attendees. Each stop was a high-energy convergence of devs, creators, and Web3-curious minds eager to explore blockchain tech and what it means to build onchain.

From live demos and AMAs to workshops and panel discussions, these roadshows weren’t just events they were launchpads. We sparked conversations, ignited collaborations, and laid the groundwork for a thriving onchain builder ecosystem in Africa.

📍AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation Program: Cohort 1 Wrap-Up

Cohort 1 of the AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation Program is officially in the books—and what a journey it’s been.

Here’s a snapshot of how it all unfolded:
116 applications from builders across the continent
25 promising projects selected to join the program
12 teams advanced to the final stage
6 onchain-ready teams successfully graduated

To cap it all off, we hosted our first Founders Summit—a powerful showcase where participants pitched their projects, connected with potential collaborators, and shared their vision for the future of Web3 in Africa.

This is just the beginning. The energy is real, the momentum is building, and we’re only getting started. Cohort 2, let’s go 🚀

📍AyaHQ Builders Hub Events & Residency

In addition to the roadshows, we hosted over 10 events and welcomed new residents to the Builders Hub. It’s been incredible to see how builders  are using the space to collaborate, create, and connect.

📍AyaLabs Relaunch

One of our biggest milestones this quarter was the relaunch of AyaLabs a platform designed to make it simple and seamless for builders, community leads, and orgs to launch, collaborate, and grow onchain.

📌 6,000+ users
📌 3 hackathons hosted
📌 More builders, more communities, more experiments—and it’s just getting started.

AyaLabs is quickly becoming the go-to playground for anyone building in Web3 across Africa and beyond.

📍Velocit8 Spins Out as an Independent Entity

A major shift this quarter: Velocit8 officially spun out from Aya and is now operating as its own standalone organization. What started as an internal project has grown into something much bigger.

With Seun stepping in as CEO, Velocit8 is set to chart its own path and we’re excited to see where they take it next.

What’s Cooking in Q2?

If Q1 was the warm-up, Q2 is the real heat. We’re not just keeping the momentum going we’re turning it up a few notches. Here’s what’s coming up:

• ZuAfrique in Full Swing – Our 3-week pop-up city kicks off this April. Expect live updates as builders co-live, co-build, and co-create the future in real time.

• AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation Program: Cohort 2 Loading… After a successful first cohort, we’re gearing up for round two. More builders. More support. More breakthroughs. If you missed the first one, now’s your chance to lock in.

• AyaLabs Experiments & Hackathons Q2 will see new hackathons, tools, and open-source projects. If you’re building, you’ll want to be plugged in.

• IRL Energy Continues – More workshops, Builders Convos and hangouts. If you’re building in Africa, we’re probably coming to a city near you.

• Builder Spotlights & Stories – This quarter, we’ll be sharing more wins from the people who make this all worth it, our builders.

AyaHQ Arena

📍Getting Started On AyaLabs

If you’re a:
Community builder looking to host your first hackathon
Developer eager to dive into open-source projects

AyaLabs is the place for you. We’ve got the tools, the network, and the resources to help you bring your ideas to life.
Learn more and get started here.

📍Want to Know More About AyaHQ?

Check out our interview with Pishikeni Tukura, our co-founder, on Vietnam Crypto. He shared the inside scoop on AyaHQ’s mission and the impact we’re making. You can listen to the full interview.

📍The Human Layer Podcast: AyaHQ in Conversation

In the second episode of The Human Layer podcast, our founder Eric Annan and partner Michael Lawal sat down for a deep and honest conversation about the future we’re building in Africa—and why this mission goes beyond hype cycles.

They shared powerful insights on what it means to build for the long haul, and why Web3 in Africa has the potential to reshape not just economies, but people.

Key takeaways:
🔹 The power of physical spaces—like our Builders Hubs—to spark innovation through everyday, unplanned conversations
🔹 Why the idea of the “programmable human” is core to how we think about identity, agency, and tech in Africa
🔹 The contrast between extractive crypto systems and regenerative, community-driven ecosystems

It’s a conversation about vision, values, and what it truly means to build something that lasts.

📍Still Here? It’s Time to Join Us!

If you’re still reading this is your sign to join the AyaHQ Builders Collective! Whether you want to network, collaborate, or just get inspired, we’ve got a bunch of exciting events coming up — from workshops and hackathons to games and networking.

Cheer Corner

Let’s give a shout-out to LearnWay, one of the standout projects from the AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation program. LearnWay is simplifying Web3 and financial literacy education with gamified learning in popular African languages.

And the best part? They’ve launched their own app, where you can learn, engage, and earn. It’s perfect for anyone just starting out in Web3.
Huge congratulations to the LearnWay team!

AyaHQ Is Building the Future of On-Chain Builders in Africa

We’re not just here for the hype. We’re here for the builders, the founders, the visionaries.

Through:
AyaHQ Builders Hub – Where builders live, work, and create.
AyaLabs – Fueling hackathons and developer growth.
Ayaversity Founders Program – Helping Web3 founders build scalable projects.
The Human Layer Movement – Championing collaboration in Web3.

The market doesn’t dictate our momentum—we do.

So if you’re serious about building in Web3, you know where to find us.

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