Young women leading African startups are encouraged to apply for the AI Ventures Accelerator. This program offers selected teams $10,000 in equity-free seed funding, along with mentorship and skill-building opportunities.
About the Initiative
The accelerator organized by Technovation and Generation Unlimited. It aims to empower young female innovators by supporting technology-driven solutions and enhancing entrepreneurship and AI skills in developing economies.
Programme Highlights
The AI Ventures Accelerator is a 12-week intensive program design to equip participants with essential technical and business skills to launch and grow AI ventures.
Key features include:
- Learning foundational AI concepts, entrepreneurship, and human-centered design.
- Developing and prototyping real-world technology solutions.
- Training in generative AI tools, machine learning models, dataset curation, and building web or mobile applications.
- Expert mentorship to refine business strategies, strengthen leadership and communication skills, and prepare investor-ready pitches.
At the end of the program, the top 10 teams will share $100,000 in equity-free seed funding and showcase their ventures at a live Demo Day event. This funding intended to help teams hire developers, acquire customers, build products, and scale their startups beyond the prototype stage.
Eligibility Criteria
The program is open to young women aged 19 to 24. Teams of two to four preferred, but solo founders can also apply.
Applicants should:
- Have a genuine interest in technology and AI.
- Committed to solving a real problem in their community.
- Dedicate 10 to 15 hours per week during the 12-week program.
- Reside in a UNICEF program country.
To secure a spot, applicants must clearly explain the problem they aim to solve, who it affects, and why a solution is needed. They should demonstrate their ability to engage with affected individuals, test their ideas, and show a strong commitment to addressing the issue.
Understanding Accelerator Programs
Accelerators are short, intensive programs designed to fast-track startup growth. They help founders turn early ideas or young businesses into scalable ventures that attract customers, investors, and market traction.
During the program, participants receive hands-on guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. They learn practical skills such as pitching to investors, understanding customer needs, building scalable systems, and effective marketing strategies.
Other AI-Focused Initiatives
Google recently opened applications for the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa. This 12-week hybrid program targets Series A startups using AI and machine learning to develop Africa-focused solutions. Applications are open until March 18, 2026.
Selected startups will gain access to Google’s AI expertise, technical resources, mentorship, and global networking opportunities to strengthen their products and scale responsibly.
Last year, six Nigerian startups among 15 AI-driven ventures selected for the 9th cohort of the program, highlighting the growing support for AI innovation across Africa.
