1st place
$50,000
- Non-dilutive cash prize
- Curated intros to 25+ investors in the room
- Feature on the Main Stage closing keynote
- Media coverage from official press partners
Live pitch · Main Stage · November 7, 2026
The $100K
Pitch Competition
for African
founders.
12 finalists. 3 winners. One stage in front of the world's top investors, operators, and capital allocators. Selected from 500+ applications across AI, fintech, and frontier tech.
$100K
Prize pool
12
Finalists
3
Winners
700+
In the audience
Sep 15
Deadline
The prize pool
$100,000 in cash — plus what really matters.
Non-dilutive capital, intros to the room, and a stage in front of the people who can actually move your company forward.
2nd place
$30,000
- Non-dilutive cash prize
- Curated investor intros
- Speaker dinner invitation
3rd place
$20,000
- Non-dilutive cash prize
- Office hours with select judges
- Annual VIP membership
Who can apply
Built for African founders. Building globally.
African founder or co-founder
At least one founder of African heritage, building anywhere in the world.
Pre-seed to Series A
Less than $5M raised. Live product or strong technical proof.
Global ambition
Targeting markets beyond a single country — or already operating cross-border.
One of our focus areas
AI, fintech, frontier infrastructure, healthtech, or global B2B software.
The process
From application to the Main Stage.
01
Apply
Submit your deck, traction, and a 90-second video. ~15 minutes.
Open · Closes Sep 15, 2026
02
Shortlist
Top 50 invited to a 20-minute virtual screening with judges.
Sep 20 – Oct 5, 2026
03
Finalists
12 founders announced and matched with a pitch coach.
Oct 10, 2026
04
Main Stage
Live 5-minute pitch + 5-minute judge Q&A in front of 700+ peers and investors.
Nov 7, 2026 · Austin
The judges
Capital that has actually built.
A panel of operators and investors who have written checks into category-defining African companies and global category leaders.
Judging criteria
What we're looking for.
30%
Founder quality
Why you. Why now. The unfair edge — technical, cultural, or strategic — only you have.
25%
Market & opportunity
Real wedge into a real, large market. Not a nice-to-have. Not a feature.
25%
Traction & product
Evidence the world has voted: revenue, retention, users, or hard technical proof.
20%
Storytelling
You have 5 minutes on the Main Stage. Make it count.
FAQ
Common questions.
Do I need to be based in Africa to apply?
No. At least one founder must be of African heritage. You can be operating from anywhere in the world.
Is the prize money equity-free?
Yes — all cash prizes are non-dilutive grants. No equity, no warrants, no strings attached.
Do finalists get tickets to the Summit?
Yes. All 12 finalists receive complimentary VIP passes, including the private VIP dinner on November 6.
Will my pitch be made public?
Finalist pitches are live in front of attendees and may be recorded for our official channels. We never share confidential numbers without your permission.
Can a previous applicant re-apply?
Yes, as long as you meet the current eligibility criteria.
Is there an application fee?
No. Applying is free.
Applications close September 15, 2026
Take the stage. Take the check.
Apply in under 15 minutes. We review every application personally.