September isn’t just a new month — it’s a new window for turning innovative ideas into global impact. This month offers a wealth of competitive opportunities for entrepreneurs, creatives, scholars, and nonprofit leaders across Africa and beyond. This carefully curated list highlights high-value calls designed to elevate your work. Each opportunity comes with its own set of benefits — from funding and mentorship to international exposure. Deadlines are fast approaching — apply early and take the next step in your professional journey.
Fast Forward Accelerator 2025 [Deadline: September 8]
A leading accelerator for tech nonprofits, Fast Forward provides mission-driven founders with the tools and support to scale their social impact.
Who can apply: Tech nonprofit founders working to solve pressing global challenges.
Program Benefits:
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$25,000+ in unrestricted funding
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3-month structured accelerator
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Mentorship from tech leaders and social impact experts
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Access to a supportive alumni network
Catapult Film Fund – Development Grant [Deadline: September 8]
The Catapult Film Fund supports independent documentary filmmakers in the early stages of development, offering seed funding for bold, compelling nonfiction projects.
Who can apply: Independent filmmakers globally.
Program Benefits:
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Grants of up to $25,000
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Development funding for feature-length and short films
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Feedback and guidance during project evolution
SAB Foundation Tholoana Enterprise Programme [Deadline: September 8]
The SAB Foundation Tholoana Enterprise Programme is an 18-month accelerator for South African entrepreneurs seeking to grow sustainable, inclusive businesses.
Who can apply: South African citizens running full-time businesses, with a focus on youth, women, and rural entrepreneurs.
Program Benefits:
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Structured business development support
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Personalised mentorship
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Seed funding and investment readiness guidance
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Mental health and resilience training
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Peer learning and access to markets
Schwarzman Scholars Programme 2026/2027 [Deadline: September 10]
The Schwarzman Scholars Programme is a fully funded one-year Master’s program in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, designed to prepare future global leaders.
Who can apply: Students worldwide with an undergraduate degree and leadership experience.
Program Benefits:
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Full tuition and accommodation
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Travel, health insurance, and stipend
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In-country study tours and cross-cultural experiences
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Access to an international network of scholars and mentors
Google for Startups Accelerator – Africa 2025 [Deadline: September 10]
Google is now accepting applications for its three-month Google for Startups Accelerator – Africa 2025, a program designed to support Seed to Series A tech startups that are driving innovation in South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Who can apply:
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Tech startups headquartered in South Africa
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Startups at the Seed to Series A stage with existing market traction
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Teams integrating or planning to integrate AI/ML technologies
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Founders and key team members available to fully participate in the program
Program Benefits:
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Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits
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Bespoke mentorship from Google engineers and industry experts
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Technical support and product development guidance
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Sessions on product design, customer acquisition, and leadership
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Access to a global alumni network of Google for Startups participants
Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives (MITC) Acceleration Program – Uganda [Deadline: September 12]
A high-growth accelerator for Ugandan startups is an initiative by Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives – Uganda, with Asia Africa Investment & Consulting (AAIC) as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Startup Ecosystem Advisor and implemented by Hindsight Ventures.
Who can apply: Ugandan startups in FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, ICT, Mobility, and more.
Program Benefits:
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Over $600,000 in technology credits
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Growth-stage business support
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Access to investor networks and commercial partners
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Two tailored cohorts for sector-specific scaling
GovTech Innovation Challenge 2025 [Deadline: September 12]
The World Bank and Trust Valley invite startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to propose innovative tech solutions for enhancing public service delivery.
Who can apply: Startups, scale-ups, and SMEs with GovTech solutions.
Program Benefits:
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Global exposure through the World Bank’s platform
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Access to the Trust Valley ecosystem
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Opportunity to pilot government tech solutions
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Collaboration with public sector actors
United Nations Development Programme Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator [Deadline: September 19]
A hybrid accelerator under the United Nations Development Programme timbuktoo initiative supporting early-stage African startups tackling climate and sustainability challenges.
Who can apply: Seed-stage startups in Agriculture, Energy, Mobility, and the Built Environment.
Program Benefits:
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8-week intensive hybrid accelerator
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Access to sustainability-focused networks and investors
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UNDP ecosystem support
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Peer learning and mentorship
Children’s Prize 2025 – Infrastructure for Life [Deadline: September 19]
The Children’s Prize, a program of The Children’s Prize Foundation, is an open global competition supporting life-saving innovations for children under five through resilient infrastructure.
Who can apply: Individuals and organizations with data-driven child health interventions.
Program Benefits:
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$165,000 in grant funding
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Global recognition and reporting support
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Capacity-building from the Children’s Prize Foundation
Medal of Excellence Challenge 2025 [Deadline: September 21]
The Medal of Excellence Challenge 2025, an initiative of Innovation Consortium, is national innovation challenge celebrating ideas that drive transformation across diverse sectors.
Who can apply: Innovators, creators, and problem-solvers in Uganda and beyond.
Cash Prizes:
1st Place Prize: UGX 11,000,000/= or USD 3,000
2nd Place Prize: UGX 5,500,000/= or USD 1,500
3rd Place Prize: UGX 3,500,000/= or USD 950
Program Benefits:
- Prototyping support for all qualifying submissions
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Public recognition and award ceremony
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Cross-sector innovation exposure
Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation [Deadline: September 23]
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering is Africa’s most prestigious engineering prize supporting scalable solutions with high social impact.
Who can apply: African engineering innovators with commercially viable ideas.
Program Benefits:
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Up to £25,000 in funding
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Business training and mentoring
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Global visibility through the Royal Academy of Engineering
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Alumni network access
MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025 [Deadline: September 26]
The Meltwater Foundation Entrepreneurial Support (MEST Africa) Challenge is a pan-African pitch competition for early-stage startups looking to scale with equity funding and strategic support.
Who can apply: Startups in operation for under 3 years in eligible African countries.
Program Benefits:
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$50,000 equity investment for the winner
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Corporate partnership opportunities with Absa
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Access to investor networks and mentoring
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Regional exposure and market expansion support
