AWIEF Launches Pitch n Grow 2026 to Support Women-Led Startups
The initiative, organised by the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, aims to support women founders and co-founders building innovative solutions across the continent.
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has announced the launch of “Pitch n Grow 2026,” a flagship pitch competition designed to identify, develop, and showcase high-potential women-led ventures across Africa.
The initiative, organised by the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, aims to support women founders and co-founders building innovative solutions across the continent. Selected finalists will pitch their ventures live at the AWIEF 2026 Conference, scheduled to take place in Cape Town on 10 and 11 November 2026.
This year’s competition theme, “Deep Roots, Digital Futures,” highlights the importance of leveraging Africa’s local knowledge, community insight, and problem-solving experience as a foundation for technological innovation. The programme encourages participants to apply deep technologies not as external imports, but as tools shaped by African realities and needs.
Applications are open to women entrepreneurs across Africa working in priority sectors such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, AgriTech, HealthTech, Clean Energy, Water Technology, Biotech, FinTech, Cybersecurity, EdTech, Smart Cities, Circular Economy, and Frontier Technologies.
The competition is structured across three categories: Pre-Venture for early ideas with prototypes or proof of concept, Early-Stage for registered startups with active customers and revenue, and Growth-Stage for scaling ventures with demonstrated traction and regional expansion.
Selected participants will benefit from expert-led training bootcamps, mentorship from industry leaders and investors, access to ecosystem partners and media exposure, and the opportunity to pitch at the AWIEF 2026 Conference. Finalists will also receive travel and accommodation support, along with cash prizes and global visibility.
Key milestones for the programme include application opening on 22 June 2026, orientation webinars in early July, an application deadline of 20 July 2026, bootcamps in August, finalist announcements on 20 September 2026, and the live finals in Cape Town in November 2026.
Applications must be submitted by 20 July 2026 via the official link provided by AWIEF.
