Grants and opportunities for your next phase

European Commission

European Prize for Women Innovators: Up to €100,000 for Women-Led Innovation

The EU's annual prize for women founders is open, with up to €100,000 and three prizes in each category for women whose innovations benefit people and the planet. Deadline 1 December 2026.

Eligibility: Women legally residing in an EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories) or a Horizon Europe associated country

Deadline

December 1, 2026

Location

European Union, Horizon Europe associated countries

Funding or benefit

Up to €100,000, three prizes awarded in each category

High Five Grant for Moms

High Five Grant for Moms: $22,500 for Mom-Owned Businesses

A business grant competition for mothers. The 2026 cycle has $22,500 in grants on the table for mom-owned brands in the United States and Canada, with applications open 1 to 30 September.

Eligibility: Moms who own a business based in the United States or Canada

Deadline

September 30, 2026

Location

United States, Canada

Funding or benefit

$22,500 in grants across the 2026 cycle

Makers Mindset with The Equity Studio

Makers Mindset × The Equity Studio Grant: Five $10,000 Equity-Free Grants for Women-Owned Beauty and Wellness Businesses

Five women-owned beauty and wellness businesses will each receive $10,000 in equity-free funding plus access to a founder community. Applications close 9 October 2026.

Eligibility: Legally registered in the U.S.

Deadline

October 9, 2026

Location

United States

Funding or benefit

Five businesses selected, each receiving $10,000 in equity-free funding

Press Play

Press Play AI Pre-Accelerator: 25 Places and a $5,000 Prize Pool for Women Building AI

Press Play's AI pre-accelerator is open to women with ambition to build, with 25 places, 25 scholarship spots and a $5,000 prize pool. Applications close 15 October 2026.

Eligibility: Women who are passionate about an idea and have the ambition to build something real with it

Deadline

October 15, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

A $5,000 prize pool for founders to tap into, plus 25 scholarship spots

GFF x CIVIC VOICES, hosted by PATH

GFF x CIVIC VOICES Call for Proposals: Up to US$3.35 Million for Youth-Led Health Advocacy in Africa

A new funding opportunity for local civil society, youth-led and community-based organisations across Africa, with up to US$3.35 million available across up to 22 countries. Applications close 7 October 2026.

Eligibility: Local civil society, youth-led and community-based organisations across Africa

Deadline

October 7, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Up to US$3.35 million in funding across up to 22 African countries, grants running for up to 18 months

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EA Funds

EA Funds Rolling Grants for High Impact Projects

EA Funds gives grants of USD 1,000 to USD 500,000 to projects with exceptional potential for good, and it is always open to applications. Individuals, non profits, research institutions and community projects worldwide can apply to the funds that are currently accepting proposals.

Eligibility: Open to individuals, projects, non profits and institutions worldwide

Deadline

Timeline not announced

Location

Worldwide

Funding or benefit

Grants range between USD 1,000 and USD 500,000 per project, assessed individually against the fund and the scale of the proposal.

IREX and the U.S. Department of State

Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 for Young African Leaders

The 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring approximately 550 young African leaders to the United States for a six week, fully funded leadership and professional development programme at U.S. colleges and universities, across the Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management tracks. Applications close on Tuesday October 13, 2026 at 4:00 pm GMT.

Eligibility: Be between 25 and 35 years old on or before the application deadline; exceptional applicants aged 21 to 24 may also be considered

Deadline

October 13, 2026

Location

Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya

Funding or benefit

Fully funded six week fellowship in the United States for approximately 550 selected participants, under the U.S. Department of State exchange programme implemented by IREX.

Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship 2027 for African Professionals

The 2027 Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship Programme is now open and offers three fellowships of 12 months each in the executive offices of the African Development Bank in Abidjan, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, or the International Trade Centre in Geneva, with a stipend of up to USD 100,000 for the fellowship. For the UNECA host, applications close on Friday November 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm Addis Ababa time.

Eligibility: Be a national of an African country

Deadline

November 20, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

The 2027 call states a stipend of up to USD 100,000 for the fellowship, across a 12 month placement with one of the three host organisations.

NITDA and Tech Revolution Africa

NITDA Tech Revolution Africa Builders Festival 2026 for Nigerian Startups

Nigerian startups with live products can meet government agencies and institutions that have real, documented technology needs, pitch their solutions and explore pilot contracts and investment at the Builders Festival, which closes with live deal room sessions at the Digital Nigeria International Conference 2026 in Abuja. Applications close on Monday October 5, 2026.

Eligibility: Startup is registered in Nigeria

Deadline

October 5, 2026

Location

Nigeria

Funding or benefit

No grant award. The programme is built around a target ₦3 billion investment and contract pipeline involving venture capital, angel investment and government innovation support.

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She Plus Tech

She Plus Tech and DataCamp Donates AI and Data Scholarships

Fully funded 3-month DataCamp scholarships in AI and data for women 16 and older, cohort starting 7 October 2026.

Eligibility: Identify as a woman and be 16 years or older

Deadline

Timeline not announced

Location

Nigeria

Funding or benefit

a 3-month fully-funded DataCamp scholarship: 750+ beginner to advanced courses in AI and data, 100+ custom learning tracks including AI Engineering, MLOps and ML Engineering, industry-backed credentials from organisations including AWS, Microsoft and GitHub, AI-powered interactive learning, expert webinars and a global learning community; the partnership goal is 10,000 women with AI and data skills by end of 2027

2080 Ventures

2080 Ventures Global Startup Showcase 2026

2080 Ventures is selecting 10 startups to pitch live to investors, corporates and ecosystem leaders at its online Global Startup Showcase on 28 October 2026. Applications close 1 October 2026.

Eligibility: Seed to Series A startups, any sector, any country

Deadline

October 1, 2026

Location

Global

Funding or benefit

No funding amount is stated. Selected startups get a live pitch slot in front of investors.

Campus Founders

Campus Founders CF Incubator Batch #6

Campus Founders is welcoming applications for Batch #6 of the CF Incubator, a five-month structured incubation programme for early-stage founders. Applications close 27 September 2026.

Eligibility: Early-stage founders with an idea or a young venture

Deadline

September 27, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

No funding amount is stated for this batch. The programme provides five months of structured incubation.