Our Initiatives

The Best Way To Predict The Future of Africa, Is To Create It

Building Global Businesses -

From Africa, to the World

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, we have: 

  • 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 our 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 our 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.

APPLY TO THE HENT STREAM
APPLY TO THE CI STREAM

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 our Next Cohort

We've designed four tracks to support ambitious founders like you at different stages of your journey. We are 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.

Deadline for Applications: January 31 2026

    • 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.

    Stream Based Criteria:

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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

    ‍ ‍ Here's what you'll receive

    • A 7-week self-paced venture support bootcamp with our 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.

    • 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


    Here's what you'll receive

    • A 7-week, self-paced venture support bootcamp with our partners, focused on taking you from MVP building to initial traction.

    • International program immersion

    • A chance to join our 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 our Accelerator Program, an opportunity in our Grand Pitch Competition to showcase your progress and compete for a cash prize.

    • 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)


    Here's what you'll receive 

    • A 2-week evaluation assessment period

    • International program immersion

    • A chance to join our 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.

    • 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


    Here's what you'll receive

    • 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.

APPLY TO THE HENT STREAM
APPLY TO THE CI STREAM

Our Previous Cohorts

Botswana

African Impact Challenge 2024
Cohort 5

Cape Town- South Africa

African Impact Challenge 2023
Cohort 4

Kigal, Rwanda

African Impact Challenge 2022
Cohort 3

Nairobi, Kenya

African Impact Challenge 2021
Cohort 2

Ghana

African Impact Challenge 2020
Cohort 1

Some of Our Portfolio Companies

Building Resilient Immigrants - Diversity, Guidance & Empowerment

African Impact B.R.I.D.G.E Program

Many of us move from our home countries on the continent, in pursuit of better opportunities. The African Impact BRIDGE program empowers people of African descent in diaspora to succeed - through tailored solutions to our biggest challenges while immigrating. Since launching, we support Africans in diaspora to access:

  • Scholarships for African Students
    who are on study permits

  • Paid Work Placements
    without international experience

  • Cultural Community Immersion to find your home away from home

  • Tailored Support Services housing & financing without credit history

Join our Waitlist

B.R.I.D.G.E Program Partners

Woveo is a finacial platform that is creating a movement of changemakers who are passionate about obtaining financial freedom. They believe that financial security shouldn't be reserved for the few, but accessible to all. That's why they have built Woveo from the ground up to empower individuals and communities to take control of their financial futures.

Learn more from their website.

Okwera Academy is a Canadian non-profit dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers and empowering Black communities by serving as a dedicated talent and career incubator. We address the significant educational and employment disparities faced by Black Canadians through essential resources, mentorship, skill development, and financial support.

Learn more from their website.

Anutio is an organization that enables individuals to scale their careers to higher heights by providing people with evidence of what they are truly great at and aligning their career paths to their life priorities and unique personality.

Learn more from their website.

A not-for-profit organization that provides affordable loans and career support resources to international students, skilled immigrants and refugees. Our loans help our clients pay for their tuition, cost of accreditation and career development. 

Learn more from their website.

Become a Partner

Bringing together African diaspora community members

African Impact Conference

Every year we host our annual African Impact Conference in Canada. It brings together African diaspora community members including students, career professionals, innovators, policy makers and academic leaders - to critically engage with a relevant theme tied to our journeys in Canada. Attendees come dressed in their native African attire, and enjoy a taste of home with diverse African cuisine. You don’t want to miss the next one, join our community to stay updated!

Supporting Our Founders