Women-Led African Startups Invited to Compete for $10,000 in AI Accelerator Program

The AI Ventures Accelerator, a global recognized initiative by Technovation and Generation Unlimited, has officially announced the opening of applications for its 2026 cohort, targeting women-led African startups. The program is put together to empower young women founders with tech skills, mentorship, and funding needed to launch scale AI-powered businesses. 

This program is a scheduled 12-week initiative which is free for participants to acquire structured support, such as company development seminars, practical technical training, and mentorship, to help them create companies that are ready for investors. 

This accelerator program seeks to close the gender gap in technology entrepreneurship, giving young women opportunities they need to create sustainable AI enterprises. The program, which is free to enroll in, aims to turn ideas into companies that are ready for investors in three months.

Participants will compete for a share of US$100,000 in seed funding, with the top 10 teams each receiving US$10,000 in equity-free initial capital. An important benefit for early-stage startups is that this funding does not force founders to give up any ownership in their businesses. Also, the set up of the program is for women aged 19–24, either solo founders or teams of 2–4, residing in UNICEF program countries across Africa, are encouraged to apply.

A number of entrepreneurs will join the program in early March while the program runs till June 2026. The initiative's organizers stress that it is not just about finance but also about giving young African women a solid foundation in digital literacy, creativity, and leadership.

Applications for the AI Ventures Accelerator will remain open through Sunday, 22 February 2026, and interested founders can submit their teams through the official portal before the deadline.