SiGMA Pitch Startup Competition 2027 for African Startups

What you receive

• One Premium Event Pass
• Four Standard Event Passes for the team
• A branded presence within the Startup Village
• Access to the Startup Lounge and dedicated workspace
• Invitations to exclusive networking events
• Opportunities to showcase the business to industry delegates
• Automatic consideration for the SiGMA Startup Pitch competition
• Opportunities to meet investors, venture capitalists, operators, affiliates and mentors
• Public relations opportunities through SiGMA magazines, website, newsletters and interviews

Who can apply

• Be an early stage startup, typically at the Seed to Series A stage
• Have raised no more than €3 million in total funding
• Be developing an innovative product or service relevant to the SiGMA ecosystem
• Be available to attend the relevant summit in person if selected
• Demonstrate a strong business and a clear value proposition

Who should not apply

• Selected applicants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, visa costs and other personal expenses.
• Acceptance into the Startup Village does not automatically guarantee a place among the six live pitch finalists.

Documents to prepare

• Complete the official SiGMA Pitch application with accurate information about the startup, product, market, traction and relevance to the SiGMA ecosystem
• An optional three minute video introduction may be included to improve the chances of Startup Village selection

How to apply

• Review the official SiGMA Pitch 2027 application page
• Prepare clear information about the startup, product, market, traction and value proposition
• Submit the application through the official SiGMA Pitch page by January 6, 2027
• If useful, include a three minute video introduction
• If selected, prepare to attend the relevant summit in person and cover personal travel, accommodation and visa expenses

Selection process

• SiGMA will review eligible applications after the application period
• For the Africa edition, six startups will advance to the live pitch
• Each finalist will have three minutes to present and five minutes for questions from the judging panel
• The startup with the highest overall score will be named the SiGMA Startup Pitch winner
• The shortlist is scheduled to be announced on January 22, 2027
• Pitch deck submissions are due February 3, 2027
• The live SiGMA Africa Pitch will take place on February 17, 2027 in Cape Town

Sources and verification

• Official source

Related opportunities

• THE DO IncuVersity Program 2027 for Aspiring AI-Era Founders (Full and Partial Tuition Scholarships)

  A two-year global entrepreneurship program where founders 18 and above turn an idea, prototype or problem they care about into an AI-enabled venture, with full and partial tuition scholarships and up to USD 2,400 in Claude credits for qualified participants.

• Max Planck School Of Cognition Doctoral Programme, 2027 Intake In Germany, Open To All Nationalities

  The Max Planck School of Cognition has reopened its portal for the 2027 doctoral intake. The school recruits across nationalities and across every discipline that studies the mind, from neuroscience to artificial intelligence, and fills places as strong applications arrive.

• AI and Intellectual Property in Africa Workshop 2026 in Addis Ababa for Participants Across Africa

  Open African Innovation Research has announced a call for participants for AI and Intellectual Property in Africa, a two day co-creation workshop to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 7 to 8, 2026, organized by York University and Addis Ababa University. Airfare, accommodation, meals and airport transfers will be provided for selected participants, and the application deadline is 31 October 2026.

• ELLIS PhD Programme 2027 Call for Applications

  Apply for a fully funded PhD in artificial intelligence with the ELLIS network of Max Planck Institutes and leading European universities. Applicants of all nationalities are welcome.

Questions applicants ask