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Digital lender Fido Ghana has secured $5.5 million in debt financing to scale its AI-powered lending platform. Using a proprietary credit scoring system based on mobile usage data, the company provides instant loans to small businesses and individuals underserved by traditional banks. The funds will support product expansion and growth across Africa.
The Mastercard Foundation has opened applications for the FAST Fund, an initiative for alumni of the YALI Network, African Leadership Academy, the Anzisha Prize and the Scholars Program. The fund aims to help alumni launch or scale their ventures through financial support and targeted assistance.
After graduating its 10th cohort, Founder Institute Abuja is now accepting applications for its 11th cohort. The program targets pre-seed and early-stage tech founders. Selected entrepreneurs will take part in a structured multi-week program that includes expert mentorship, hands-on workshops, and fundraising support. Applications close on May 3, 2026.
Bildup AI is launching its latest AI training cohort and opening new learning hubs in Enugu, Abuja, and Lagos. These centers complement our online programs by offering hands-on, guided learning for both students and professionals. Our mission is simple: democratize AI across industries and future-proof Nigeria’s workforce for the age of automation.
Plus Incubation Hub has launched the Plus Factor Grant Program to support high-potential African entrepreneurs from ideation to growth. The eight-week initiative offers equity-free grants of up to 1 million naira (about $740), alongside mentorship, training and market access support. Applications close online on March 15, 2026.
Morgan Stanley has launched the 2026 edition of its Inclusive Ventures Lab, a five-month accelerator offering mentorship and up to $250,000 in funding to early-stage startups and nonprofits. The program targets ventures delivering measurable impact in the environment, healthcare, economic empowerment or education. Applications, open to Seed through Series A companies, close on March 31, 2026.
The Connect NextGen Hackathon 2026, a joint initiative by Ericsson, the Nigerian government and Tech Revolution Africa, is now accepting applications from local startups and teams with a working prototype. The eight-week program offers intensive support, including mentorship and investor networking, and concludes with a final Demo Day. Applications are open until Tuesday, March 10, 2026, on the official platform.
MarkHack 5.0 will be held in Lagos on 5 June 2026. The conference, themed “The Culture Algorithm: AI and the Human Experience,” will bring together marketers, content creators, startup founders and policymakers to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping culture, media and everyday life. The programme includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, a hackathon and demonstrations of emerging AI-driven solutions.
The 2026 National Cleantech Innovation Challenge seeks local solutions to South Africa’s energy, climate-related and economic-development objectives. The competition comprises nine province-level challenges, spanning regenerative agriculture, sustainable transport and renewable energy. It is open to innovators, small and medium-sized enterprises and research teams. Apply via the NCIC website by 21 April 2026.
Kenyan entrepreneurs developing emission-reduction solutions can now apply to the Climate Finance Accelerator to make their projects investment-ready. Funded by the UK government, the program provides technical support, strengthens funding proposals, and connects projects with investors, with a particular focus on those seeking more than $3 million. Applications close on March 11, 2026.
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OnAfrica Angel Syndicate is inviting high-potential tech startup founders based in Africa, or building solutions for the African market, to apply. The investor group primarily backs companies at the seed stage, providing capital as well as access to its network, community and strategic guidance. Applications must be submitted online through a dedicated form.
Paradigm Initiative has opened registration for the 2026 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), scheduled for April 14-16 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Abidjan. The 2026 edition will be the first to take place in a French-speaking country. Held under the theme “Building Inclusive and Resilient Digital Futures,” the forum will convene policymakers, civil society actors, and industry leaders to discuss issues including artificial intelligence, data protection and digital inclusion.
OpenAI is developing a suite of smart devices, including a speaker, glasses and a lamp, aimed at embedding its AI more deeply into everyday life. The speaker, equipped with a camera to enable context-aware responses, is expected to sell for between $200 and $300 and launch in 2027. The smart glasses are not expected before 2028.
Egyptian e-commerce platform Breadfast has raised $50 million in pre-Series C funding from regional and international investors, including Mubadala Investment and SBI Investment. The funds will be used to strengthen its logistics infrastructure and support expansion into new African markets. Originally launched as a bread delivery service, the company has since diversified into groceries, pharmacy products and payment services.