AfricaTech Award 2026 for African Startups – YOA

Deadline: February 16, 2026

Applications are open for the AfricaTech Award 2026. For 4 years, the AfricaTech Award has acknowledged and supported African startups striving to rework the enterprise panorama throughout the continent. This yr, they’re inviting African startups from all industries to take part within the award. Apply now and be part of them for the tenth version of VivaTech, going down from 17–20 June 2026 in Paris.

The goal is to showcase the abundance of expertise and innovators in Africa, whereas creating new alternatives for rising startups throughout the continent. The six finalists will probably be invited to pitch at VivaTech 2026 in June. The winner will probably be introduced alongside the opposite award recipients in the course of the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony, gaining important visibility and a distinguished highlight all through the occasion.

Benefits

• For the Top 30: One VivaTech Startup Pass
• For the six finalists:
  • A free sales space within the AfricaTech Village
  • Enjoy an invite package deal, together with flight and 4 VivaTech passes
  • Pitch your product onstage in entrance of a jury of high choice-makers and buyers
  • One-to-one conferences scheduled with VCs
  • Strong visibility throughout VivaTech
• For the Winner:
  • Pitch your resolution in the course of the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony
  • Gain intensive visibility throughout VivaTech
  • Enjoy mentoring from jury members (TBD)

Eligibility

• The startup will need to have its predominant workplace situated in Africa. 
• The startup should provide an answer or product that addresses the African market. 
• The startup will need to have raised greater than USD 150K. 

Selection Criteria

• Innovation: Relevance and innovation stage of the tech resolution in comparison with current alternate options (dimension, downside solved, know-how used, safety of the innovation, and many others.)
• Impact: Innovative product/resolution addressing an necessary world problem with a excessive social, financial, environmental, or gender impression.
• Scalability: Market sizing and scalability potential of the startup, monitor report of scaling (goal addressable market, geographic ambition on the continent, purchasers focused, and many others.)
• Team Profile: Quality and dimension of the staff (experience, entrepreneurship background, tutorial background, variety of staff, and many others.)
• Business Model: Demonstrated potential to monetize the enterprise mannequin and obtain sustainable operations, supported by clear traction and confirmed product-market match (startup maturity, business traction, variety of purchasers, annual world income development, and many others.).

Application

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to AfricaTech Award.