An immersive, hands-on bingo-style scavenger hunt system that blends code challenges, AI-assisted content creation, and collaborative networking into the ultimate AfroTech experience.
AfroTech draws 40,000+ attendees annually, yet the most meaningful connections still happen by accident — not by design. Traditional conference networking is passive and transactional.
Traditional badge-scanning and hallway conversations miss deeper engagement opportunities that build lasting professional relationships.
Attendees leave without tangible artifacts documenting their conference journey or showcasing the skills they practiced.
AfroTech's powerful focus areas — AI Edge, Digital Cultural Economy, Cybersecurity — lack interactive touchpoints that bring them to life.
Transform passive attendance into active, collaborative participation. A bingo-style scavenger hunt that weaves code challenges, AI content creation, and collaborative networking into a 5×5 quest board.
Mini-puzzles in Python, geolocation unlocks, and API-driven secret reveals woven into a 5×5 interactive quest board.
AI-assisted highlight reels, portfolio pages, and shareable conference content built collaboratively.
Teams form around complementary roles — decoders and content creators — building cross-company relationships.
Click any active (pulsing) square to see the challenge details. Completed squares glow green. Locked squares unlock as you progress.
Physical Exploration Meets Digital Discovery
Using open-source GIS tools and the browser Geolocation API, attendees physically navigate to specific zones within the George R. Brown Convention Center to unlock challenges. Visit exhibitor booths, find hidden QR codes near career fair zones, and check in at keynote halls.
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(
(pos) => {
const { latitude, longitude } = pos.coords;
if (isWithinZone(latitude, longitude,
ZONES.careerHall)) {
unlockSquare('career-hall-visit');
}
}
);Collaborative Coding for Every Skill Level
Collaborative Python notebooks provide accessible, bite-sized coding challenges. Decode hidden messages with base64, visualize conference data with matplotlib, crack ciphers, and map your team's journey — all within a guided notebook environment.
# Decode the secret message
import base64
encoded = "QWZyb1RlY2ggMjAyNg=="
decoded = base64.b64decode(encoded)
print(decoded.decode('utf-8'))
# Output: "AfroTech 2026"Hidden Challenges Through REST API Exploration
Hidden challenges are revealed through REST API calls. Teams learn to authenticate with badge tokens, chain multiple endpoints, and parse JSON responses to unlock secret squares containing exclusive conference perks and bonus networking opportunities.
// Chain API calls to unlock secrets
const token = await authenticate(badgeId);
const clue = await fetch('/api/quest/clue', {
headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` }
});
const secret = await fetch(
`/api/quest/reveal/${clue.squareId}`
);
// 🎉 Secret square unlocked!A lightweight, modular game engine built on Node.js where each bingo square is backed by mini-code challenges. Low-code and no-code options ensure accessibility for all skill levels.
Lightweight modular engine powering each bingo square challenge with real-time score tracking.
Collaborative Jupyter/Colab notebooks for data decoding, visualization, and cipher challenges.
Badge-authenticated endpoints for secret reveals, webhooks, and real-time leaderboard updates.
Open-source mapping for location-based challenge unlocks across the convention center.
AI-assisted highlight reels, portfolio pages, and shareable conference content generation.
No-code alternatives for every challenge, ensuring all skill levels can participate fully.
A tightly structured 30-minute workshop launches the conference-wide quest. Every minute is designed to maximize learning, connection, and content creation.
Introduction, live polls, and framework overview. Teams receive their quest boards.
Form teams of 4 with complementary roles: Decoders (code) and Creators (content).
First hands-on challenge: Python fundamentals, base64 decoding, and technical clues.
Create AI-enhanced highlight reels and portfolio content using guided templates.
Quest logistics, leaderboard reveal, and the conference-wide scavenger hunt begins!
Technical skills, real connections, and portfolio-ready content — all earned through collaborative play.
Python, Node.js, REST APIs, GIS mapping, AI content tools
Cross-company team building and shared victories
AI-generated highlights and portfolio page
Publishable reels for LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok
Senior technology leader at Columbia University with deep expertise in building scalable, interactive learning platforms. Creator of the RenderQuest and GHC Constellation Quest frameworks that have engaged thousands of conference attendees.
VIEW RENDERQUEST →Data analytics educator and former Google AI professional with a passion for making technology accessible. Specializes in collaborative learning experiences that bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences.
VIEW GHC QUEST →Scavenger Quest — cyberpunk-themed bingo board with code challenges
Constellation Quest — celestial-themed collaborative networking experience
A scalable, open-source framework ready for AfroTech's 40,000+ attendees. Every interaction becomes a learning moment. Every challenge becomes a connection.