The African Impact Challenge (AIC) 2026 (Cohort 6) is currently accepting applications from early-stage African innovators. This flagship initiative, hosted by the African Impact Initiative in partnership with the University of Toronto and the Mastercard Foundation, aims to scale technology-driven solutions into globally competitive businesses.
Specialized Streams for 2026
Applicants must choose one of two distinct paths:
- Country Innovation (CI) Stream: For 2026, this stream is focused exclusively on Nigeria. It is sector-agnostic, supporting scalable ventures from any industry based in the country.
- Health Entrepreneurship (HENT) Stream: A pan-African stream open to health-tech innovators from any African country. It supports solutions that improve health outcomes, access, and adoption through market-creating innovations
The Four Growth Tracks
The challenge supports ventures at varying levels of maturity:
- Explorer: Ideal for those at the ideation stage (no MVP or revenue required).
- Builder: For startups refining their MVP with annual revenue under $20,000 USD.
- Momentum: Targeted at ventures with real customers and revenue between $20,000 and $99,000 USD.
- Scale: For established businesses with over $100,000 USD in annual revenue ready for regional expansion.
Key Benefits of African Impact Challenge
Selected participants receive a comprehensive support package designed for long-term success:
- Funding: Access to grant funding or equity investment of up to $25,000 CAD (roughly $18,500 USD) based on performance and track.
- Global Exposure: Top-performing founders receive a fully funded international trip to Toronto, Canada, for market immersion and networking.
- Capacity Building: A virtual, self-paced venture-building bootcamp followed by specialized programming tailored to specific growth milestones.
- Post-Program Support: Continued guidance on investor readiness and access to a global network of partners and potential follow-on capital.
How to Apply
Interested founders can apply directly through the official African Impact Initiative portal. Be prepared to demonstrate a clear problem-solution fit and a scalable business model.
- Deadline: January 31, 2026.
- Target Group: African citizens under 39 years old living on the continent.
- Core Requirement: Startups must be technology-enabled and the founding team must be committed to the venture full-time.