Are you a digital entrepreneur using technology to expand access to work, training, and better opportunities? Apply for #HackTheDivide before 7 September 2025.
Are you a digital entrepreneur using technology to expand access to work, training, and better opportunities? Apply for #HackTheDivide before 7 September 2025.
Organized by ITCILO in collaboration with the International Labor Organisation (ILO), Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the African Union Commission, the #HackTheDivide innovation challenge empowers young African digital innovators to co-create inclusive tech solutions that address critical issues like youth employment, digital inclusion, and labor mobility. Participants will engage in dynamic hackathon activities, receive expert mentorship, and gain exposure to key global institutions shaping Africa’s digital future.
The Programme seeks applicants who fit the following profile:
- Young digital innovators aged 18 – 35, working in areas such as youth employment, digital inclusion, migration, fintech, or data innovation
- Based in one of the 25 eligible African countries
- Be available to attend the full two-day hackathon in Nairobi (7 – 8 October 2025)
Successful participants will experience:
- A two-day Hackathon in Nairobi (7 – 8 October 2025), collaborating in dynamic teams with mentorship from global experts
- Travel, accommodation, and meals fully covered during the event
- The opportunity to present live during the global broadcast “Skills for Fair Digital Transitions in Africa” in Turin, connecting your solutions with decision-makers and industry leaders
- A chance for the winning team to access a tailored incubation experience with I3P, including a fully funded trip to Italy and entry into Italy’s innovation ecosystem
Interested applicants must fulfill the following:
For more information and application details, visit #HackTheDivide.
Are you a seed-stage founder building sustainable solutions for Africa? Apply now for the 2025 Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator in Nairobi before 19 September 2025.
Are you a seed-stage founder building sustainable solutions for Africa? Apply now for the 2025 Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator in Nairobi before 19 September 2025.
500 Global, in partnership with UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, is now accepting applications for the 2025 Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator. This intensive 8-week hybrid program, hosted at Nairobi’s Greentech Hub, is designed to help African startups scale tech-enabled solutions that advance sustainability in key sectors including agriculture, mobility, energy, and the built environment.
The accelerator is part of a bold effort to strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem by equipping founders with the tools, mentorship, and networks they need to build globally competitive, impact-driven businesses. For Rwandan startups, this program is a gateway to growth, visibility, and partnerships across the continent.
The program is ideal for startups that are:
- At the seed stage with a launched or recently introduced product
- Based in Africa
- Using technology or tech-enabled models to drive measurable impact
- Led by a committed founding team (ideally 2–3 people) able to attend in-person sessions in Nairobi
- Focused on creating sustainable solutions in agriculture, energy, mobility, or the built environment
Participants in the program will benefit from:
- One-on-one mentorship from growth experts and sustainability specialists
- Access to a rich network of investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners
- Workshops, roundtables, and fireside chats covering strategy, product, marketing, and growth
- A three-day in-person retreat focused on leadership, team dynamics, and wellness
- A curated community of peers from across the Global South
- The opportunity to pitch at a high-profile Demo Day in Nairobi
- A tuition-free, non-equity-based program with no participation fee
The accelerator will run from 27 October to 19 December 2025, with the first four weeks held in-person at Nairobi’s Greentech Hub and the following four weeks in a hybrid format. All sessions will be conducted in English, and applicants must be able to commit to the full program duration.
Applications are now open. Early applicants are encouraged to apply before 29 August 2025 for priority consideration, while the final deadline is 19 September 2025.
Apply today and join a cohort of Africa’s boldest innovators working to shape a sustainable future.
Are you a young entrepreneur with an innovative green solution? Apply for the 2025 Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme before 14 September 2025.
Are you a young entrepreneur with an innovative green solution? Apply for the 2025 Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme before 14 September 2025.
The International Trade Center, in partnership with the G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD, WIPO, Sidley Austin LLP and Global Startup for Sustainable Development, invites applications for the Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme, a global accelerator programme. This programme is designed for youth entrepreneurs under the age of 35 who are founders, co-founders, or CEOs. The programme seeks passionate innovators with a clear understanding of the environmental challenges they address and scalable solutions ready for acceleration. Successful participants will access capacity-building, mentorship, and funding to scale their ventures and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.
The Programme seeks applicants whose businesses align with the categories below:
- Land Restoration: Startups restoring degraded land and ecosystems through innovative, sustainable practices.
- Green Business Solutions: Enterprises providing products or services that contribute to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Successful participants will receive the following benefits:
- Seed funding of USD 100,000 for the land restoration cohort (equity-free)
- Capacity-building support for scaling your venture
- Networking with global experts, investors, and peers
- Mentorship and coaching from industry leaders
- Legal and IP guidance, including pro-bono services from Sidley Austin
- Preferential access to the Google StartUp for Sustainable Development Programme
- All-expenses-paid trip to an international conference for award finalists
- USD 10,000 prize for Youth Ecopreneur Award winners (1 award per category)
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Be under the age of 35 (by the application deadline)
- Be the Founder, Co-Founder, or CEO
- Operate a legally registered business majority-run by a young person
- Be focused on land restoration or green business solutions
- Meet location requirements (bootcamp is open globally; accelerator is for eligible countries – see the list)
For more information and application details, visit: Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme.
Are you a startup with a product or service in the Sports or Creative industry? Apply for funding from the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator Programme before 29 August 2025.
Are you a startup with a product or service in the Sports or Creative industry? Apply for funding from the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator Programme before 29 August 2025.
In partnership with ALX Ventures, NBA Africa invites applicants for the Triple-Double Accelerator Programme. The program aims to support African startups, tech ecosystems, and entrepreneurs by promoting growth in the sports and creative industries. Successful participants will access AI-first capacity building, mentorship, world-class coaching, and direct access to investors, partners, and fans to scale their ventures and contribute to African economic growth.
The Programme seeks applicants whose products or services align with the categories below:
- Sports & Innovation – Startups re-shaping the sports industry through fan engagement, athlete performance, digital innovation, community-based fitness, or other impactful approaches.
- Creative Startups – Startups pushing the boundaries of Africa’s creative industries, from fashion, music, and film to gaming, digital media, storytelling, and more.
Successful participants will receive the following benefits:
- Cash prizes of up to USD 50,000 accompanied by value-in-kind benefits
- A 10-week mentorship program with NBA Africa, ServiceNow, ALX leadership, and other corporate stakeholders focused on product development, business growth, and go-to-market strategy
- Business coaching and masterclasses on AI, product, sales, fundraising, and more
- Brand visibility across the NBA and ALX ecosystem
- Networking with prominent business leaders, investors, and clients
- Spotlight and PR at Demo Day in a major African city
Interested applicants must fulfil the following:
- Be headquartered in Africa
- Be less than 2 years old
- Have a tech-enabled solution with clear market value
- Have a proof-of-concept prototype with potential for profit, inclusivity, and scale
- Have two co-founders committed full-time (40+ hrs/week)
For more information and application details, visit: Application.
Are you a fintech innovator building inclusive financial solutions in Africa? Apply now for the 2026 Visa Accelerator Program by 15 August 2025.
Are you a fintech innovator building inclusive financial solutions in Africa? Apply now for the 2026 Visa Accelerator Program by 15 August 2025.
Visa is now accepting applications for the 2026 Visa Accelerator Program, a high-impact initiative designed to support the growth of early-stage fintech startups across Africa that are building solutions for the future of digital finance.
Now entering its third year, the program has supported over 60 startups from more than 25 countries through a combination of business development training, mentorship, and investor access. Selected enterprises gain direct exposure to Visa’s global network and expertise, unlocking new opportunities to scale and strengthen their value proposition.
The Visa Accelerator Program is designed for fintech startups that:
- Are legally registered in Africa or planning to expand into the continent
- Operate at the Seed to Series A stage
- Have a minimum viable product (MVP) and some market traction
- Are led by a strong team with demonstrated commitment to innovation in digital finance
The 2026 program will focus on startups that contribute to advancing Africa’s digital economy through areas including new payment flows, embedded finance, SME enablement, merchant solutions, payment infrastructure, open banking, and future-of-finance technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and central bank digital currencies. Inclusive and sustainable fintech innovation is a cross-cutting priority.
Up to 15–20 startups will be selected to participate in a three-month hybrid accelerator consisting of a comprehensive onboarding and orientation week, followed by ten thematic learning weeks covering product development, technology, marketing, sales, finance, and investor readiness. Participants will receive tailored one-on-one mentorship from Visa executives and industry leaders, hands-on technical support, and access to Visa Developer tools and APIs. The program will culminate in an in-person Demo Day, where participants will pitch their solutions to a curated audience of investors, corporate partners, and key stakeholders in the fintech ecosystem.
In addition, three startups from each cohort will be selected for follow-up investment opportunities and strategic partnership support with Visa and its venture capital partners.
Participants will also benefit from a perks package valued at over US$200,000, which includes access to essential software tools, infrastructure credits, and professional services. Visa will cover travel and accommodation expenses for one founder to attend Demo Day. While the program is free of charge, selected startups are expected to manage their visa applications and related travel documentation. The primary language of instruction throughout the program is English.
Are you a young agripreneur in Rwanda driving food systems transformation? Apply now for the 2025 FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme by 27 June 2025.
Are you a young agripreneur in Rwanda driving food systems transformation? Apply now for the 2025 FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme by 27 June 2025.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is now accepting applications for the 2025 FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme — a unique opportunity for youth-led enterprises in Lesotho, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone committed to building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.
This initiative is part of HASTEN—Harnessing SDG-based Agrifood System Transformation through the Empowerment of the Next Generation of Agrifood Leadership in Africa—a project funded under FAO’s Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) and operating in Lesotho, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.
HASTEN aims to:
- Promote capacity development in transdisciplinary systems thinking for SDG interlinkages
- Foster multistakeholder collaboration through strengthened public-private-academic partnerships
- Support agripreneurship and youth empowerment by scaling eco-inclusive business models that generate employment and contribute to the SDGs
Up to 8–10 enterprises per country will be selected to join a five-day, in-person incubation workshop focused on:
- Strengthening sustainable and inclusive business practices
- Developing tailored business plans and financial strategies
- Engaging in hands-on sessions led by international and national coaches
- Leveraging interactive tools and workbooks to build viable growth models
The final day of the workshop includes an ecosystem networking event, where participants will pitch their business models to a broad audience of public and private sector stakeholders, academia, and development partners.
In addition, three enterprises per country will be selected for tailored follow-up support aimed at scaling their operations and building strategic partnerships.
Interested applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Legally registered in Lesotho, Rwanda, or Sierra Leone
- Operational for 1–3 years
- Led by entrepreneurs aged 18–35
- Demonstrate a clear contribution to sustainable agrifood systems transformation
- Comply fully with FAO integrity standards and must not be engaged in any UN-prohibited or unethical practices
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to present their business virtually before final selection. Review full eligibility, exclusion, and selection details on the HASTEN webpage.
Are you a young entrepreneur driving climate and energy innovation? Apply now for the IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator by 10 May 2025.
Are you a young entrepreneur driving climate and energy innovation? Apply now for the IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator by 10 May 2025.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in partnership with Enel Foundation and Social Alpha, is launching the third edition of the NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator (NewGen) — a four-month, equity-free hybrid programme designed to empower youth-led startups, scale-ups, and growth-stage businesses in the renewable energy and climate technology sectors.
NewGen supports emerging entrepreneurs worldwide by providing the tools, mentorship, and global exposure needed to scale their solutions and drive meaningful change in the energy transition. Participants will engage with leading renewable energy and business experts to strengthen their business models, expand their customer base, and improve investment readiness.
Accelerator participants will benefit from:
- A tailored acceleration programme focused on renewable energy and climate technology
- Webinars, workshops, and dedicated mentorship facilitated by IRENA
- Access to pitching events and investor matchmaking opportunities
- Visibility through IRENA’s global platforms, including the IRENA Youth Award
Eligibility Criteria:
- Entrepreneurs aged 18–35 from anywhere in the world
- At least one founder must be under 35 years old
- At least two founders must commit 16 hours per month to participate in accelerator sessions
- Startups must focus on one or more of the following areas:
- Renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, hydropower, green hydrogen, geothermal, bioenergy)
- Climate adaptation technologies (water, agriculture, livestock, extreme weather, early warning systems)
- Climate mitigation technologies (transport, decarbonization, circular economy, energy efficiency, smart grids)
- Submitted work must be original and not infringe on intellectual property right
To apply, download the Application Form Template and Startup Profile PowerPoint, then submit your completed application via this application link.
Equity-Free Funding Opportunity for Fem Tech Solutions from UNICEF – Apply before 8 May 2025
Equity-Free Funding Opportunity for Fem Tech Solutions from UNICEF – Apply before 8 May 2025
UNICEF has launched an exciting opportunity for startups developing innovative technological solutions aimed at improving the lives of women and girls. The UNICEF Venture Fund is offering equity-free funding of up to $100,000 to early-stage companies leveraging frontier technologies to address pressing challenges in the fem tech space.
Selected startups will receive:
- Up to $100,000 in equity-free funding to help scale their solutions without giving up ownership.
- Access to UNICEF’s global network, which includes mentors, investors, and experts in technology and social impact.
- Technical guidance and business development support to refine their innovations.
- Opportunities to pilot solutions in UNICEF program countries, gaining real-world experience and validation.
Startups must meet the following requirements:
- Be registered in a UNICEF program country.
- Have a working prototype of their technology-driven solution.
- Be committed to open-source principles, meaning their solution should contribute to a wider tech ecosystem for social good.
- Preference is given to women-led startups and young entrepreneurs (under 35 years old).
For more details on eligibility, application guidelines, and required documentation, visit UNICEF Innovation website.
Are you an entrepreneur looking to expand your business operations to export from Rwanda? Join RDB’s Export Coaching Sessions before 23 March 2025.
Rwanda Development Board (RDB), through its export development activities under the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Export Facilitation Department, is organizing a series of Export Coaching sessions to enhance export competence among Rwandan SMEs.
Building on the previous sessions, the next one will focus “on introducing international market entry and customs procedures to export from Rwanda”. This session will feature presentations from key institutions, including the Rwanda Standards Board, Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority and the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority.
Participants in the Export Coaching sessions will:
- Gain a deeper understanding of international trade regulations and market dynamics.
- Learn practical strategies to enhance competitiveness in global markets.
- Connect with key stakeholders, including potential buyers, trade experts, and policymakers.
- Receive guidance on leveraging trade agreements to maximize export potential.
Register now to secure your spot in the upcoming sessions and take advantage of international markets.
For application details, visit Export Coaching Sessions.
Are You an Edtech Startup Looking to Scale? Apply for the WISE Edtech Accelerator 2025-2026
Are You an Edtech Startup Looking to Scale? Apply for the WISE Edtech Accelerator 2025-2026
The WISE Edtech Accelerator, a program by the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 cohort. This initiative supports innovative early-stage education technology startups by providing mentorship, networking, and strategic business guidance.
The program is designed to help entrepreneurs refine their solutions, expand market reach, and enhance their impact on education. The 2025-2026 cycle introduces two distinct tracks:
- Local Track (Qatar-focused, for startups targeting Qatar’s education market, with mentorship and funding support)
- International Track
- Open to early-stage edtech startups worldwide.
- Access to a global network of mentors, investors, and education specialists.
- Business support valued at $50,000, including strategic guidance and market expansion resources.
- Exposure to a global audience of education decision-makers.
Participants in the WISE Edtech Accelerator receive expert mentorship in business strategy, product development, and scaling. They gain access to key education networks, including policymakers, investors, and industry leaders, helping them establish a market presence. The program also provides international visibility through WISE platforms and events, offering recognition and opportunities for collaboration. Additionally, startups receive tailored support to refine their business models and maximize impact.
Interested applicants must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
- Be an early-stage edtech company with a working product beyond the MVP stage.
- Have demonstrated traction and initial sales.
- Be pre-Series A or pre-Seed with less than $500,000 in raised funding.
- Show measurable impact in education within their target markets.
Applicants must complete an online application form in English detailing their edtech solution, the problem it addresses, and their business model. Applicants must also submit a pitch deck highlighting their startup’s value proposition, market fit, and growth potential. A product demo login must also be provided to allow the WISE team to evaluate the solution’s functionality.
For more information and to apply, visit WISE Edtech Accelerator.