AFRICA INNOVATION FELLOWSHIP 2025
At the heart of transforming the African continent is developing women entrepreneurs. Are you a passionate, African, female innovator with a ground-breaking idea in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing, or Mining (STEM)? Are you meeting a development need in your country? Are you ready to turn your vision into a thriving start-up that can change the world? If so, we invite you to apply for our Africa Innovation Fellowship Program.
Since 2019, Africa Innovation Fellowship (AIF), in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, has been developing women-owned STEM innovations across sub-Saharan Africa. AIF 2025 is an eight-month leadership and business development opportunity for African women innovators with an early-stage engineering innovation or start up looking to grow, scale and prepare to be investor ready. A number of AIF alumni have gone on to successfully apply for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
AIF kicks off in November 2025 with a virtual masterclass series focused on idea and business incubation, leadership development, funding, and pitch readiness, ending in July 2026. The program is designed to provide founders with a fully funded in-person entrepreneurship bootcamp, expert engineering council, venture clinic, mentorship and financial coaching needed to turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses.
Programme Highlights:
Still have questions? Please click here or email [email protected]
Since 2019, Africa Innovation Fellowship (AIF), in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, has been developing women-owned STEM innovations across sub-Saharan Africa. AIF 2025 is an eight-month leadership and business development opportunity for African women innovators with an early-stage engineering innovation or start up looking to grow, scale and prepare to be investor ready. A number of AIF alumni have gone on to successfully apply for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
AIF kicks off in November 2025 with a virtual masterclass series focused on idea and business incubation, leadership development, funding, and pitch readiness, ending in July 2026. The program is designed to provide founders with a fully funded in-person entrepreneurship bootcamp, expert engineering council, venture clinic, mentorship and financial coaching needed to turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses.
Programme Highlights:
- Mentorship: Access to a network of experienced mentors and industry experts.
- Workshops and Training: Comprehensive training in business development, including; market access, product strategy, external factors, commercial models.
- Co-working Space: Access to a dedicated workspace equipped with essential resources.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and potential collaborators.
- Pitch Opportunities: Present your startup to potential investors and partners.
- Exposure: Showcase your innovation to a global audience.
- Applicants must own a registered, innovative STEM-based business or startup in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The innovation should be in the early stages of commercialization and demonstrate potential for social and/or environmental impact.
- Individual applicants must be citizens of a sub-Saharan African country. For teams, the lead applicant must be a citizen of a sub-Saharan African country.
- Applicants must not be alumni (or co-founders of alumni) of the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
- Applicants must identify as women, be 18 years or older, and demonstrate a strong commitment to entrepreneurship.
- Availability to participate in the eight-month programme (November 2025 – June 2026), including travel.
- Applicants must hold a valid passport.
Still have questions? Please click here or email [email protected]
Meet Our Cohort
