Africa has fewer active accelerators than it did three years ago, and many “best accelerator” lists still recommend programmes that have stopped. This guide only includes programmes with documented activity in 2026: a cohort, an open call or new investments. It covers pan-African programmes and the leading options in Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Morocco.
In this guide
The short answer
What are the best startup accelerators in Africa?
For most founders the strongest options are pan-African: Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa (equity-free), Accelerate Africa (Future Africa), Madica (up to $200,000, applications all year), Catalyst Fund (climate adaptation), Katapult Africa ($150,000 to $500,000) and the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator.
- Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya have the most national programmes; elsewhere, pan-African programmes are often the main route.
- Equity-free options exist: Google’s Africa and South Africa programmes, AUC Venture Lab in Egypt, Sahara Accelerator in Tanzania, and grants such as the Tony Elumelu Foundation programme.
- Programmes close often. Techstars Lagos and the Founders Factory Africa studio have both shut, so check any list you read.
How to use this guide
Every programme below had documented activity in 2026, and the last column says what it was. We checked official pages and recent press coverage in October 2026 and left out programmes with no sign of a 2026 cohort, call or investment, even if they are well known. Programmes that have clearly closed are listed under Closed or changed, because older lists still recommend them.
Two questions decide fit before the brand does. Is it pan-African or national? Pan-African programmes take founders from many countries and compete for the strongest companies; national ones know local customers, regulators and investors. And is it remote or in person? Some programmes ask you to relocate for weeks or months. For Kenya, see our detailed guide to accelerators and incubators in Kenya.
Pan-African programmes
These accept founders from across the continent.
| Programme | Money and terms | Stage and focus | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa | No cash and no equity; mentoring and cloud credits | Seed to Series A, AI-first products | Class 10 ran 13 April to 19 June 2026: 15 startups from nearly 2,600 applicants |
| Accelerate Africa (Future Africa) | No equity on entry; Future Africa may invest $250,000 to $500,000 after due diligence | Early-stage founders; about 10 per cohort, starting in Lagos | 2026 applications closed 25 July 2026 |
| Madica | Up to $200,000 on a SAFE; no fees | Pre-seed with an MVP and little institutional funding | Committed up to $1 million across five startups in September 2026; applications all year |
| Catalyst Fund | $200,000 at pre-seed, with follow-on | Climate adaptation and resilience | $30 million second close in July 2026 |
| Katapult Africa | $150,000 to $500,000 for equity | Agri-, food- and climate-tech | 2026 call closed 25 April 2026 |
| Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator | Terms not published; investor access at Demo Day | Fintech with an MVP, seed to Series A | Cohort 6 applications closed 17 May 2026; 104 startups across five cohorts |
| Antler (Nairobi and Lagos) | Up to $250,000: in Nairobi, $100,000 for 10% plus $150,000 follow-on | Individuals and early teams, pre-team to pre-seed | Residencies ran in both cities in 2026; next Lagos residency listed for March 2027 |
| Village Capital Women in Tech Accelerator | More than $600,000 in grants across 12 markets, with the Standard Chartered Foundation | Women-led tech startups in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana and more | 2026 programme; Village Capital also began investing in Ghanaian and Nigerian startups in May 2026 |
| Delta40 | Venture studio and fund: $100,000 to $500,000 at idea to seed | Energy, mobility, agriculture and financial services in Kenya and Nigeria | Raised $20 million in February 2026 |
| Tony Elumelu Foundation | $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, training and mentoring | Ideas and businesses up to five years old, all 54 countries | 2026 window ran 1 January to 1 March; watch for January 2027 |
| Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation | £50,000 to the winner, £10,000 to finalists; no equity | Engineering innovators in sub-Saharan Africa | 2027 call closed 8 September 2026; shortlist due December 2026 |
Terms change. Confirm them on the official page before you apply.
Equity-free is not the same as free. Google invests no cash, and grant programmes pay small amounts. Compare what you give up with what you get; our guide to whether an accelerator is worth it has a calculator for the cost of equity.
Global programmes African founders use
| Programme | Money and terms | Format | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y Combinator | $500,000: $125,000 for 7% plus a $375,000 uncapped SAFE | Three months in San Francisco; no Africa-specific batch | Winter 2027 applications due 2 November 2026 |
| Founder Institute | No cash; founders pledge 2.5% of future equity to its Equity Collective, which activates only at a qualified financing | Part-time, idea to pre-seed, with chapters in Lagos, Abuja, Uganda, Morocco and elsewhere | 2026 programmes ran in Lagos, Uganda and Morocco; Abuja is scheduled for 2027 |
Techstars no longer runs an African programme; see Closed or changed. Our guide on how to get into a startup accelerator lists more application windows.
East Africa
Kenya has the region’s largest set of programmes, including Antler, Katapult Africa, Catalyst Fund, Delta40, GrowthAfrica, Villgro Africa and KCIC. We cover each one in our guide to accelerators and incubators in Kenya.
Rwanda
Kigali is a base for impact and climate startups, with strong hubs rather than many investing accelerators.
| Programme | What you get | Best for | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norrsken House Kigali | Workspace and community for more than 1,300 members | Founders who want a base and a network in Kigali | Events through 2026, including Fixathon 2026 |
| Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali | Multi-month acceleration programme for around 20 startups, plus workspace | Early-stage Rwandan founders | Recruiting a new country director in 2026; the foundation is expanding to Ghana this year |
Uganda and Tanzania
| Programme | What you get | Best for | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founder Institute Uganda | Part-time idea to pre-seed programme; 2.5% equity pledge | Idea-stage founders, including those still employed | Spring 2026 intake |
| The Innovation Village (Uganda) | Hubs across Uganda, business support and milestone-based catalytic funding | Ugandan founders working on local problems | NextWave programme with the Mastercard Foundation runs to 2026 |
| Outbox (Uganda) | Acceleration, access to markets and investor introductions | Early teams in fintech, health and agriculture | Co-invested in Everlend Agritech in May 2026 |
| Sahara Accelerator (Tanzania) | Equity-free acceleration for MVP and post-revenue startups | Tanzanian startups with a product in market | Ran a 2026 Tanzania–Germany founder initiative and Sahara Sparks in October 2026 |
Madica invested in Tanzania’s Kilimo Fresh in April 2026, and Google’s 2026 Africa class included startups from Tanzania and Uganda.
West Africa
Nigeria
Nigeria produces more accelerator participants than any other country. Four of the 15 startups in Google’s 2026 Africa class were Nigerian: Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta and Termii (Nairametrics). Accelerate Africa, Antler and Delta40 above also run programmes in Nigeria.
| Programme | What you get | Best for | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| CcHUB EdTech Fellowship | Fellowship with the Mastercard Foundation: funding, mentoring and pilots | Edtech startups serving underserved learners | Cohort 4 selected 12 startups in July 2026 |
| Founder Institute Lagos | Part-time idea to pre-seed programme; 2.5% equity pledge | First-time founders | 2026 intake took applications early in the year |
| NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator | Government-backed accelerator | Young Nigerian innovators in maritime and the blue economy | Applications open 5 October to 13 November 2026 |
Ghana
| Programme | What you get | Best for | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEST AI Startup Program | Full-time training in Accra, then incubation; top teams can pitch for up to $100,000 pre-seed | Software developers aged 21 to 35 who want to build an AI startup | Class of 2027 starts January 2027 |
| Orange Corners Ghana | Five-month online accelerator, run by GrowthAfrica, with access to grant and low-interest funding of up to €50,000 | Young Ghanaian founders in creative and technology businesses | Cohort 14 started 1 October 2026 |
MEST does not publish the equity terms of its investment. Ask before you commit.
Francophone West Africa: we found no national accelerator in Senegal or Côte d’Ivoire with documented 2026 activity. Founders there have done well in pan-African programmes; Google’s 2026 Africa class included a startup from Senegal.
Southern Africa
| Programme | What you get | Best for | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google for Startups Accelerator: South Africa | Up to R1 million in equity-free funding, mentoring and cloud credits | South African startups with a product in market | 15 startups chosen from 1,057 applications in October 2026; Demo Day in December |
Several South African programmes on older lists had no cohort or call we could confirm for 2026, so we left them out. Founders in Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe can use Village Capital’s Women in Tech Accelerator and the pan-African programmes above. Revise has ambassadors in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Kigali.
North Africa
Egypt
| Programme | What you get | Best for | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUC Venture Lab | Zero-equity accelerator at the American University in Cairo, plus a fintech track with CIB | Egyptian startups that want support without giving up equity | Cycle 26 ran February to June 2026; Women Innovation Fellowship runs September to October 2026 |
| Flat6Labs Cairo | Seed programme with cash funding of up to EGP 1.5 million and follow-on for selected startups | Pre-seed and seed startups in Egypt | Ran the Egypt PropTech Challenge with Cityscape Egypt in 2026 |
| Falak Startups | Investment and acceleration backed by Egypt Ventures | Egypt-based tech startups only | Reported a 25.5x exit from Delta Oil in April 2026 |
Flat6Labs’ earlier Cairo cycles took about 10% equity for their seed cheque; confirm the stake for your cycle.
Morocco
| Programme | What you get | Best for | 2026 update |
|---|---|---|---|
| StartGate (UM6P) | University-backed startup campus with acceleration programmes | Fintech and agri-food founders in Morocco | FinTech Booster acceleration programme listed for 2026 |
| Founder Institute Morocco | Part-time idea to pre-seed programme; 2.5% equity pledge | First-time founders | 2026 intake |
Madica invested in startups from Algeria and Egypt in September 2026. We found no Tunisian accelerator with a confirmed 2026 cohort.
Closed or changed
Older lists still recommend these. Do not plan around them.
| Programme | What happened | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Techstars Lagos (ARM Labs) | Closed in late 2024 after two cohorts; no third programme | Techstars has no African programme. Its global accelerators remain open, but competition is worldwide |
| Founders Factory Africa (54 Collective) | Its venture studio shut in 2025 after the Mastercard Foundation partnership ended, and its operating company went into liquidation | Ignore listings that show rolling applications. The firm said its separate venture fund would keep investing |
| 88mph | Stopped investing in new startups in 2015 | Not an application route |
The wider trend: a July 2026 review found accelerators across Africa shrinking as donor funding falls (Launch Base Africa).
Home country or pan-African?
| Home-country programme | Pan-African programme | |
|---|---|---|
| Competition | Fewer applicants, often from your own network | Thousands of applicants: Google’s 2026 class had nearly 2,600 for 15 places |
| Market knowledge | Local customers, regulators and payment rails | Patterns from many markets, useful when you expand |
| Investor network | Local angels and funds | Regional and international investors |
| Logistics | Usually no relocation | Sometimes weeks in another city, or online across time zones |
| Best when | You sell in one market and need local doors opened | You plan to raise regionally or expand across borders |
Many strong founders do both: a national programme first for customers, then a pan-African one when they are ready to raise across borders.
How to choose
- Confirm it is running. Look for a cohort, call or investment in the last twelve months on the official site, and find recent alumni on LinkedIn.
- Match your stage. Idea-stage founders fit Founder Institute, MEST or Antler; companies with revenue fit Google, Visa, Madica or Katapult.
- Compare the terms. Equity, fees, relocation and time. Use the cost-of-equity calculator in Is an accelerator worth it?
- Talk to two or three alumni. Ask what changed in their numbers, not how they felt about the programme.
- Apply to more than one. Our guide on how to get into a startup accelerator covers timing, applications and the selection criteria.
Where the Revise Accelerator fits
Revise is an AI-native, equity-free accelerator that works with founders across Africa, remotely, so you do not need to live in a hub country to join.
Equity
Not now, not later.
Months with a named operator
Two on go to market, two on funding, with Revise OS for twelve months.
USD programme fee
Paid only if you are accepted, upfront or as four monthly payments of 300 USD. Applying is free.
USD co-investment eligibility
From Revise Angels, alongside your lead investor and subject to our investment committee.
Building anywhere in Africa?
Applying is free and takes about five minutes. A person reads every application and replies within a week.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best startup accelerators in Africa?
For most founders the strongest options are pan-African programmes with documented 2026 activity: Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa, Accelerate Africa, Madica, Catalyst Fund, Katapult Africa and the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator. The best choice depends on your stage, sector and whether you want investment, so compare the terms and talk to alumni before you apply.
Which accelerators in Africa are equity-free?
Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa and its South Africa programme take no equity, nor do AUC Venture Lab in Egypt, Sahara Accelerator in Tanzania or the Revise Accelerator. Accelerate Africa takes no equity on entry. The Tony Elumelu Foundation programme and the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation give grants or prize money without taking equity.
Which African accelerators invest the most money?
Katapult Africa invests $150,000 to $500,000, Future Africa may invest $250,000 to $500,000 in Accelerate Africa startups, Delta40 $100,000 to $500,000, Antler up to $250,000 including a follow-on, and Madica and Catalyst Fund around $200,000 at pre-seed. Google for Startups Accelerator: South Africa offers up to R1 million in equity-free funding.
Can I join an accelerator in another African country?
Yes. Pan-African programmes such as Google’s, Accelerate Africa, Madica, Catalyst Fund and Katapult accept founders from across the continent, and some, like Antler in Nairobi, ask you to relocate for the programme. National programmes such as Falak Startups in Egypt only accept locally based companies.
Are there accelerators for idea-stage founders in Africa?
Yes. Founder Institute runs part-time idea-stage programmes in Lagos, Uganda and Morocco, MEST in Accra trains software developers to start AI companies, and hubs such as Outbox, The Innovation Village and Norrsken House Kigali support early founders. Most investing accelerators want at least a product and early users.
Is Techstars still running an accelerator in Africa?
No. Techstars closed its only African programme, Techstars Lagos, in late 2024 after two cohorts. African founders can still apply to Techstars’ global accelerators.
How do I know if an African accelerator is still active?
Look for a cohort, open call or investment in the last twelve months on the official site or in the press, and find recent alumni on LinkedIn. Be careful with directory sites, which often show programmes as open long after they have closed.
Sources
All pages accessed in October 2026. Programme terms change often; the official page is always the final word.
- Google: Meet the 15 startups joining Accelerator Africa Class 10
- Nairametrics: Google selects four Nigerian startups for cohort 10
- Disrupt Africa: Google for Startups Accelerator: South Africa 2026
- Global South Opportunities: Accelerate Africa 2026
- TechAfrica News: Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator cohort 6
- Disrupt Africa: Madica adds five startups
- Launch Base Africa: Catalyst Fund second close
- TechMoran: Katapult Africa 2026 applications
- Antler: Nigeria residency
- Antler: Kenya
- Village Capital: Women in Tech Accelerator 2026
- TechCabal: Village Capital is investing $4 million in Africa
- Disrupt Africa: Delta40 raises $20 million
- Tony Elumelu Foundation: 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme
- Engineering News: Africa Prize 2027 call
- Y Combinator: the $500,000 standard deal
- Founder Institute: FAQ and Equity Collective
- Westerwelle Foundation: Entrepreneurship Program Kigali
- Mastercard Foundation: The Innovation Village NextWave
- Sahara Ventures
- CcHUB: EdTech Fellowship cohort 4
- P.M. News: NIMASA Blue Economy accelerator
- MEST: AI Startup Program
- Orange Corners Ghana: cohort 14
- Inc. Arabia: AUC Venture Lab Cycle 26
- Flat6Labs: press and insights
- Entarabi: Falak Startups exit from Delta Oil
- StartGate: programmes
- Techpoint Africa: Techstars shuts down Lagos accelerator
- Disrupt Africa: 54 Collective shuts down venture studio
- Launch Base Africa: Is this the end of the accelerator era in African tech?
