The 2026 Qualcomm® Make in Africa Startup Mentorship Program is officially open for applications, marking the continuation of the first initiative of its kind on the continent. This equity-free program is designed to identify and support promising early-stage startups that are applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies to create innovative end-to-end systems solutions. Selected participants will receive comprehensive support, including business coaching, engineering consultation for product development, and specialized guidance on protecting intellectual property.
Eligibility Requirements
- Startups must be registered companies currently operating within Africa.
- Applicants should be in the early stages of development, specifically from pre-seed to seed levels, ideally possessing a minimum viable product (MVP).
- Solutions must leverage advanced technologies or hardware-enabled systems, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity, or embedded compute.
- Participation in the program is entirely equity-free, and no purchase or payment is required to enter.
Program Benefits and Support
- A cohort of up to 10 startups will be selected for the 2026 incubation cycle.
- Participants receive 1:1 mentorship from Qualcomm subject matter experts.
- Startups are encouraged to submit use-case proposals based on the Arduino Uno Q platform.
- Access to expert-led masterclasses in fields such as 5G, AI (including AI-Hub), IoT, Extended Reality (XR), Compute (AI-PC), and Intellectual Property Law.
- Additional technical and business training is available through the Qualcomm Academy.
- All startups that successfully complete the program requirements are eligible for a USD $5,000 stipend.
- One startup will be selected to receive a Social Impact Fund grant from Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™.
- Reimbursement of up to USD $5,000 is provided for one full utility patent application filed in the startup’s home country, at the USPTO, or via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
- Startups gain eligibility for patent filing consultation hours with Adams & Adams, a leading African IP law firm.
- Free access to online IP education and filing procedure guides for various African countries is provided via L2Pro Africa.
- Startups will participate in a virtual finale event in December 2026 to showcase their progress and connect with industry stakeholders.
Program Timeline
- Application Phase: December 17th, 2025, to February 15th, 2026.
- Shortlisting of Startups: March 2026.
- Mentorship Program Duration: April 2026 to November 2026.
- Program Finale and Demo Day: December 2026.
Qualified startups interested in advancing their technological solutions and securing intellectual property support are encouraged to review the full program details and submit their applications before the February deadline. This initiative serves as a significant platform for African innovators to scale their hardware and software systems while gaining access to global expertise and industry networks.