AI Ventures Accelerator Offers $10,000 for Women-Led African Startups

In a significant move to bridge the gender gap in the global technology sector, the AI Ventures Accelerator has launched a call for applications, offering $10,000 in equity-free seed funding to women-led African startups.

This initiative, a collaborative effort between Technovation and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, is designed to empower young female innovators and fast-track their journey from initial concepts to investor-ready ventures.

The 12-week intensive program is tailored for young women aged 19 to 24 who reside in UNICEF program countries, including Nigeria. Participants will undergo a rigorous curriculum that blends technical training with essential business development skills.

This includes mastering generative AI tools, training machine learning models, and curating datasets to build web or mobile applications that solve real-world community problems. Beyond the technical scope, the accelerator emphasizes human-centered design and strategic business modeling.

Mentorship is a cornerstone of the AI Ventures Accelerator. Selected teams ideally consisting of two to four members, though solo founders are also eligible, will receive one-on-one guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts.

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These mentors provide invaluable insights into raising venture capital, refining go-to-market strategies, and perfecting the art of storytelling for investor pitches. The goal is to equip these young leaders with the leadership and communication skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the startup ecosystem.

The financial incentive is a major highlight of the program. At the conclusion of the 12-week period, the top ten teams will be awarded a total of $100,000 in equity-free funding, with each winning team receiving $10,000.

This capital is specifically intended to help founders move beyond the prototype phase, allowing them to hire developers, acquire customers, and scale their products for the market. Additionally, the top 25 teams will receive continued post-program incubation support to help them secure further venture capital.

With women currently holding only 22% of AI roles globally, this accelerator serves as a critical intervention. By providing free access to world-class training and funding, it aims to foster a more inclusive technology future and turn the “global skills crisis” into an opportunity for African women to lead.

Interested applicants must submit their applications by February 22, 2026, to be considered for this transformative opportunity. This initiative represents a vital step toward ensuring that African women are not just consumers of AI technology, but the architects and owners of the next generation of digital solutions.