Every month we round up the grants, accelerators, fellowships, and competitions currently open to Nigerian and African entrepreneurs, from government schemes to international funders. Each listing below has the deadline, what you get, and where to apply, so you can move straight to the ones worth your time.
Miller Center Accelerator Program 2027
Description: A free six-month virtual accelerator from Miller Center for Global Impact at Santa Clara University, offering structured mentorship for social enterprise leaders tackling poverty through women’s economic power or climate resilience.
Key Benefits: 180 hours of free executive mentorship, no equity or funding cost to participants.
Application Deadline: Early deadline (31 August 2026) has passed. Regular deadline: 16 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
AGRA-SMEDAN Youth Agri-Innovation Contest 2026
Description: A contest by AGRA and SMEDAN for Nigerians aged 18 to 35 with an agribusiness idea, prototype or growing farm business. No land or collateral needed.
Key Benefits: ₦5 million top prize, plus ₦3 million and ₦2 million for the runners-up and ₦1 million each for places four to ten.
Application Deadline: 16 October 2026, 23:59 WAT
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Kaduna AgriSpark 2026
Description: A three-day agritech bootcamp, hackathon and pitchathon at GreyHobb, Kaduna (29 to 31 October) for Kaduna-based founders and developers with farm-related ideas. Registration runs 7 to 17 October.
Key Benefits: ₦500,000 grand prize, plus three months of incubation for the top three teams.
Application Deadline: 17 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
SafeTech Africa HackLab 2026
Description: A youth social innovation challenge led by UNFPA and partners for African innovators aged 18 to 35 building solutions that make physical, informational or digital spaces safer for young people.
Key Benefits: Seed capital of $5,000 to $10,000 for each of four winners.
Application Deadline: 18 October 2026, 23:59 CAT
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Leventis Foundation Nigeria Agribusiness Funding 2026
Description: A funding programme for current and former Leventis Foundation Nigeria trainees who want to start or grow a farm business. Only trainees can apply, so the pool is small.
Key Benefits: Up to ₦5 million per beneficiary, as a grant or concessionary loan.
Application Deadline: 21 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Halcyon Africa Innovation in Agriculture and Food Security Accelerator 2027
Description: A Washington DC-based nonprofit accelerator for post-revenue or paid-pilot agritech ventures in Sub-Saharan Africa, with residencies in Accra and Nairobi.
Key Benefits: $10,000 equity-free stipend plus $10,000 in AWS credits per venture.
Application Deadline: 23 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
WIMBIZ 2026 Impact Investment Competition
Description: A competition tied to the 25th Annual WIMBIZ Conference, giving grants to women-led businesses and startups in Nigeria.
Key Benefits: Grants of up to ₦6 million.
Application Deadline: 23 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
D-Prize Interventions Challenge 2026
Description: A global seed funding programme for entrepreneurs who can take an existing, proven poverty solution and build an organisation to distribute it, not invent a new one.
Key Benefits: Up to US$20,000 in seed capital per winner, with no application fee.
Application Deadline: 25 October 2026 (early submission window)
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Her Startup Cohort 2.0 2026
Description: A pan-African accelerator for women founders aged 18 to 35 running tech-enabled businesses in Africa (Nigeria included), delivered through Founder Institute. Your business must already earn at least US$500 a month, sustained for six months.
Key Benefits: Stipend during the 12-week training, then a pitch for up to US$5,000 in convertible revenue-based financing, plus six months of mentorship. Funding is not guaranteed.
Application Deadline: 26 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
ABF Agribusiness Growth Challenge 2026
Description: A free training and challenge programme for young and emerging agripreneurs across Africa, run by GIZ and funded by the EU.
Key Benefits: Free structured training plus €6,000 in prizes, a Dell laptop, and mentorship for top performers.
Application Deadline: 30 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
e-MOVE ComCashew 2026
Description: Funding built specifically for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s cashew value chain, run by GIZ through MOVE-ComCashew and the Agri-Business Facility for Africa.
Key Benefits: Up to €2,000 in direct funding, or a laptop, tablet, or software package.
Application Deadline: 30 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Ecobank InnovateX Youth Innovation Challenge 2026
Description: A nationwide innovation challenge from Ecobank’s Blaze youth banking arm for Nigerian students aged 16 to 25 building fintech or creative-economy solutions.
Key Benefits: ₦20 million total prize pool, plus mentorship, an Ecobank internship and NYSC placement opportunities.
Application Deadline: 30 October 2026 (registration closes), grand finale follows
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
WISE EdTech Accelerator 2026-2027
Description: An accelerator from the World Innovation Summit for Education (Qatar Foundation) for for-profit edtech startups with proven products and measurable impact, including startups in Africa.
Key Benefits: No cash grant. One-to-one coaching, mentorship and investor access across three continents.
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
TEEEM Foundation Community Impact Grant 2026
Description: A grant for nonprofit and charitable organisations running community projects in education, health, empowerment or entrepreneurship.
Key Benefits: $5,000 to $30,000 in funding depending on project scale.
Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
WomanKind Creative Grant 2027
Description: A grant from WomanKind Alliance, sponsored by creative agency Alfa Charlie, giving women’s health startups worldwide (including femtech and founders in Africa) a six-week branding and design team.
Key Benefits: Branding and design support valued at US$15,000, delivered as services, not cash.
Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
100x Impact Accelerator Programme 2027/28
Description: A London School of Economics-based accelerator for for-profit and nonprofit social ventures with a proven solution and evidence of results. Open worldwide, including Africa. Nigeria is not named, so confirm on the official page.
Key Benefits: £150,000 in catalytic funding plus a tailored 16-week accelerator and a long-term partnership. Funding decisions come in July 2027.
Application Deadline: 2 November 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Prince Casper Foundation Impact Grants 2026-2027
Description: Grants for educators and education professionals working in primary and secondary schools in rural and underserved Nigerian communities, to improve teaching and learning.
Key Benefits: ₦6 million shared among 26 grantees: ₦500,000, ₦200,000 or ₦100,000 each, decided by the selection committee.
Application Deadline: 6 November 2026, 11:59 pm WAT
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Swarovski Foundation Creatives For Our Future 2026
Description: A grant for Nigerian creatives aged 21 to 30 building something around sustainability, fashion, design, or technology.
Key Benefits: €20,000 grant plus mentorship, masterclasses, and networking access.
Application Deadline: 9 November 2026, 11:59 PM GMT
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Anzisha Venture Building Fellowship 2027
Description: A fellowship from the African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation for young African founders aged 15 to 22 who are already running a real business.
Key Benefits: Milestone-based cash stipends, coaching, and a share of $40,000 in prizes.
Application Deadline: 10 November 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Interledger Local Impact Mini-Grant Program 2026
Description: A grant from the Interledger Foundation for individuals and community organisations working to improve digital financial access, no registered organisation required.
Key Benefits: $500 to $3,000 in direct project funding.
Application Deadline: 11 November 2026, 11:59 pm ET (applications reviewed on a rolling basis until then)
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
AI Venture Lab Founder Sprint 2027
Description: A free 10-week virtual programme (27 January to 2 April 2027) teaching early-stage founders worldwide to build, test and scale startups with AI. No fees and no equity taken.
Key Benefits: No cash upfront. Mentorship, peer group, masterclasses and a Demo Day with non-dilutive prize money.
Application Deadline: 1 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
UNDP Timbuktoo Pan-African Incubation Program (EdTech) 2026
Description: A UNDP Timbuktoo programme supporting African EdTech startups building innovative solutions for education, training, and skills development, with structured incubation and mentorship.
Key Benefits: Access to the SIGMA digital platform for startup development, plus investment readiness training and investor networking.
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
UNDP Africa Timbuktoo Launchpad Program 2026
Description: A UNDP programme through the Timbuktoo GreenTech Hub in Kenya, supporting African founders building clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, waste management, and circular economy solutions.
Key Benefits: Practical incubation, expert guidance, digital tools, and ecosystem access.
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
DIV Fund for Startups and Social Enterprises 2026
Description: Funding for startups, nonprofits, researchers, and social enterprises with innovative solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture, or financial inclusion.
Key Benefits: Up to $1.5 million in grants.
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026 (applications reviewed on a rolling basis)
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
SiGMA Pitch Startup Competition 2027
Description: A free pitch competition for early-stage African startups in iGaming, fintech, AI, blockchain and gaming technology, culminating in a live pitch before more than 30 venture capitalists in Cape Town.
Key Benefits: A prize package worth over €400,000 in credits, cloud infrastructure and executive access for the winner. Free to apply.
Application Deadline: 6 January 2027
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Federal Government Free Microsoft AI Skills for Nigerian Women 2026
Description: Free artificial intelligence training and certification for women across Nigeria, from small business owners to students and office workers.
Key Benefits: Free training with certification.
Application Deadline: Rolling, until training slots are filled
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
SMEDAN Young Entrepreneurs Program (BRYNE) 2026
Description: A new SMEDAN-led initiative bringing training, incubation, mentorship and access to finance together for young Nigerian entrepreneurs, including a weekly startup hackathon.
Key Benefits: Incubation support for 600 entrepreneurs annually, plus a weekly hackathon awarding 52 winners ₦250,000 each in seed funding.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no single application deadline published yet. Watch the official SMEDAN website.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
SMEDAN Cluster Development Support (CDS) for MSMEs 2026
Description: Support for Nigerian manufacturing and production clusters, tackling bottlenecks like poor electricity, lack of automated machinery, and financing access.
Key Benefits: Cluster infrastructure and financing support.
Application Deadline: Rolling, regional basis
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Entrepreneurship Program 2026
Description: A global initiative providing free business education to women entrepreneurs worldwide, offering 10 core business courses covering leadership, marketing, finance, and other essentials for growing sustainable enterprises.
Key Benefits: Free access to world-class business education, plus membership in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Global Alumni Community.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no fixed deadline
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Maple Global Innovation Fellowship 2026
Description: A fellowship for entrepreneurs, researchers, AI and robotics professionals, and innovation ecosystem leaders, with a strictly limited number of appointments.
Key Benefits: Fellowship recognition, mentorship, and access to a global innovation network.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no closing date published. Applications are reviewed individually and only a limited number of Fellows are appointed.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
FG CREDICORP C.L.I.C.K.D. Programme 2026
Description: A federal government credit scheme (C.L.I.C.K.D.) that lets eligible Nigerians get a laptop or smartphone on instalments. The pilot phase started with 1,000 laptops for 3MTT fellows, with other digital talent programmes expected to follow.
Key Benefits: Access to subsidised devices through a government-backed credit scheme.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no closing date published. Check the official portal for current status and terms.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Agriculture Financing Initiative (AgriFI)
Description: A long-term capital facility for commercially sustainable agribusinesses across Africa’s agricultural value chains, funded by the EU and managed by EDFI.
Key Benefits: Investments from €500,000 to €5 million, with tenors of five to ten years or more.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no fixed application round
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Found one worth chasing? Let me help you win it.
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Also available: pitch decks, financial models, company profiles, business proposals, and CAC registration.
Let’s talk before the deadline, not after.
Utibe Etim
Founder, Etimate Global Services
WhatsApp / Call: 0703 154 2324
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.utibeetim.com
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