Details
Hybrid format. In-person attendance is encouraged.
Date: Monday, 12 January 2026
Start time: 10:00 AM SAST resuming at 14:00 PM SAST for second session each day of Bootcamp segment
Application Deadline: 5 January 2026, Wednesday. You will receive a request for an interview within two weeks of application submission.
Duration: 4h00 to 6h00 split into two sessions
Bootcamp Lead: Anda Ngcaba
Sponsor: The FirstRand Foundation
Partner: The Cortex Hub
Location: the Cortex Hub, 33 Church Street, East London, Eastern Cape
The inaugural 2026 UCT–Cortex Hub Fintech Lab Summer School brought together students and entrepreneurs from across the Eastern Cape for two weeks of hands-on training in fintech, open banking, data science, and innovation, culminating in a five-day hackathon.
About the Programme
The UCT–Cortex Hub Fintech Lab Summer School is an intensive training programme designed to equip university students and young entrepreneurs with hands-on skills in open banking, fintech, and digital innovation. Participants gained exposure to real-world fintech technologies, industry mentors, and research-driven innovation frameworks that bridge academic theory with market application.
What the Programme Covers
Two-Week Hybrid Boot Camp
12 – 25 January 2026 | The Cortex Hub & Online
Daily lectures and workshops covering Open Banking, Full-Stack Development, Data Science, and Blockchain Applications. Delivered by facilitators from the UCT Financial Innovation Hub and The Cortex Hub, with practical project-based learning combining coding, business development, and design thinking.
Five-Day Physical Hackathon
26 – 30 January 2026 | The Cortex Hub, East London
Participants work in multidisciplinary teams to apply their new skills to real-world fintech challenges, with guidance from technical and business mentors. Final presentations and awards take place on 30 January 2026.
Participant Eligibility
The Summer School welcomes second-year and higher students from Walter Sisulu University and the University of Fort Hare, recent graduates, and entrepreneurs based at the Cortex Hub. Students from other South African universities are also considered for available places.
Winter School 2026
The next cohort of the UCT–Cortex Hub Fintech Lab programme runs as a Winter School in June 2026.
Learn More About the Winter School →
