Lists / Africa
Startup grants and accelerators for African founders open now (Nov 2026)
On 15 Nov 2026, 5 programs for founders in Africa are open in this list: 1 grant and 4 accelerators; 2 of them have no closing date on the page read. The nearest two deadlines are 15 Nov 2026 (D-Prize Startup Grant) and 30 Nov 2026 (UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator 2027).
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Open now (5)
Soonest deadline first, programs with no written date last. The deadline is the program's own words; each page was read on 2 Nov 2026. Open the program's page before you apply: dates and terms change.
| Program | Type | Closes | What it gives | Who and where | Equity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-Prize Startup Grant | Grant | 15 Nov 202615 Nov 2026, midnight PT (regular submission; an extension round closes 6 Dec 2026, midnight PT) | Up to $20,000 to launch a new organization that distributes an existing, evidence-based poverty intervention. | New organizations only; the page encourages applicants from low- and middle-income countries and does not name Africa. | Not mentioned on the page | The program's page ↗ |
| UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator 2027 (Africa track) | Accelerator | 30 Nov 202630 Nov 2026 (applications opened 8 Sep 2026; the program starts in February 2027) | A human-rights and labour-rights program with an Action Plan; the page names no cost and no funding. | Companies that are or will become UN Global Compact participants, engaged with a Country Network; Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are the African networks listed. | Not mentioned on the page | The program's page ↗ |
| OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program, Cohort 8 | Accelerator | 6 Dec 20266 Dec 2026 (applications for the 2027 cohort) | A 9-month program with one-to-one coaching from Entrepreneurs in Residence and introductions to funders; up to 10 startups. | Revenue-generating Blue Economy startups in Africa with a net-positive impact on the ocean. | Not mentioned on the page | The program's page ↗ |
| Antler Residency, Nairobi | Accelerator | No date on the pageNo deadline on the page; it shows the cohort start as 12 Oct 2026, which has passed, so ask whether the next intake is open | $100,000 initial investment, plus $150,000 pre-committed to match your next VC-led round, and tech credits. | Founders from across Africa and beyond who relocate to Nairobi full time; no company or co-founder needed. | Yes: 10% for the $100,000, per the page | The program's page ↗ |
| Villgro Africa Incubation Program | Accelerator | No date on the pageRolling: the page says a fitting application gets a reply within one month | Incubation support; what it offers is not on the page read. | Teams with an MVP, validated demand, a revenue model, one full-time founder and a technical co-founder; the office is in Nairobi and the page names no country limit. | Not mentioned on the page | The program's page ↗ |
Questions founders ask
What startup grants and accelerators for African founders are open now (November 2026)?
On 15 Nov 2026, 5 programs for founders in Africa are open in this list: 1 grant and 4 accelerators; 2 of them have no closing date on the page read. The nearest two deadlines are 15 Nov 2026 (D-Prize Startup Grant) and 30 Nov 2026 (UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator 2027). 1 program states an equity price; the other 4 do not mention it, so check the terms before you apply. Each row below links to the program's own page and shows the date it was read (2 Nov 2026).
Which accelerators and grants for African founders close in November 2026?
2 programs in this list close in November 2026: D-Prize Startup Grant on 15 Nov 2026 and UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator 2027 on 30 Nov 2026.
Are there programs for African founders with no closing date?
2 programs in this list have no written closing date on the page read: Antler Residency, Nairobi; and Villgro Africa Incubation Program. A program with no date can close without notice, so apply early.
What this list does not tell you
It does not say whether you are eligible: most rows are limited to a country or a region, and the program's page is the rule. "Not mentioned" means the page read says nothing either way, not that the program takes none. It is not legal or tax advice, and it does not replace the program's own terms or an adviser who has read them.
Left out: Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program (its portal closes on 1 March each year), Startupbootcamp AfriTech (the page offers a waitlist, not an application), Agribusiness Growth Challenge 2026 (closed 30 Oct 2026), WISE EdTech Accelerator (closed 31 Oct 2026), Google for Startups Accelerator Africa and South Africa (both closed), Orange Corners Nigeria (its own page still shows the July 2024 cohort and no open call with a date; a 30 Nov 2026 date appears only in third-party listings), GEC+Africa Regional Pitch Competition (its Apply here button leads to a page that says applications are closed) and the Villgro Africa MedTech call (its Nov 16 date appears only in third-party listings, not on Villgro's own pages read).
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Funding in Nigeria · South Africa · All countries · Closing in November 2026 · Investor and program lists
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