Bitcoin Builders Fellowship
A 12-week fellowship for African software engineers, starting in Ghana, focused on building open-source Bitcoin tools and contributing in public.
What the fellowship is for
Bitcoin Builders Fellowship is for software engineers who already know how to build software and want to go deeper into Bitcoin through real engineering work.
It combines structured learning, mentorship, public code, and project work so fellows can move from early interest to visible output. This is not a beginner coding course and not a trading program.
Why it matters
- Africa needs more Bitcoin builders, not just users. Strong engineering talent should have clearer paths into Bitcoin open-source work.
- Bitcoin benefits when more of the world helps build it. A broader contributor base makes the ecosystem more resilient and more relevant.
- Learning by building works. The fastest route to understanding is to write code, review code, debug systems, and ship in public.
How the fellowship works
Foundations
Fellows build practical Bitcoin understanding through nodes, transactions, keys, wallets, scripting basics, and development tools.
Open-source readiness
Fellows learn GitHub workflows, documentation, issue triage, code review, and how to read unfamiliar codebases.
Build and contribute
Fellows start real work: contributing to existing Bitcoin repositories or building small open-source Bitcoin tools with mentor support.
Ship and present
Fellows clean up their work, document decisions, present outcomes, and leave with visible public outputs.
Mentor model
Core team in Ghana
Alkedevs' core team handles recruitment, coordination, accountability, community support, and day-to-day delivery of the pilot.
Technical mentors
Fellows also learn from experienced Bitcoin developers through code review, office hours, guest sessions, technical feedback, and guidance on open-source workflows.
The fellowship is async-first with weekly live touchpoints. Mentors are there to review, guide, and challenge fellows — not to write the code for them.
Who it's for
This might be for you if:
- You can already write working code in at least one language
- You're comfortable with Git and GitHub workflows
- You can commit consistent weekly time for 12 weeks
- You're interested in Bitcoin as technology, infrastructure, and open-source software
- You're based in Africa, or building closely with African developer communities
This probably isn't for you if:
- You're looking for a trading or speculation course
- You've never written software before
- You want a passive, video-first learning experience
- You cannot commit to consistent public work during the cohort
- You want job placement or grant outcomes guaranteed
What fellows produce
- Public GitHub work
- At least one documented Bitcoin project or meaningful open-source contribution
- Technical documentation or a written project summary
- Participation in peer and mentor code review
- A final demo or presentation
The goal is for every fellow to leave with a visible body of work, not just course completion.
Get involved
Register interest
We are putting together the first cohort and collecting interest from software engineers who want to hear when applications open.
Register InterestPartner with the pilot
If you want to support the fellowship through funding, technical mentorship, or useful introductions, reach out through our partner page.
Partner With Us