1. Milken‑Motsepe Prize in AI & Manufacturing (2026 cycle)
Open to African companies innovating in manufacturing or AI value chains. Total pool of $2 million in prizes.
Deadline: July 31, 2025
2.African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) Conservation Grants 2025.
Each year, the AWHF provides conservation grants to African States Parties to support the implementation of projects and activities aimed at enhancing the sustainability and state of conservation of World Heritage properties. In addition, AWHF offers preparatory assistance to sites on national heritage lists, supporting their inclusion on Tentative Lists and the development of nominations for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Application Deadline: July 31st, 2025
3.Documentary Africa (DocA) EAccelerate Fund 2025 for East African filmmakers (€20,000 in funding)
The EAccelerate Fund 2025 is now accepting applications from East African filmmakers looking to bring their short film ideas to life. This fund is designed to provide support, funding, and mentorship to filmmakers from East Africa to create high-quality short films with regional and international visibility.
Application Deadline: 21st July 2025
4. Bacha Entrepreneurship Project 2025 ( Finance Supports)
The Bacha Entrepreneurship Project invites Basotho youth aged 21 to 35 to submit their business proposals.
Application Deadline: July 24th, 2025
5. The Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility (AECF) for African Startups (Up to USD 4M Investment Facility)
The Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility (AECF), a USD 4M facility established to invest in startups developing context-specific solutions that enhance economic mobility and climate resilience in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. The AECF, managed by Village Capital with support from FMO and RVO, has partnered with FATE Foundation as a Venture Partner to leverage the organization’s deep local expertise to identify and evaluate high-impact startups.
Application Deadline: August 4,2025
6. Kluz Prize for PeaceTech 2025 (Up to $20,000)
Apply to the 2025 Kluz Prize for PeaceTech and gain recognition for your achievements and innovations in emerging technologies to advance peace and human dignity.
They invite organizations to submit impactful PeaceTech projects using emerging technologies to advance peace and human dignity.
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Application Deadline: July 20th, 2025
7. MEST AI Startup Program 2026 for West African Entrepreneurs (Up to $100,000 in Pre-seed Investment)
Are you a West African software developer or aspiring entrepreneur ready to launch a high-impact AI startup? The MEST AI Startup Program 2026 is now open for applications! This fully immersive, 12-month journey will equip a select cohort of innovators with the technical expertise, business skills, and mentorship needed to build and scale globally competitive AI-driven software startups.
8. AI4D Innovation Scaling Challenge 2025 (up to $100,000 Fund)
The Lab for Ethics, Policy and Scaling of AI (LEPSAI), of the African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS) invites eligible AI innovators to express their interest in participating in the AI4D Innovation scaling challenge.
This project is intended to support deployed and in-use AI innovations that promise significant social impact and demonstrate readiness to scale. The innovation or solution must demonstrate readiness to scale beyond the current user base. Solutions must be beyond the proof-of-concept phase and be deployed under real-life conditions. Earlier-stage ideation-only concepts will not be considered at this time.
Application Deadline: September 4, 2025
9. Africa Agri-Food Development Program (AADP) Grant For SMEs (Up to €100,000 Grant Funding)
The AADP, which opens once a year for funding applications to support projects and feasibility studies, enables Ireland’s agri-food sector to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals that aim to tackle poverty, eradicate hunger, fight inequality, and make real and sustainable changes that better the lives of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Application Deadline: August 15, 2025
10.SMEDAN ₦50K Conditional Grant Scheme for Micro Enterprises 2025
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a variety of strategic programmes to support entrepreneurs, drive economic growth, and strengthen the capacities of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
SMEDAN Conditional Grant Scheme for Micro Enterprises for strictly for small business owners.
This government scheme supports nano businesses by providing conditional financial grants for workforce support and equipment procurement. It is designed to stimulate job creation and business sustainability at the grassroots level.
Application Tips
- Visit the official websites for all listed programs to confirm exact eligibility, application slots, and submission instructions.
- Prepare standard documents: business plan, pitch deck, personal and team bios, financial projections, and impact statements.
- Tailor each application to the grant’s theme (e.g. climate, youth, education).
