Applications for the African Impact Challenge (AIC) Cohort 6 are OPEN!

The Africa Health Collaborative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the University of Toronto’s African Impact Initiative, is searching for African entrepreneurs building scalable solutions in health.

The 6th Cohort of AIC will support successful founders with mentorship, funding, access to markets and a global network of Africa’s most impactful founders.

This program is open to any African founder at these stages of growth:

🌱 EXPLORER — You have a solid idea and are validating the problem.
🔨 BUILDER — You are refining your MVP (Revenue under $20K).
📈 MOMENTUM — You have real customers and are growing (Revenue $20K–$99K).
🌍 SCALE — You are an established venture ready to expand (Revenue $100K+).

Founders affiliated with AHC partner institutions are encouraged to apply.

📌 Deadline: January 31, 2026.

Apply today to take your health venture to the next level and join a Pan-African network of changemakers.

Describe the format of your programme.:

The Challenge intentionally invests in early innovators, equipping them to build market-shaping, globally competitive ventures through mentorship and access to critical resources.

Our expanded four-track model now sits under two streams: Health Entrepreneurship, supporting Pan-African healthtech ventures, and Country Innovation, enabling scalable solutions across all non-health sectors within our annually chosen focus African country. For 2026, our Country Innovation stream will centre on Nigeria.

The 2026 cohort will begin with a self-paced venture support bootcamp in February 2026, leading to selection of top performers who will have access to funding and our accelerator program. Finalists will receive a non-dilutive grant or Safe Agreement for Future Equity option.

Brief detail of instructors used:

Implemented with: Mastercard Foundation

Other partners and funders: Addis Ababa University, Amref International University (AMIU), The African Leadership University, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Moi University University of Cape Town and University of Toronto

Non Financial Support Provided: Accelerator|Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

Financial Support Provided: Grant|Equity