Closing on: May 20, 2026
Early-stage tech founders across Africa are invited to apply for the CMU-Africa Innovation Hub Business Incubation Program 2026/2027 — a rigorous 12-month programme by Carnegie Mellon University Africa designed to take startups from proof-of-concept to revenue-generating, investment-ready ventures.
Selected startups receive $50,000 in seed funding, 12 months of targeted advisory support, and direct introductions to angel investors and venture capital firms across Africa and the United States.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to early-stage tech startups that:
- Are less than two years old at the time of application
- Are building a scalable, tech-enabled solution addressing a clear market opportunity in Africa
- Have a proof-of-concept prototype with early validation and a clear path to profitability
- Demonstrate strong market understanding and a credible business model
- Are led by at least two committed co-founders able to dedicate full-time effort
- Are registered companies
What Selected Startups Receive:
- $50,000 in seed funding from CMU-Africa
- 12 months of targeted advisory support across product, growth, compliance, and investment
- $5,000 in AWS credits and $1,500 in Amazon technical support
- Introductions to angel investors, VC firms, and partners across Africa and Pittsburgh
- Access to CMU-Africa’s partner ecosystem across the continent
- Connection to global networks via CMU’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship