Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Carnegie Mellon University Africa Innovation Hub Business Incubation Program. The Business Incubation Program is a 12-month opportunity focused on helping tech founders in Africa to succeed with their entrepreneurial ventures. Startups entering the Business Incubation Program have a proof-of-concept prototype for their product and a preliminary market assessment.
WORTH
- $50,000 USD in seed funding from CMU-Africa
- 12 months of targeted advisory support from experienced practitioners across product, growth, compliance, and investment to drive revenue, scale, and investor readiness.
- $5,000 in AWS credits and $1,500 in Amazon technical support
- Introductions to angel investors, VCs firms, and partners in Africa and Pittsburgh
- Opportunity to connect CMU-Africa’s partner ecosystem across Africa
- Connection to global entrepreneurship networks, including startups and industry partners at CMU’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship in Pittsburgh
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible startups must be less than two years old and meet the following at the time of application:
- Be building a scalable, tech-enabled solution addressing a clearly defined market opportunity across Africa
- Have a proof-of-concept prototype with early validation and a clear path to profitability, scalability, and inclusive impact
- Demonstrate strong market understanding and a credible business model
- Be led by at least two committed co-founders, able to dedicate full-time effort to the venture and program
- Be a registered company
DEADLINE: May 20, 2026
To apply and for more information, visit here.