The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has launched Pitch n Grow 2026, its flagship entrepreneurship competition aimed at identifying and supporting high-potential women-led businesses across Africa. The initiative is expected to provide women entrepreneurs with access to mentorship, training, investors and international exposure, helping them grow their businesses and create solutions to some of the continent’s biggest challenges.
Selected finalists will pitch their businesses live at the AWIEF 2026 Conference in Cape Town on 10 and 11 November 2026.
Creating Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs
Pitch n Grow has become one of Africa’s leading platforms for women entrepreneurs, offering founders practical support to accelerate business growth. Through expert-led training bootcamps, mentorship from industry leaders, access to ecosystem partners and media visibility, the programme aims to equip women with the tools needed to scale their ventures.
Finalists will also receive travel and accommodation support, cash prizes and an opportunity to present their businesses to investors and a global audience.
The programme is open to women entrepreneurs from all African countries and targets ventures operating in sectors that are shaping the future of the continent, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, AgriTech, HealthTech, Clean Energy, Water Technology, Biotech, FinTech, Cybersecurity, EdTech, Smart Cities, Circular Economy and other frontier technologies.
According to AWIEF, the programme is designed to identify, develop and amplify the most promising women-led ventures across Africa while empowering founders through mentorship, training, visibility, investor exposure and access to opportunities.
Building Digital Solutions Rooted in Africa
This year’s theme, Deep Roots. Digital Futures., places a strong focus on deep technology and encourages entrepreneurs to create solutions based on African realities and experiences.
AWIEF says the theme challenges women-led ventures to harness deep technology not as an import, but as a tool grown from African soil and develop innovations that are locally rooted, globally relevant and built for lasting impact.
The organisation believes Africa’s greatest advantage lies in its deep understanding of local communities and challenges. The message behind the theme is clear: The future is digital. The foundation is Africa.
The competition is divided into three categories: Pre-Venture for early ideas and prototypes, Early-Stage for registered startups with active customers and revenue and Growth-Stage for businesses that are scaling and expanding into new markets.
Applications opened on 22 June 2026 and will close on 20 July 2026. Orientation webinars will take place in early July, followed by bootcamps in August. Finalists will be announced on 20 September before competing in the live finals in Cape Town in November.
