Carnegie Mellon University Africa Opens Applications for the 2026 TechSkills Marketplace Program

Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa), by means of its Industry Innovation Lab, has opened functions for the TechSkills Marketplace Program 2026—an initiative designed to attach African startups and MSMEs with prime graduate expertise from CMU-Africa. The program helps companies searching for revolutionary options to real-world expertise challenges, whereas empowering college students with sensible, industry-focused expertise.

About the Program

The TechSkills Marketplace Program pairs startups with CMU-Africa graduate college students who concentrate on areas akin to synthetic intelligence, knowledge science, software program engineering, and product growth. Through this collaboration, taking part corporations acquire entry to technical experience that may speed up innovation, strengthen digital capabilities, and improve product growth. The program additionally contributes to Africa’s broader digital transformation agenda by enabling hands-on problem-solving inside native ecosystems.

Who Can Apply

Applications are open to:

• Registered and operational startups or MSMEs based mostly in Africa
• Businesses with a transparent product, service, or enterprise mannequin below growth
• Organizations keen to co-fund the internship
• Teams in a position to host and mentor interns on technology-driven initiatives (e.g., AI techniques, digital platforms, product design, knowledge options)
• Companies open to distant or hybrid collaboration fashions

Key Program Dates

• 1 December 2025 – Application deadline
• January–February 2026 – Selection interval
• March–May 2026 – Matching and onboarding
• June 2026 – Internships begin

Benefits of Participation

Participating startups and MSMEs acquire entry to:

• Highly expert CMU-Africa graduate interns outfitted with superior technical capabilities
• A co-funded internship mannequin, with CMU-Africa masking a portion of the stipend
• Increased visibility and networking alternatives inside the Industry Innovation Lab group
• Support to scale technology-driven merchandise and options

How to Apply

Eligible companies can submit their functions by way of the TechSkills Marketplace portal on the CMU-Africa web site. The application window is open from 1 November to 1 December 2025.

Apply right here: HERE

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