The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)
(https://www.AWIEForum.org/) announces the launch of Pitch n Grow, a flagship
annual women entrepreneurship pitch competition programme for identifying,
developing, and amplifying the most promising women-led ventures across all
African nations. Selected finalists will pitch live at the AWIEF 2026 Conference in
Cape Town, on 10 and 11 November 2026.
Each year, the competition adopts a new strategic theme aligned with AWIEF’s
continental priorities. The 2026 theme is “Deep Roots, Digital Futures”.
Africa’s greatest competitive advantage is its depth: deep knowledge of local
contexts, deep understanding of communities, and deep experience of challenges
the rest of the world is yet to face. This theme challenges women-led ventures to
apply deep technology not as an import, but as a tool grown from African soil.
Applications are accepted from women founders and co-founders across Africa
who are building ventures in the following priority innovation sectors to solve
African development challenges:
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, AgriTech, HealthTech, Clean
Energy,Water Technology,Biotech, FinTech,Cybersecurity, EdTech, Smart
Cities,Circular Economy, and Frontier Technologies.
Participants can apply to one of three tracks based on their stage of business:
Pre-Venture – Concept-stage ventures with a prototype or proof of concept.
Early-Stage – Registered startups with active customers and revenue generation.
Growth-Stage – Scaling ventures with proven traction and regional expansion.
Selected participants will gain access to: Expert-led training bootcamps,
Mentorship from industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs, Exposure to
investors, ecosystem partners, and media, An opportunity to pitch live at the
AWIEF 2026 Conference in Cape Town
Applications will open on the 22 June 2026 and Orientation Webinars starts from
1 – 7 July 2026. The deadline for submission of application is on the 20 July 2026,
Bootcamp commences in August 2026 while the finalists will be announced on
20th September 2026. Live Finals will be at AWIEF 2026 Conference, Cape Town,
10 – 11 November 2026.
Interested applicants are advised to submit their applications before 20 July 2026
only through this official link: http://apo-opa.co/4g0iUog.
If you are building the future through innovation and technology, this is your
opportunity to showcase your venture on one of Africa’s leading platforms for
women entrepreneurs.