Pierre Castel Prize 2026 (€25,000 prize) – YOA

Deadline: May 30, 2026

Applications are open for the Pierre Castel Prize 2026. The Pierre Castel Fund – Acting with Africa, in collaboration with Castel Afrique, is organising the ninth version of the Pierre Castel Prize, in seven African international locations: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This pan-African program goals to advertise innovation on the continent and help excessive-potential entrepreneurs dedicated to the sustainable transformation of meals techniques. The 2026 version is part of a dynamic of entrepreneurial excellence and distinguishes progressive corporations, able to producing a concrete financial, social and environmental affect, whereas finishing up a progress ambition on the size of their market.

Award

National Winners

Each nationwide winner receives the next advantages:

• €25,000: Financial endowment
• One 12 months mentorship program
• One 12 months personalised teaching

Pan-African Laureate

In addition to his or her nationwide endowment, the pan-African winner advantages from:

• €10,000 Additional endowment bringing the entire prize to €35,000
• Pan-African Ambassador: A one-12 months help as an Ambassador of the Pierre Castel Prize
• International occasions: Support for participation in key worldwide occasions
• Media highlight: Pan-African visibility

Finalists: As quickly as they’re pre-chosen, the finalists have entry to structuring sources to strengthen their expertise and combine a collective entrepreneurial dynamic.

• Entrepreneurial certification coaching: Access to e-studying programs supplied by the Geneva International Trade Centre (ITC).
• African Builders Network: An integration, from the pre-choice, right into a neighborhood of entrepreneurs dedicated to the event of the African continent.

Eligibility

Applicants should:

• Be between 18 and 45 years outdated;
• Be nationals and residents of one of many international locations involved by this version: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar or Democratic Republic of Congo;
• Be the founders or co-founders of a legally included firm that has been in operation for a minimum of two years;
• Carry out a growth venture with a measurable financial, social and environmental affect.

Candidates will likely be required to reveal:

• Strong management and a capability to embody a task as an “Ambassador of the Prize”;
• An progressive venture that responds to a concrete want of meals techniques;
• A powerful territorial anchoring and a contribution to native financial growth;
• A confirmed entrepreneurial capability, mirrored within the structuring and progress of the corporate;
• A measurable financial, social and environmental affect;
• A possible for growth and scaling.

Application

Documents to be offered:

• A CV;
• A replica of an id doc;
• An official doc testifying to the authorized existence of the corporate;
• A presentation of the corporate;
• The firm’s monetary parts (steadiness sheet or working account for the monetary years 2024 and 2025)
• A presentation of the event venture.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to Pierre Castel Prize.