Are you an African startup looking to scale your innovative business? Apply for the UNDP Africa timbuktoo Launchpad Programme 2026.
Are you an African startup looking to scale your innovative business? Apply for the UNDP Africa timbuktoo Launchpad Programme 2026.
Applications are open for the UNDP Africa timbuktoo Launchpad Programme 2026, an initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) designed to support high-potential African startups and entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges. The programme is inviting applications from ambitious founders seeking to strengthen their businesses, access new markets, and connect with Africa’s wider innovation ecosystem.
The timbuktoo Launchpad Programme is designed to help promising African startups move from early-stage growth towards scale through targeted business support, mentorship, investment readiness, and access to networks. The initiative aims to strengthen Africa’s startup ecosystem while supporting innovative businesses with the potential to create jobs and contribute to sustainable economic development.
Through the programme, selected startups will benefit from the following:
- Tailored business development and entrepreneurship support
- Access to experienced mentors, experts, and industry leaders
- Support to strengthen business models and investment readiness
- Opportunities to connect with investors and strategic partners
- Exposure to regional and continental innovation ecosystems
- Opportunities to access funding and further acceleration support
Interested applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be an African entrepreneur or startup
- Have an innovative and scalable business solution
- Demonstrate a viable business model and potential for growth
- Address a significant challenge or opportunity within an African market
- Demonstrate commitment to creating jobs and generating sustainable economic impact
- Be willing to participate fully in the programme and its activities
To apply for the UNDP Africa timbuktoo Launchpad Programme 2026, visit the official application page here.
Are you a social entrepreneur improving healthcare access in Africa? Apply for the MORE HEALTH for Africa Program 2027.
Are you a social entrepreneur improving healthcare access in Africa? Apply for the MORE HEALTH for Africa Program 2027.
Applications are open for the MORE HEALTH for Africa Program, an initiative by Boehringer Ingelheim and Villgro Africa designed to support high-impact social enterprises addressing healthcare disparities across the continent. The programme is inviting applications from post-revenue African social enterprises with proven impact, strong operational performance, and clear plans to scale their healthcare solutions.
The MORE HEALTH for Africa Program is designed to help ambitious social enterprises strengthen their business models, expand their impact, and prepare for their next stage of growth. Through a combination of incubation, acceleration, catalytic funding, mentorship, and investor connections, the programme supports enterprises working to improve healthcare access for underserved communities across Africa.
Through the programme, selected enterprises will benefit from the following:
- Catalytic funding of up to USD 80,000
- 12 months of tailored incubation and acceleration support
- Expert mentorship, coaching, and business development support
- Masterclasses, diagnostic panels, and research support
- Connections to potential investors and strategic partners
- Opportunities for global exposure through the Making More Health Together convention and other networking opportunities
- Peer learning and connections with other healthcare innovators across Africa
Interested applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a registered for-profit social enterprise operating in at least one African market
- Be a post-revenue company with annual revenues of at least USD 300,000
- Demonstrate significant market traction and reach at least 100,000 people through its solution
- Have operated for at least three years with a dedicated full-time founding team
- Demonstrate a clear social impact focused on improving healthcare access
- Have a clear growth strategy and plans to raise at least USD 1 million in the next year
- Demonstrate the ability to leverage funding and secure additional financing
- Comply with relevant healthcare regulations and have a robust impact measurement framework
To apply for the MORE HEALTH for Africa Program 2027, visit the official application page here.
Are you a young entrepreneur under the age of 35 looking to expand your business across Africa? Apply for the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2026.
Are you a young entrepreneur under the age of 35 looking to expand your business across Africa? Apply for the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2026.
Applications are open for the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator (E-Accelerator), a joint initiative developed by YouthConnekt Africa in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union. The programme is inviting applications from export-ready, youth-led enterprises in Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, The Gambia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe that are looking to strengthen their export capacity and expand into intra-African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator is designed to help youth-led businesses overcome barriers to regional trade through enterprise diagnostics, tailored advisory services, export readiness support, and access to business and financing opportunities. The programme aims to strengthen the competitiveness of participating enterprises while supporting sustainable job creation and increased youth participation in intra-African trade.
Through the programme, selected enterprises will benefit from the following:
- Tailored enterprise diagnostics and business advisory services
- Export readiness training and accreditation
- Participation in the Export FitLab and Continental Bootcamp
- Facilitated access to intra-African markets through Policy Sandboxes
- Exposure to continental business, investment, and financing opportunities
- Support to navigate trade regulations and non-tariff barriers under the AfCFTA framework
Interested applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a youth-led enterprise with founders or owners under the age of 35
- Be operating in Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, The Gambia, Zambia, or Zimbabwe
- Have an established business operating in the local market
- Demonstrate readiness to expand into regional or continental markets
- Be committed to investing in business growth and export expansion
- Be willing to participate fully in all stages of the accelerator programme
To apply for the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2026, visit the official application page here.
Are you building AI solutions that advance disability inclusion in Africa? Apply for the Inclusive AI Innovations in Africa Programme by 17 July 2026.
Are you building AI solutions that advance disability inclusion in Africa? Apply for the Inclusive AI Innovations in Africa Programme by 17 July 2026.
Applications are open for the Inclusive AI Innovations in Africa Programme, an initiative under the Hub for Artificial Intelligence and Disability Inclusion (HAIDI) Innovation Track. The programme is inviting African innovators, researchers, developers, startups, and organizations developing responsible AI solutions that improve access to opportunities, services, and information for persons with disabilities across the continent.
The Inclusive AI Innovations in Africa Programme is designed to support post-MVP AI innovations that demonstrate strong potential for impact and scale. Over an 18-month period, selected ventures will receive catalytic support to strengthen, test, and expand their solutions while working closely with disability communities to ensure accessibility, relevance, and real-world impact.
Through the programme, selected participants will benefit from the following:
- Non-equity, milestone-based funding of up to KES 5,000,000
- Hands-on technical support and coaching from disability and innovation experts
- Access to HAIDI’s Live Lab network for user testing and validation
- Business model development, go-to-market, and investor readiness support
- Strategic partnerships with funders, governments, employers, education institutions, and health systems
- Increased visibility and opportunities for future funding and collaboration
Interested applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a legally registered venture in an African country
- Have a post-MVP or market-ready solution with evidence of traction
- Use AI or machine learning as a core driver of impact
- Focus on improving outcomes for persons with disabilities or their caregivers
- Operate in areas such as education, employment, mental health, care giving and independence, or AI-enabled assistive technology
- Demonstrate potential to scale impact across Africa
To apply for the Inclusive AI Innovations in Africa Programme, visit the official application page here.
Are you a startup in Africa looking to scale an innovative business with development impact? Apply for the develoPPP Ventures Ideas Competition by 30 June 2026.
Applications are open for the develoPPP Ventures programme, an initiative supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through DEG Impulse and GIZ. The programme is inviting applications from innovative startups operating in selected African countries that are driving sustainable economic, social, or environmental impact through scalable business models.
develoPPP Ventures is designed to support high-potential startups that have already achieved proof of concept and are ready to scale their operations. Through a matching-funds model, the programme provides catalytic support to startups contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while expanding access to innovative solutions in emerging markets.
Through the programme, selected startups will benefit from the following:
- Non-dilutive funding of up to EUR 100,000 through a matching-funds model
- Tailored technical assistance and business support from sector experts
- Access to networks, investors, and ecosystem partners
- Opportunities to scale operations and expand market reach
- Potential access to additional top-up funding in later phases
Interested applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a privately owned and profit-oriented startup
- Operate in an eligible target country, including Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, and others announced during the call period
- Have an innovative and scalable business model with development relevance
- Demonstrate proof of concept with initial revenues already generated
- Provide at least one annual financial statement and a viable business plan
- Secure matching investment funds equivalent to the requested develoPPP Ventures funding
To apply for the develoPPP Ventures Ideas Competition, visit the official application page here.
Are you an agritech startup in Africa? Apply for the UNDP Pan-African Incubation Programme for Agritech Startups by 27 April 2026.
Are you an agritech startup in Africa? Apply for the UNDP Pan-African Incubation Programme for Agritech Startups by 27 April 2026.
Applications are open for the Pan-African Incubation Programme for Agritech Startups, an initiative led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with partners to support innovation in Africa’s agricultural sector. The programme is inviting applications from early-stage agritech startups leveraging technology to improve food systems, strengthen value chains, and drive sustainable agricultural development across the continent.
The Pan-African Incubation Programme is designed to support high-potential agritech startups through capacity building, mentorship, and access to networks that can help scale their solutions. The initiative focuses on fostering innovation that enhances productivity, resilience, and food security in Africa.
Through the programme, selected startups will benefit from the following:
- Tailored incubation support to strengthen business models and operational capacity
- Access to expert mentorship and technical guidance in agritech and innovation
- Capacity-building sessions focused on scaling, investment readiness, and market expansion
- Opportunities to connect with industry stakeholders, partners, and investors
- Increased visibility within regional and pan-African innovation ecosystems
Interested applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be an agritech startup operating within Africa
- Offer innovative solutions addressing challenges in agriculture or food systems
- Be at an early or growth stage with a functional product or service
- Demonstrate potential for scalability and impact across agricultural value chains
- Be committed to participating fully in the incubation programme
To apply for the Pan-African Incubation Programme for Agritech Startups, visit the official application page here.
Are you an African startup building innovative technology solutions? Apply for the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme before 18 March 2026.
Are you an African startup building innovative technology solutions? Apply for the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme before 18 March 2026.
Applications are open for the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme. Google for Startups, Google’s initiative supporting early-stage entrepreneurs, is inviting applications from African technology startups using innovation to solve local and global challenges across the continent.
The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa is an equity-free, three-month accelerator programme designed to support promising startups through technical mentorship, business growth support, and access to Google’s global network. The programme focuses on helping founders scale their solutions and build sustainable, high-impact businesses.
Through the programme, selected startups will benefit from the following:
- Equity-free support and tailored mentorship from Google and industry experts
- Technical training and product support, including guidance on engineering, UX, and cloud solutions
- Access to Google tools, resources, and product credits to support startup growth
- Strategic support on business development, leadership, and scaling operations
- Connection to a global network of founders, investors, and partners
Interested applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a technology-focused startup using innovation to address a real-world problem
- Be based in Africa and primarily serve African or global markets
- Have an MVP or early-stage product with demonstrated traction
- Have at least one founder of African descent
- Be committed to participating fully in the duration of the accelerator programme
To apply, visit the official application page at Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme Applications.
Are you driving innovation at the intersection of science, technology, and the arts? Apply for the STARTS Prize before 4 March 2026
Are you driving innovation at the intersection of science, technology, and the arts? Apply for the STARTS Prize before 4 March 2026
Applications are open for the STARTS Prize 2026, an initiative of the European Commission that recognises and rewards innovative projects at the intersection of Science, Technology, and the Arts (STARTS). The programme invites artists, technologists, researchers, and interdisciplinary teams from around the world to submit groundbreaking projects that demonstrate how artistic exploration can shape technological and societal innovation.
The STARTS Prize is a flagship European award designed to highlight visionary collaborations and artistic works that contribute to sustainable, human-centred, and socially relevant technological development. Selected projects gain international visibility and are showcased across major European platforms and networks.
Through the prize, selected participants will benefit from the following:
- International recognition through a prestigious European Commission–backed award
- Monetary prizes awarded to outstanding projects and collaborations
- Exhibition and showcase opportunities at leading European events and institutions
- Increased visibility among policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and cultural organisations
- Inclusion in the broader STARTS ecosystem supporting art–technology innovation
Interested applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Submit a project operating at the intersection of science, technology, and the arts
- Be an individual, collective, or organisation from any country worldwide
- Present original work that demonstrates innovation, creativity, and societal relevance
- Projects may be artistic works, interdisciplinary collaborations, or applied innovations
- Submissions must align with the values of responsible, ethical, and sustainable innovation
To apply for the STARTS Prize 2026, visit the official application page at https://starts.eu/opportunities/starts-prize-2026/.
Are you an early-stage startup with a scalable business idea? Apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme by 1 March 2026
Are you an early-stage startup with a scalable business idea? Apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme by 1 March 2026
Applications are now open for the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme 2026. The Tony Elumelu Foundation, a leading African private-sector-led philanthropic organisation empowering young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries, is inviting applications from innovators and early-stage founders with growth-oriented business ideas or existing startups.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is a flagship initiative designed to identify, train, mentor, and fund African entrepreneurs. Successful applicants will benefit from a structured business training curriculum, seed funding, mentorship, and expanded professional networks.
Through the programme, successful applicants will be offered the following:
- World-class business management training delivered over a structured curriculum
- Non-refundable seed capital of up to USD 5,000
- One-on-one mentorship
- Access to key networks and market opportunities across Africa and globally
- Participation in the TEFConnect proprietary digital platform for business support and community engagement
Interested applicants are required to fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Have a scalable business idea or an early-stage company (typically 0–5 years old) operating in any sector
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Applications must focus on one business entity or idea only
- Businesses must be located in and primarily serve African markets
- Business activities must not adversely affect the environment, lives, or property
- Business ideas must be the original work of those making the submission
To apply for the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme 2026, visit the official programme application portal on TEFConnect.
Are you an early-stage startup using frontier technologies for social impact? Apply for the UNICEF Venture Fund StartUp Lab Cohort 6 by 20 February 2026
Are you an early-stage startup using frontier technologies for social impact? Apply for the UNICEF Venture Fund StartUp Lab Cohort 6 by 20 February 2026
Applications are now open for the 2026 UNICEF Venture Fund StartUp Lab Cohort 6. The UNICEF Venture Fund, a programme of the United Nations Children’s Fund, is seeking technology-driven startups that utilise frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, data science, blockchain, and other digital innovations to address real-world social challenges.
The StartUp Lab accelerator aims to identify, mentor, and support startups that demonstrate bold, scalable solutions with measurable social impact, particularly in areas aligned with UNICEF’s mission and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through the programme, successful applicants will be offered the following:
- Direct engagement with UNICEF programme experts across key sectors
- Industry-led training, mentorship, and hands-on technical support
- Access to UNICEF’s global network of country offices and strategic partners
- Opportunities to engage with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Ghana
- Up to USD 6,000 in prototyping funding
- USD 15,000 scale-up funding for the top three performing startups
- Guidance on aligning products with the SDGs and contributing to the digital public goods ecosystem
Interested applicants are required to fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Be an early-stage startup, ideally with a functional prototype
- Be based in and serving low- and middle-income countries
- Demonstrate a commitment to open-source principles
- Develop solutions addressing one or more of the following areas:
- Urban technology
- Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
- Child protection
- Education
- Healthcare
- Climate resilience
- Financial inclusion
To apply for the UNICEF Venture Fund StartUp Lab Cohort 6, visit the official programme application portal.