Applications are now open for the African Impact Challenge Cohort 6 (up to $25,000 CAD funding)
Closing Date: 31 January 2026
Applications are now open for the African Impact Challenge Cohort 6 (up to $25,000 CAD funding)
The Africa Health Collaborative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the University of Toronto’s African Impact Initiative, is searching for African entrepreneurs building scalable solutions in health.
The 6th Cohort of AIC will support successful founders with mentorship, funding, access to markets and a global network of Africa’s most impactful founders.
This program is open to any African founder at these stages of growth:
EXPLORER — You have a solid idea and are validating the problem.
BUILDER — You are refining your MVP (Revenue under $20K).
MOMENTUM — You have real customers and are growing (Revenue $20K–$99K).
SCALE — You are an established venture ready to expand (Revenue $100K+).
Apply today to take your health venture to the next level and join a Pan-African network of changemakers.
Overview
The African Impact Challenge empowers daring early innovators solving African challenges with global potential, supporting them in building market-shaping, globally competitive businesses. To date, African Impact Challenge has:
- Trained over 7,000 founders and funded more than 100 businesses across 46 different countries including Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Egypt, Morocco, Uganda, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
- Supported businesses through its Pan-African Health Entrepreneurship (HENT), which supports health tech ventures from any country in Africa, and Country Innovation (CI), which support ventures from a specific African country each year across any industry, this year being Nigeria.
With its track-based funding, builder resources, global network of innovators, and strategic partners like the University of Toronto, you receive the comprehensive support needed to scale and thrive.
How The African Impact Challenge Works.
1. CAPACITY BUILDING
Virtual & Self-Paced Venture Support Bootcamp
2. TRACK-BASED VENTURE FUNDING
Through Investments or Grants
3. TRACK-BASED PROGRAMMING
To Reach Your Next Milestone
4. FUNDED INTERNATIONAL MARKET EXPOSURE
Flights and accommodations covered
5. POST-PROGRAM INVESTOR SUPPORT
To Access Additional Capital & Scale Further
6. MARKET ACCESS & PARTNERSHIPS
To Acquire Customers & Go-To-Market Partners
Apply to the Next Cohort
AIC has designed four tracks to support ambitious founders like you at different stages of your journey. AIC is supporting startups across two streams: Health Entrepreneurship for ventures enabling health outcomes with technology all over Africa, and, in 2026, Country Innovation for ventures across other sectors in Nigeria.
Eligibility
- Young Africans under 39 living in Africa.
- A desire to pursue impact-focused entrepreneurship as a means of livelihood.
- A desire to solve critical problems with technology.
- Full time commitment from the team building the venture.
- Country Innovation Stream: Scalable ventures based in the country of focus from any sector, this year being Nigeria.
- Health Entrepreneurship Stream: Pan-African ventures enabling health outcomes, anywhere in Africa.
Preference will be given to innovative business models that are scalable.
Selection Criteria
- You should be solving a pressing problem/challenge in your country.
- Your solution should be technology enabled in its creation and/or use.
- Preference will be given to solutions that target non-consumption, by increasing adoption, accessibility and affordability.
- Preference will be given to innovative business models that are scalable.
About the Explorer Track
- Has a clearly articulated problem worth solving
- No MVP required
- No revenue required
- Can apply solo or as a team
- Should demonstrate commitment and a willingness to learn
- Venture may or may not be legally registered
- A 7-week self-paced venture support bootcamp with the partners focusing on taking you from a raw idea to a validated problem–solution fit.
- A chance to compete in our Grand Pitch Competition to win a cash prize.
About the Builder Track
- MVP in development or recently launched
- Revenue between $0 – $20,000 CAD per year (optional but welcome)
- Early users, pilot partners, or LOIs are a plus
- Founder(s) should demonstrate technical or operational capability
- Venture may or may not be legally registered
- A 7-week, self-paced venture support bootcamp with AIC partners, focused on taking you from MVP building to initial traction.
- International program immersion
- A chance to join AIC Accelerator Program for access to mentors, investors, and tailored workshops.
- Guaranteed funding of $5,000 CAD with potential for more based on program performance and growth.
- And those unable to join AIC Accelerator Program, an opportunity in our Grand Pitch Competition to showcase your progress and compete for a cash prize.
About the Momentum Track
- MVP live for at least 3 months
- Consistent revenue between $20,000 – $100,000 USD per year
- OR strong, measurable non-revenue traction (for health, climate, edtech, govtech)
- Clear signs of early Product Market Fit: retention, repeat usage, customer feedback
- Demonstrated operational capability
- Basic team structure (at least one co-builder or consistent contributor preferred)
- A 2-week evaluation assessment period
- International program immersion
- A chance to join AIC Accelerator Program for access to mentors, investors, and tailored workshops.
- Guaranteed funding of $15,000 CAD with potential for more based on program performance and growth.
- Global market access and partnership opportunities.
About the Scale Track
- Minimum $100,000 USD in annual revenue
- Clear product–market fit indicators
- Repeatable sales process or high-growth user adoption
- Strong retention metrics
- A well-defined strategy for expansion
- Team of at least 2–3 stable contributors
- Solid operations or early organizational structure
- A 2-week evaluation assessment period
- A chance to join our Accelerator Program for access to mentors, investors, and tailored workshops.
- Guaranteed funding of $25,000 CAD with potential for more based on program performance and growth.
- Global market access and partnership opportunities.
Click Here To Apply
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