What do UNICEF, MIT Solve, the Mastercard Foundation and Orange Corners have in common right now? They’re all putting money and support behind startup founders, and most of it is equity-free: grants and prizes you don’t pay back and that don’t cost you a share of your company. We’ve rounded up 20 funding opportunities and accelerators for founders open now, from pitch prizes for idea-stage ventures to Y Combinator’s US$500,000 and investment of up to €2 million for growing startups.
Most are open to African founders, and several to founders anywhere. Some are for specific countries, such as Nigeria, Uganda or Tanzania, or for projects in a particular region, and we say so in each entry. Every opportunity links to our full guide, with eligibility, benefits and step-by-step tips.
Quick List: Deadlines at a Glance
| # | Opportunity | Where | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WomanKind Creative Grant 2027 | Worldwide | 1 Nov 2026 (today) |
| 2 | Y Combinator Winter 2027 | San Francisco (global) | 2 Nov 2026 |
| 3 | 100x Impact Accelerator 2027/28 (LSE) | Worldwide (70% emerging markets) | 2 Nov 2026 |
| 4 | UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026 | UNICEF programme countries | 4 Nov 2026 |
| 5 | MIT Solve 2027 Global Health Challenge | Worldwide | 6 Nov 2026 |
| 6 | MIT Solve 2027 Global Learning Challenge | Worldwide | 6 Nov 2026 |
| 7 | Anzisha Fellowship 2027 | Africa | 10 Nov 2026 |
| 8 | Adaptation & Resilience ClimAccelerator Tanzania 2026–2027 | Tanzania | 16 Nov 2026 |
| 9 | Nexa Lighthouse Funding Program 2027 | Projects in Asia and the Pacific | 17 Nov 2026 |
| 10 | UNDP Young Africa Innovates Cohort 2 | Seven Nigerian states | 18 Nov 2026 |
| 11 | Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/27 | Worldwide (developing countries prioritised) | 22 Nov 2026 |
| 12 | Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda, Cohort 2 | Uganda | 22 Nov 2026 |
| 13 | Orange Corners Nigeria Incubation Programme 2026 | Lagos and Ogun, Nigeria | 30 Nov 2026 |
| 14 | African Energy Entrepreneurship Awards 2026 | Sub-Saharan Africa | 11 Dec 2026 |
| 15 | Learnstar Startup Challenge 2027 | Africa (finals in Lagos) | 15 Dec 2026 |
| 16 | Allianz x Social Shifters MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge 2026 | Worldwide | 18 Dec 2026 |
| 17 | World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers 2027 | Worldwide | 31 Jan 2027 |
| 18 | Sharjah Advanced Industrial AI Accelerator 2027 | UAE (open worldwide) | 24 May 2027 |
| 19 | RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation 2026 | Africa | Rolling |
| 20 | Digital Africa Seed Fund 2026 | 20 priority African countries | Rolling |
1. WomanKind Creative Grant 2027
Deadline: 1 November 2026 (closes today)
One women’s health or femtech startup wins a complete US$15,000 rebrand: brand strategy, a new visual identity and pitch materials, donated by the studio Alfa Charlie. It’s in kind, not cash. Open to startups from any country.
Read our full WomanKind Creative Grant guide
2. Y Combinator Winter 2027
Deadline: 2 November 2026, 8 pm Pacific Time (5 am on 3 November in Nigeria)
One of the world’s best-known accelerators invests US$500,000 in every company it accepts (US$125,000 for 7% plus US$375,000 on an uncapped SAFE), with a three-month programme in San Francisco from January 2027. Founders from anywhere can apply. This is investment, not a grant.
Read our full Y Combinator Winter 2027 guide
3. 100x Impact Accelerator 2027/28 (LSE)
Deadline: 2 November 2026
The London School of Economics’ accelerator gives social impact ventures that already work £150,000 in catalytic funding, a 16-week programme and a long-term partnership to scale. Ventures can be based anywhere; 100x aims for 70% of its portfolio from emerging markets.
Read our full 100x Impact Accelerator guide
4. UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026
Deadline: 4 November 2026
Up to US$100,000 equity-free plus 12 months of technical mentorship for startups building technology for women and girls. Your startup must be registered in a UNICEF programme country, which includes most African countries.
Read our full UNICEF Femtech Ventures guide
5. MIT Solve 2027 Global Health Challenge
Deadline: 6 November 2026
Every selected team gets at least US$25,000 and a nine-month support programme for technology that makes healthcare more equitable. Open worldwide.
Read our full MIT Solve Global Health Challenge guide
6. MIT Solve 2027 Global Learning Challenge
Deadline: 6 November 2026, 12:00 pm EST
Tech solutions that close education gaps: selected teams receive an average of about US$40,000 each from a prize pool of more than US$1 million, plus nine months of support. Open in any country.
Read our full MIT Solve Global Learning Challenge guide
7. Anzisha Fellowship 2027
Deadline: 10 November 2026
A multi-year programme for young African founders already running job-creating businesses, with coaching, learning, financial support and a network of fellows from more than 30 African countries.
Read our full Anzisha Fellowship guide
8. Adaptation & Resilience ClimAccelerator Tanzania 2026–2027
Deadline: 16 November 2026
Climate-KIC’s accelerator for climate adaptation startups in Tanzania: mentorship, investor-readiness support and access to a €95,000 grant pool.
Read our full ClimAccelerator Tanzania guide
9. Nexa Lighthouse Funding Program 2027
Deadline: 17 November 2026
Grand Challenges Canada and AVPN invest US$250,000–2 million in proven climate and health innovations. Organisations can be registered anywhere, including in Africa, but the funded project must be implemented in Asia or the Pacific, so it suits African ventures expanding there.
Read our full Nexa Lighthouse guide
10. UNDP Young Africa Innovates Cohort 2
Deadline: 18 November 2026
Free bootcamps, incubation, mentorship and market access from UNDP and the Mastercard Foundation for innovators aged 18–35 in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Katsina, Niger, Plateau and Taraba.
Read our full Young Africa Innovates guide
11. Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/27
Deadline: 22 November 2026
ITC and UNCCD’s programme for founders under 35 with green or land-restoration businesses: compete for US$10,000 awards and a US$100,000 equity-free fund, with coaching and legal support.
Read our full YECO guide · Step-by-step YECO application guide
12. Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Uganda, Cohort 2
Deadline: 22–26 November 2026
Up to US$70,000 in equity-free, milestone-based grants plus 12 months of fellowship support for locally led, growth-stage EdTech ventures in Uganda.
Read our full Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship guide
13. Orange Corners Nigeria Incubation Programme 2026
Deadline: 30 November 2026
A six-month incubation programme backed by the Netherlands and run by FATE Foundation, with training, mentoring, business advisory and access to funding of up to €30,000 for young entrepreneurs.
Read our full Orange Corners Nigeria guide
14. African Energy Entrepreneurship Awards 2026
Deadline: 11 December 2026
Octopus Energy Generation shares US$100,000 in non-dilutive funding, mentorship and network access among clean energy startups in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Read our full African Energy Entrepreneurship Awards guide
15. Learnstar Startup Challenge 2027
Deadline: 15 December 2026
A ₦1.5 million grant, mentorship and investor introductions for an early-stage creative economy startup, decided at a live pitch in Lagos on 20 February 2027. Free to enter.
Read our full Learnstar Startup Challenge guide
16. Allianz x Social Shifters MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge 2026
Deadline: 18 December 2026
Founders aged 18–30 anywhere in the world can win grants of US$5,000 or US$10,000 and Allianz mentoring for social impact ventures.
Read our full Allianz MoveNow Challenge guide · How to win the Allianz MoveNow Challenge: tips
17. World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers 2027
Deadline: 31 January 2027
The WEF picks 100 early-stage tech companies worldwide for a two-year membership of its community, with events and global visibility. It’s not a cash award, but it opens doors to investors and partners.
Read our full WEF Technology Pioneers guide
18. Sharjah Advanced Industrial AI Accelerator 2027
Deadline: 24 May 2027
For startups and SMEs with working industrial AI products, such as predictive maintenance, computer vision or robotics, to validate and scale from Sharjah. Top companies share a US$100,000 prize pool. Open to African startups.
Read our full Sharjah Industrial AI Accelerator guide
19. RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation 2026
Deadline: Rolling (expression of interest)
African-led climate AI innovations at pilot stage or beyond can get coaching, partnerships and potential scaling grants of up to US$200,000.
Read our full RICH Hub Climate AI guide
20. Digital Africa Seed Fund 2026
Deadline: Rolling
Equity investment for African tech startups in emerging ecosystems: an average first ticket of €300,000 and up to €2 million per startup. Recent investments include startups in Tunisia, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda and Morocco.
Read our full Digital Africa Seed Fund guide
Eligibility: Which One Fits Your Startup?
- Idea or early stage: Y Combinator (which also backs strong teams at the idea stage), Orange Corners Nigeria, Young Africa Innovates, Learnstar and the Allianz MoveNow Challenge back founders who are just getting started.
- Prototype or first customers: MIT Solve, UNICEF Femtech Ventures, YECO, ClimAccelerator Tanzania and the African Energy Entrepreneurship Awards want solutions that already work, at least in a pilot.
- Revenue and growth: the 100x Impact Accelerator, Nexa Lighthouse (Asia-Pacific projects), Anzisha, the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, RICH Hub, the Sharjah accelerator, WEF Technology Pioneers and the Digital Africa Seed Fund look for traction.
- Age limits: Allianz MoveNow is for founders aged 18–30, YECO for under-35s and Young Africa Innovates for ages 18–35.
- Location: check whether your business must be registered or based in a specific country before you apply.
Benefits: Grants, Prizes or Investment?
- Equity-free grants and prizes (WomanKind’s in-kind rebrand, UNICEF, MIT Solve, Mastercard Foundation, YECO, Octopus Energy, Learnstar, Allianz, RICH Hub) don’t cost you any ownership.
- Equity investment (Y Combinator, Nexa Lighthouse and the Digital Africa Seed Fund) gives larger amounts in exchange for a share of your company.
- Accelerators and incubators (Orange Corners, Young Africa Innovates, ClimAccelerator, Sharjah) add mentoring, training and investor introductions, which can matter as much as the money.
How to Apply: Tips for Founders
- Start with the closest deadlines. WomanKind closes today, Y Combinator and 100x on 2 November, UNICEF on 4 November and both MIT Solve challenges on 6 November.
- Lead with the problem and your proof. Reviewers want to see the problem, who has it, and evidence your solution works: users, pilots, revenue or partners.
- Know your numbers. Have your traction, costs and how you’ll use the money ready in one clear paragraph.
- Record a short pitch video. Many applications ask for one; keep it under two minutes and show your product.
- Reuse, but tailor. Build one strong core application, then adapt it to each funder’s focus, such as climate, health, education or women and girls.
- Never pay to apply. Real grants and accelerators don’t charge application fees.
Want to see only the opportunities your startup qualifies for? Try the OpportunityLab Portal; tell it your business stage and it shows the funding that fits, free with no sign-up needed.
