These grants for small businesses and startups in Nigeria are open now: cash grants, prize money and free incubators that accept Nigerian founders. Each one links to our full guide, written from the organiser’s own announcement, covering how much it offers, who qualifies and how to apply. We update this page every month and take closed calls off it.
Running a startup or small business? Tell the OpportunityLab Portal your stage and sector and we’ll match you to funding you qualify for.
Grants and prize money
- MIT Solve 2027 Global Health Challenge: At least US$25,000 per team for health tech solutions. Deadline: 6 November 2026 (closing soon).
- MIT Solve 2027 Global Learning Challenge: About US$40,000 per team on average for tech solutions closing education gaps. Deadline: 6 November 2026 (closing soon).
- Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/27: US$10,000 awards for green businesses, plus a US$100,000 funding pool. Deadline: 22 November 2026. Read our step-by-step YECO application guide.
- Allianz x Social Shifters MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge 2026: Grants of US$5,000 and US$10,000 for young founders. Deadline: 18 December 2026. See our MoveNow application guide and tips.
- Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership 2026/2027: Up to US$5,000 for young changemakers in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. Deadline: 31 January 2027.
- Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) Grants 2026: Up to €4 million for anti-poverty innovations; open all year. No fixed deadline listed; check the guide.
- RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation 2026: Scaling grants of up to US$200,000 for African climate AI innovators. No fixed deadline listed; check the guide.
- TBH MSME PITCH-A-TON 1.0 with Sterling Bank: Up to ₦10 million for Nigerian MSMEs (20% grant, 80% loan). No fixed deadline listed; check the guide.
Free incubation and accelerators
- UNDP Young Africa Innovates Programme 2026–2027: Free incubation for young innovators in seven Nigerian states. Deadline: 18 November 2026.
- Orange Corners Nigeria Incubation Programme 2026: Incubation with access to funding of up to €30,000. Deadline: 30 November 2026.
- INSEAD AI Founder Sprint 2027: Free 10-week virtual programme, no fees and no equity. Deadline: 1 December 2026.
- Sharjah Advanced Industrial AI Accelerator 2027: US$100,000 prize pool for industrial AI startups. Deadline: 24 May 2027.
Programmes to watch for the next call
These major programmes for Nigerian founders aren’t taking applications right now. Our guides explain how they work, so you’re ready when the next call opens.
- iDICE Startup Bridge: the Federal Government programme, with the Bank of Industry, that offers idea-stage founders milestone grants of up to ₦10 million through its Founders Lab.
- iHatch: NITDA’s free startup incubation programme, run through a hub in every state.
- Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme: seed funding, training and mentoring for African entrepreneurs.
More funding lists
- 20 funding opportunities for startup founders open now (November 2026)
- All grants on OpportunityLab
- AI fellowships and grants 2026 open to Africans
- Free AI and tech training in Nigeria
- Internships and graduate trainee programmes in Nigeria
Who can apply, and what to check first
- Grant, prize or loan? Some programmes mix grants with loans or take equity. Each guide says which.
- Nigerian founders and small businesses. Every programme here accepts founders based in Nigeria. Each guide lists the full eligibility rules.
- Check your stage. Many programmes are for idea-stage founders only, others for businesses already making revenue.
- Never pay to apply. Genuine funders don’t charge application fees. Apply only through the official page linked in each guide.
Last updated 2 November 2026.