Opportunities worth your time

Verified grants, fellowships, accelerators and training for African founders. See the deadline, funding and eligibility before you apply.

tuneFiltersType, status, sector and moreexpand_more

TypeStatusSectorFounder stageTimelineDeliveryMinimum fundingMaximum fundingFree application onlyCountry

GrantCloses in 2 days

Business Partners Limited/SME Toolkit SA Business Plan

Call For Applications: Business Partners Limited/SME Toolkit SA Business Plan Competition 2026 for Aspiring Entrepreneurs (Training, Mentorship and Cash Prizes)

Applications are now open for the 17th Annual Business Partners Limited/SME Toolkit SA Business Plan Competition 2026 , a competition designed to help aspiring young entrepreneurs in South Africa transform innovative business ideas into viable enterprises. Organised by Business Partners Limited in collaboration with SME Toolkit South Africa , the competition provides participants with business planning support, mentorship, practical workshops, and the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and business development support. Competition Benefits Successful participants will receive: Business planning support and guidance Access to entrepreneurship workshops Mentorship from experienced business professionals Digital business planning tools and resources Opportunity to compete for cash prizes Access to funding and mentorship opportunities Increased exposure for promising business ideas. Who Can Apply? Applicants must: Be South African citizens or permanent residents Be between 18 and 35 years old Have a business idea or an early-stage business Be committed to developing a comprehensive business plan Be available to participate in the competition activities and workshops. Competition Hi

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Timeline: September 12, 2026
Location: Africa
Funding or benefit: Funding varies

Checked August 30, 2026Checking saved status

Green RISE Africa ESO and BDS delivery partnership in Nigeria

OpportunityCloses in 3 days

African Management Institute (AMI)

Green RISE Africa: Paid Delivery Partnership for ESOs and BDS Providers in Nigeria

AMI, with the Mastercard Foundation and Acumen, is contracting Enterprise Support Organisations and Business Development Service providers in Nigeria for a paid, milestone-based partnership to source, train and grow young entrepreneurs in green value chains. Proposals due 13 September 2026.

Eligibility: Eligible Enterprise Support Organisations and Business Development Service providers based in Nigeria

Timeline: September 13, 2026
Location: Nigeria
Funding or benefit: Paid, milestone-based delivery partnership. Contracted and paid as entrepreneurs progress through sourced, diagnosed, trained and verified outcomes.

Checked September 4, 2026Checking saved status

GrantCloses in 5 days

Sahara CodeSwitch Africa

Call For Applications: Sahara CodeSwitch Africa Challenge 2026 | US$10,000 Prize Pool for African AI Builders

Applications are open for the Sahara CodeSwitch Africa Challenge 2026 , an innovation competition for developers, researchers, startups, students and other builders creating real-world voice AI solutions for Africa. Organised by , the challenge focuses on improving how speech technology understands African accents, local languages and code-switching, the common practice of switching between two or more languages within a conversation. Prize Pool 🏆 US$10,000 total cash prize pool Top-performing teams will receive cash prizes across the competition categories. Participants may also gain access to: Partner Demo Day opportunities Visibility with sponsors, judges, funders and ecosystem partners Potential pilot and deployment opportunities Additional Sahara API credits Technical feedback and recognition. Who Can Apply? The challenge is open to builders across Africa and the African diaspora . You can apply individually or as part of a team. Eligible participants include: Advertisement Developers and engineers AI and machine learning researchers Startups and product teams University student teams Open-source builders NGOs and civic-tech teams Companies with voice or customer-facing workf

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Timeline: September 15, 2026
Location: Africa
Funding or benefit: Prize Pool 🏆 US$10,000 total cash prize pool Top-performing teams will receive cash prizes across the

Checked August 30, 2026Checking saved status

InternshipOpenVerified by Nextali

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot Student Ambassador Program Fall 2026: Earn Up to $1,500

Join the 8-week Microsoft Copilot Student Ambassador program and help students on your campus discover how Copilot can support study, creativity and everyday college life. Earn up to $1,500 plus bonuses while building advocacy, networking and real marketing experience with the Copilot team. Applications opened June 2026 and fill on a rolling basis for Fall 2026.

Eligibility: Full-time student at an affiliated four-year university listed on the portal

Timeline: Timeline not announced
Location: United States
Funding or benefit: Up to $1,500 upon completion if all responsibilities are met, plus potential bonus cash for exemplary work

Checked September 4, 2026Checking saved status

Africa Startup Congress 2027 official event image

CompetitionOpen

Accelerate Africa

Africa Startup Congress 2027 National Pitch Competition and Roadshow

Applications are open for national pitch competitions and roadshows connected to Africa Startup Congress 2027. High potential early stage startups from ten African countries can pitch to investors, mentors and ecosystem stakeholders, with country finalists progressing to the continental pitch in Kigali.

Eligibility: Be a high potential early stage startup

Timeline: September 30, 2026
Location: Cameroon, Congo, Zimbabwe
Funding or benefit: No cash or equity award amount is stated in the supplied announcement. The opportunity offers pitch exposure, investor and mentor connections, visibility and progression to the continental pitch.

Checked September 4, 2026Checking saved status

OpportunityOpen

Enzzyme Capital Partners

Enzzyme Creative Network Equity Investment

Enzzyme Creative Network offers US$50,000 to US$1.5 million in equity investment for founder led creative and technology enabled businesses focused on Nigeria's creative economy. It targets ventures from pre seed to Series A that can scale creative output through technology or platforms.

Eligibility: Be a founder, co founder or CEO of a creative or technology enabled business operating in or focused on Nigeria's creative economy

Timeline: Timeline not announced
Location: Nigeria
Funding or benefit: Equity investment tickets range from US$50,000 to US$1.5 million per business, covering pre seed to Series A. This is equity investment, not grant funding. Final terms are subject to Enzzyme's investment review and documentation.

Checked September 4, 2026Checking saved status

CompetitionOpen

SiGMA

SiGMA Pitch Startup Competition 2027 for African Startups

Early stage startups across Africa can apply for the SiGMA Pitch Startup Competition 2027 to showcase their businesses to investors, venture capitalists, industry leaders and potential partners. Six startups will advance to the live Africa pitch in Cape Town.

Eligibility: Be an early stage startup, typically at the Seed to Series A stage

Timeline: January 6, 2027
Location: African countries
Funding or benefit: No cash prize amount is specified in the source. Selected startups receive Startup Village access, event passes, a branded presence, networking opportunities, investor exposure and automatic consideration for the SiGMA Startup Pitch competition.

Checked September 4, 2026Checking saved status

AcceleratorOpenVerified by Nextali

National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI)

NASENI Xceler8 Accelerator Programme

A three month virtual accelerator for Nigerian post MVP innovators with a working product, offering up to $25,000 in programme support, mentorship, product development assistance and investor access.

Eligibility: Be a Nigerian citizen aged 15 to 40 and currently reside in Nigeria.

Timeline: September 30, 2026
Location: Nigeria
Funding or benefit: Up to USD 25,000 in programme support, alongside training, product development assistance, mentorship and investor access.

Checked September 4, 2026Checking saved status

Young Africa Innovates Programme by UNDP and Mastercard Foundation

GrantOpenVerified by Nextali

UNDP Nigeria and Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation and UNDP Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme Cohort 2

Cohort 2 of the Young Africa Innovates programme is now open. A UNDP and Mastercard Foundation partnership supporting young Nigerian innovators to incubate and scale youth led solutions driving inclusive socio economic development.

Eligibility: Young Nigerian with a youth led innovative solution in one of the focus sectors

Timeline: Timeline not announced
Location: Nigeria
Funding or benefit: Incubation, mentorship, capacity building and showcase support under the USD 25.8 million UNDP Mastercard Foundation partnership, pathway to scale youth led innovations

Checked September 2, 2026Checking saved status

GrantOpen

Digital Entrepreneurship

Call For Applications: Digital Entrepreneurship Training and Business Support Programme for Women and Girls in Northern Nigeria

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is inviting applications from eligible women and girls in Kano and Bauchi for its Digital Entrepreneurship Training and Business Support Programme. The programme is designed to address the gender digital divide and expand business opportunities for women and girls in Northern Nigeria by providing practical entrepreneurship and digital skills needed to start, strengthen, and grow sustainable businesses. What the Programme Offers Participants will receive training and support in: Advertisement Entrepreneurship and business development Financial literacy Digital marketing Business planning Innovation Mentorship Business growth strategies Who Can Apply? Applicants must: Be a woman or girl living in Kano or Bauchi Be between 18 and 35 years old Be digitally literate Have access to a smartphone or computer Have an existing business or a viable business idea Be available to complete the training Demonstrate commitment to growing a business Training Location Kano or Bauchi Training dates will be communicated to successful applicants. Selection Process Applicants will be selected based on: Eligibility requirements Commitment to p

Eligibility: eligible women and girls in Kano and Bauchi for its Digital Entrepreneurship Training and Business Support Programme

Timeline: Timeline not announced
Location: Africa
Funding or benefit: Funding varies

Checked August 30, 2026Checking saved status

GrantOpen

MORE HEALTH for Africa

Call For Applications: MORE HEALTH for Africa Program (MH4A) Cohort 3 | Up to €80,000 in Funding for Healthcare Innovation in Africa

Applications are open for the MORE HEALTH for Africa Program (MH4A) Cohort 3 , an opportunity for African social enterprises developing solutions that address healthcare gaps and improve access to quality healthcare across the continent. The programme is a partnership between Boehringer Ingelheim and Villgro Africa and combines business support, expert mentorship, and catalytic funding to help high-impact healthcare ventures scale their solutions. Funding and Programme Benefits Selected social enterprises can receive: Up to €80,000 in catalytic funding Tailored business support Expert mentorship and coaching Support to strengthen business models and operations Access to relevant partners and investors Support to scale healthcare solutions and expand their impact. The programme is structured around incubation and acceleration , giving selected enterprises support as they move towards sustainable growth and greater healthcare impact. Who Can Apply? The programme is designed for African social entrepreneurs and healthcare enterprises working to address health disparities and improve access to healthcare, particularly for underserved communities. Strong applicants are expected to demon

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Timeline: Timeline not announced
Location: Africa
Funding or benefit: Funding and Programme Benefits Selected social enterprises can receive: Up to €80,000 in catalytic funding Tailored business support Expert mentorship and coaching S

Checked August 30, 2026Checking saved status

GrantOpen

Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment

Call for Applications: Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF)

The Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF) is inviting eligible companies, agribusinesses, and financial institutions across Africa to submit agricultural investment opportunities for consideration. AATIF provides investment financing tailored to eligible projects, with the goal of strengthening Africa’s agricultural sector, supporting sustainable value chains, and improving access to finance within the agricultural ecosystem. Who Can Apply? The investment opportunity is open to three main categories: 1. Direct Investee Companies Advertisement Companies or projects directly involved in agriculture in one or more African countries, including: Farming Agricultural inputs Food processing Agricultural sales and trading Other agricultural businesses 2. Intermediary Investee Companies Large agribusinesses that operate as: Off-takers Service providers Credit providers to smallholder farmers Financing partners for local agricultural SMEs 3. Financial Institutions Eligible institutions providing financing to Africa’s agricultural sector, including: Commercial banks Microfinance institutions Savings and credit cooperatives Other agricultural finance institutions Investment Area

Eligibility: eligible companies, agribusinesses, and financial institutions across Africa to submit agricultural investment opportunities for consideration

Timeline: Timeline not announced
Location: Africa
Funding or benefit: Funding varies

Checked August 30, 2026Checking saved status