Calling African startups!
Applications are now open for the Africa Startup Congress 2027 National Pitch Competitions and Roadshows, an Africa-wide initiative bringing together high-potential early-stage startups from 10 countries.
The national pitch competitions will give selected founders an opportunity to showcase their ventures before investors, mentors and key ecosystem stakeholders, gain greater visibility and build valuable connections. Startups will be assessed based on innovation, scalability, traction and impact potential, with country finalists progressing to the continental pitch at Africa Startup Congress 2027 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The pitch competitions and roadshows will take place in Cameroon, Congo, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria between October and November 2026.
For startups in Kenya, the National Pitch Competition and Roadshow will take place in Nairobi on 17 November 2026.
Villgro Africa is supporting this initiative alongside Accelerate Africa, Africa Fintech Foundry, Startup Hub and UNDP, creating opportunities for promising African startups to showcase their solutions and connect with the wider innovation ecosystem.
Applications close on 30 September 2026.
