Apply Now: Builders of Africa’s Future Accelerator Program 2026

The program focuses on health, education, energy, agriculture, financial inclusion, gender inclusion, nutrition, commerce, and infrastructure development, aiming to support early-stage nonprofits and for-profit businesses that address key community needs through technology or differentiated business models.

Builders of Africa’s Future annually provides enterprise development training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and a platform to enhance brand visibility and investment potential, particularly in Silicon Valley. Since 2018, BAF has recognized and catalyzed 93 African startups. Program benefits include training from the African Management Institute (AMI) of Kenya and invitations to attend the 12th African Diaspora Investment Symposium. Funding support is provided by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Eligible applicants include founders and executives of companies who are catalysts of developmental progress in Africa. Enterprises must be established legal entities in operation for six months or more with demonstrable early traction, a tangible digital or physical product, or evidence of successful events. Businesses must demonstrate innovative solutions tailored to the African cultural and socioeconomic context and may not be mere clones of Western models. Entrepreneurs are required to attend virtual monthly enterprise training sessions, complete core modules, and participate in onboarding and virtual Pitch Day sessions facilitated by the African Diaspora Network.

Secondary considerations in selecting participants include balanced gender representation, geographic diversity across Africa’s 54 countries, sectoral variety, and representation of both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. The program emphasizes impact and innovation across sectors to avoid overrepresentation of a single industry.

For more information, visit ADN.