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Tech Kaizen Africa

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Curated openings and calls for African builders, creators, founders, students, and technology professionals.

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startup program Featured Closed

Axis Sprint Cohort I Startup Support Programme for African Founders

Ideation Axis Group

Overview Axis Sprint Cohort I is a 12-week venture-building programme by Ideation Axis Group. The programme is designed to help ambitious founders move from bold ideas or early business activity toward scalable companies through structured support, mentorship, market thinking, and ecosystem connections. Who it is for The opportunity is aimed at African founders building innovative startups or high-growth businesses that solve meaningful problems in sectors such as technology, education, health, agriculture, financial technology, climate, logistics, artificial intelligence, and other impact-driven markets. Benefits and support The programme is positioned as startup support rather than a simple cash grant. Selected founders can expect venture-building guidance, business mentorship, strategic support, investor and partnership exposure, practical startup development, and visibility within an entrepreneurship ecosystem. The roundup indicates 30 founders will be selected. Programme format The official programme page describes Axis Sprint as a 12-week venture-building programme. Be ready to commit time to founder development, business validation, market strategy, and follow-up activities during the programme period. Application requirements Be ready to explain the business problem, solution, target customers, current stage, traction if any, team capability, growth ambitions, and the kind of support needed. A short pitch deck or business summary may help even if the application form does not require one at the first step. How to apply Apply through the official Axis Sprint page before the published deadline. Founders should complete the form carefully and highlight why their startup is scalable and relevant to African markets.

Location: Africa / venture-building programme

Closed: Aug 28, 2026

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startup program Remote Closed

Carbon to Value Initiative Year 6 Accelerator

Carbon to Value Initiative / Greentown Labs / NYU Urban Future Lab / Fraunhofer USA

Overview The Carbon to Value Initiative Year 6 is a global partnership accelerator for startups building carbontech solutions. Selected startups gain access to industry leaders, nonprofit experts, the Carbontech Leadership Council, market insights, collaboration opportunities, startup alumni, investors, government funders and ecosystem supporters to help raise visibility and overcome barriers in the carbon-management industry. Who this is for Carbontech startups, including African climate-tech founders able to participate in the programme requirements Organizer Carbon to Value Initiative / Greentown Labs / NYU Urban Future Lab / Fraunhofer USA Format and location Type: startup_program. Location/format: Global / hybrid with US in-person components. Deadline 28 August 2026 at 23:59

Location: Global / hybrid with US in-person components

Closed: Aug 28, 2026

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competition Remote Closed

Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2026

Africa Deep Tech Foundation

Overview The Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2026 asked African builders to create an open-source, on-device language-model application that runs without cloud dependencies on a standard 8 GB laptop. Entries had to address a practical problem in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, education, coding, enterprise productivity or African-language use cases. Submission requirements Gate 1 required an open-source repository, a structured technical report, screenshots or clips showing the model running and a two-minute demonstration video. The model had to operate within a 7 GB memory ceiling and was assessed on accuracy, speed and efficiency. Prizes and support The competition offered an US$8,000 grand prize, US$4,000 runner-up award, US$3,000 Best Integration Award and US$1,500 Best Localisation Award. Finalists and semi-finalists could also receive GPU credits, while top teams gained access to scale-up support, pilot matchmaking, mentorship and venture exposure. Deadline Gate 1 closed on 25 August 2026.

Location: Africa

Closed: Aug 25, 2026

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grant Remote Closed

Gates Foundation AI-Enabled Consumer Engagement for Family Planning

Grand Challenges / Gates Foundation

Overview This Grand Challenges request for proposals sought AI-enabled consumer-engagement approaches that could improve contraceptive uptake, continuation and informed method choice among women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal was to deploy and evaluate conversational tools that provide personalised, locally relevant family-planning information at scale. Funding and duration Awards of up to US$500,000 were available for projects lasting up to 12 months. Budgets could include indirect costs of up to 15%, subject to the Gates Foundation's policy. What projects needed to deliver Proposals needed a credible evaluation design covering interaction quality, safety, confidentiality, reach and downstream family-planning outcomes. The grant period was intended for deployment, learning and evaluation, not for first acquiring users or negotiating platform access. Deadline The call closed on 25 August 2026 at 11:30 PDT.

Location: Sub-Saharan Africa

Closed: Aug 25, 2026

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grant Remote Closed

IDRC ANeSA Sub-Saharan Africa SRHR Research Grants

International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Overview The ANeSA funding call supported implementation research on neglected areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights for underserved populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Priority areas included family planning, safe abortion and post-abortion care where legally permitted, adolescent SRHR, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, and SRHR advocacy. Funding and duration Up to six grants of up to CAD 1.2 million each were available for projects lasting up to 36 months. Up to 12 applicants were to be invited from the letter-of-interest stage to submit full proposals. Deadline The call closed on 23 August 2026 at 23:59 Eastern Time.

Location: Sub-Saharan Africa

Closed: Aug 23, 2026

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fellowship Closed

Tech Policy Institute Junior Fellows 2026-27

Tech Policy Institute

Overview The Tech Policy Institute is accepting applications for its Junior Fellows programme for the 2026-27 cohort. Junior Fellows spend a year contributing to technology policy and national security research through one of the Institute's research hubs. This is a research-focused opportunity for students who want practical exposure to technology policy work, including policy research, writing, analysis, and work connected to real policy audiences. Who this is for This is for Cornell undergraduates. The Institute states applications are open to any school and any major, but the fellows are Cornell undergraduates. Applicants should confirm they meet the Cornell undergraduate requirement before applying. Organizer Tech Policy Institute. Format and location Type: junior fellowship / research fellowship. Location/format: Cornell University-linked technology policy research programme. Deadline Applications close on 22 August 2026. Programme structure Junior Fellows join one of six research hubs for a full year. The Institute expects to select around 15 fellows for the 2026-27 cohort. Some positions may be paid through funded project work. Research focus The programme involves technology policy and national security research. The Institute says fellows contribute to work that has briefed NATO, the White House and Congress. Documents and details to prepare - current student details - Cornell school/major information - resume or academic/research background - short explanation of technology policy and national security interests - writing, research, policy, technical or extracurricular experience - availability for a full-year fellowship commitment - questions for Elizabeth Redmond if eligibility or fit is unclear

Location: Cornell University / technology policy research

Closed: Aug 22, 2026

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competition Remote Closed

Meta AI Academy Nigeria Startup Pitchathon 2026

Meta / 3MTT / NCAIR / FMCIDE / RAIN

Overview The Meta AI Academy Nigeria Startup Pitchathon invited Nigerian startups building with artificial intelligence to submit their solutions for assessment. The initiative involved Meta, the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria. Pitch and awards Ten shortlisted startups were expected to pitch at GITEX Nigeria on 3 September 2026. Two winners were each offered US$5,000 in cash funding, Meta advertising credits and an all-expenses-paid opportunity to pitch at the AI Summit by Meta in Istanbul in November 2026. Who it was for Nigerian founders and startup teams with an AI-enabled product, prototype or working solution that could be demonstrated and presented to judges and ecosystem partners. Deadline The application closed on 21 August 2026. The original Meta application page now restricts access, so the original Meta application page is no longer publicly accessible. The Details link points to a dated opportunity archive that preserves the programme requirements and awards.

Location: Nigeria / GITEX Nigeria / Istanbul finals

Closed: Aug 21, 2026

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grant Remote Closed

adidas Foundation Moving for Change East Africa

adidas Foundation

Overview The adidas Foundation's Moving for Change call sought international NGOs working with locally based Sport for Development organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The aim was to support collaborative programmes using sport to improve outcomes for underserved young people and communities in East Africa. Partnership approach Applications were expected to be led by an eligible international NGO and developed jointly with locally rooted Sport for Development partners in the target countries. Deadline The call closed on 21 August 2026. The original opportunity page is no longer available, so this Tech Kaizen entry is retained as a closed archive.

Location: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda

Closed: Aug 21, 2026

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competition Remote Closed

IEEE Africa Innovation Summit 2026 Call for Innovations

IEEE Africa Innovation Summit

Overview The IEEE Africa Innovation Summit 2026 is inviting innovative solutions, technologies, prototypes, products and projects for its continental innovation showcase. Focus areas include digital transformation, emerging technologies such as AI, IoT and 5G/6G, climate tech, sustainable energy, agri-tech, healthtech, smart cities, humanitarian technology and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Selected innovators can showcase at AIS 2026, access investors, industry leaders, researchers and policymakers, join demonstrations and pitch sessions, gain continental visibility and explore partnerships or funding pathways. Who this is for African startups, innovators, researchers, university students, engineers, NGOs, social enterprises, hubs and incubators Organizer IEEE Africa Innovation Summit Format and location Type: competition. Location/format: Kampala, Uganda / hybrid. Deadline 20 August 2026 at 23:59

Location: Kampala, Uganda / hybrid

Closed: Aug 20, 2026

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grant Remote Closed

VALUE4HER Climate Adaptation Evidence and Finance Readiness Facility

AGRA and CGIAR

Overview The VALUE4HER Climate Adaptation Evidence and Finance Readiness Facility supports women-led and women-majority-owned agribusiness SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa. The programme is designed for established businesses that are already contributing to climate adaptation and need stronger evidence, data and finance-readiness support to communicate their impact and attract appropriate capital. Who it is for Women-led or women-majority-owned agribusiness SMEs operating in sub-Saharan Africa. What applicants should demonstrate Applicants should be able to show an established business model, relevant climate-adaptation practices and operational, production, market, extension or adoption data that can support evidence packaging. Deadline 20 August 2026. This call is closed.

Location: Sub-Saharan Africa

Closed: Aug 20, 2026

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