A concentrated set of Africa-relevant programs is closing across agritech, youth-led climate ventures, DeepTech, energy, aviation, and European market entry. Deadlines range from 12 to 19 September 2025.
FCMB–FMO AgriTech Investment Readiness Program 2025
Six-week hybrid bootcamp for Nigeria’s agritech startups and SMEs. Applications close 12 September 2025, with Zimara fundability scoring from 12 to 26 September. The program runs 1 to 31 October and ends with a Demo Day on 7 November. Benefits cited include tailored advisory, investor networks, and grants, with ₦20 million noted for top performers and $13,000 for the most investment-ready businesses. Organizers are First City Monument Bank, FMO, and Heave Ventures, and applicants operate along Nigeria’s agriculture value chain with traction or consistent revenue. Applications opened 8 August. Sessions combine in-person and virtual delivery.
START Fellowship Accelerator
Applications close 14 September 2025. START Global hosts a three-month accelerator in Switzerland for founders aged 18 to 25 from Africa and Latin America who have an MVP or prototype and C1 English. Fellows receive bi-weekly mentoring, workshops, co-working access, and an investment committee with the chance to secure up to €60,000 in equity-free funding. Scholarships can cover housing, insurance, and food. The timeline lists applications from 4 August to 14 September, interviews through October, final selection on 26 October, a pre-accelerator from 5 January 2026, and the accelerator start on 8 February 2026, with Demo Day in mid-May 2026.
OST Greenification Program
Deadline is 14 September 2025. Open Startup International offers a nine-month hybrid program in Tunisia to help startups, SMEs, and associations launch or scale measurable green impact. Financing is non-cash and covers specific services or tools. Green tracks provide up to 20,000 TND for Pilot and up to 60,000 TND for Amplify; non-green tracks offer up to 12,000 TND for Launch and up to 30,000 TND for Transform. A 5 percent co-financing share applies. Selection occurs in October, learning runs October to November, financing decisions in December to January, and funding January to May 2026, with all funded projects to be completed by end-May 2026.
Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO)
Closes 14 September 2025. The International Trade Centre’s global initiative targets youth-led green ventures with a 10-week online bootcamp covering investment readiness, IP, legal, marketing, and stress management. The accelerator phase offers tailored coaching, pro-bono legal support from Sidley Austin, preferential access to Google Startup for Sustainable Development, and equity-free seed funding for land restoration businesses. The Youth Ecopreneur Awards provide $10,000 per category plus an all-expenses-paid trip for finalists with pitch training and visibility. Eligibility includes being under 35, majority youth-led, and legally registered, with global bootcamp access and developing-country focus for accelerator and awards.
The 13th Chaoyang International Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (ITEC 2025)
Industry Track deadline is 15 September 2025. Hosted by Future Land Center in Beijing, the competition lists up to $7 million in funding plus office space and investor access. Prize tiers include approximately $670,000 for the Grand Prize, $270,000 for First Prize, $200,000 for Second Prize, $135,000 for Third Prize, and $30,000 Talent Awards. Eligibility includes companies founded after 1 January 2015, pre-Series A for Talent Track, founders and core team holding at least 30 percent equity, valid IP, and winners agreeing to establish a compliant entity in Chaoyang within one year. Preliminary evaluation advances up to 30 projects, with semifinals in early October and global finals thereafter.
BRAIN Accelerator 5.0
Applications close 15 September 2025. Open Startup International’s one-year hybrid accelerator supports seed-stage African DeepTech startups, with emphasis on climate and health. Benefits include an immersive regional bootcamp with in-person training in South Africa, collaboration with MIT executive MBA students, tailored business and technical mentorship, and investor readiness with international immersion options in the US, France, and African markets. Eligibility cites African incorporation, a strong research-rooted DeepTech innovation at or near MVP, a pathway toward IP, evidence of early traction or pilot deals, and initial grants or early funding, with international scale ambitions.
The 10th Africa Energy Innovation Challenge
Deadline is 15 September 2025 under the theme Transforming Energy Transition, Youth Employment and Local Manufacturing. Run by The Nigeria Energy Forum, the Pan-African competition targets teams of young Africans aged 18 to 35, with at least three members and gender balance requirements. Proposals use a one-page A4 template and address one of four tracks covering jobs, agribusiness and social development, greening local manufacturing, or CNG and electrified mobility. Grants are up to $10,000, with pitching at NEF25 and complimentary passes for 20 shortlisted entries, plus business development support. Key dates include shortlist on 15 October and final submissions by 30 October.
Sustainable Aero Lab Accelerator Program
Listing shows a 17 September 2025 deadline. The program is free for startups and connects founders with mentors and investors to advance zero-emission aviation. Admissions operate on rolling basis, with weekly drop-in sessions on Thursdays at 17:00 CET and in-person Lab Sessions, including one on 18 September in Hamburg. Focus areas include Sustainable Aviation Fuels, hydrogen, electrification, novel aircraft designs and materials, efficient air traffic management, and efficient propulsion. Startups progress through iterative one-to-one mentoring cycles and are guided to define SMART objectives, complete venture documentation, and engage with partners and customers.
Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator
Final deadline is 19 September 2025, with a priority deadline on 29 August. Organized by 500 Global and part of UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, this 8-week accelerator in Kenya serves seed-stage startups building tech-enabled solutions in sustainability sectors such as agriculture, energy, mobility, and the built environment. The program runs 27 October to 19 December 2025 at GreenTech Hub in Nairobi, with four weeks in person and four weeks hybrid. It is tuition-free, equity-free, and non-investment, though 500 Global may consider selected startups for potential capital at its discretion. Benefits include sector-specific mentorship, networking, a Global South founder community, and a showcase event.
Sisu Launchpad 2025
The program helps international startups soft-land in Finland and the EU through three online sessions in October 2025 and an onsite week in Helsinki from 17 to 21 November during Slush 2025, including a free Slush ticket. Benefits include tailored mentorship, investor access, market entry training, and ecosystem immersion. The cohort is limited to 20 startups from outside the EU with at least two founders. Participation in program activities is free, while travel costs are borne by participants.
This week’s slate spans investment readiness for Nigeria’s agritech, youth climate action, DeepTech capacity, energy innovation, sustainable aviation, and EU expansion. If a program aligns with your stage and geography, submit before the listed deadlines.