Deadline:17Th May 2026
As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering innovation, the African German Entrepreneurship Academy (AGEA) invites applications for its AGEA Start-up Lab 2026. The AGEA Start-up Lab 2026 is designed for early-stage founders developing science-based or technology-driven start-ups, especially those who have launched within the past two years or are preparing to do so. This program focuses on bridging the gap between academic research and market-ready solutions, ensuring that promising research discoveries have a meaningful impact on the market and society.
Participants will gain access to:
- Intensive training in investment readiness
- Personalised coaching from experienced mentors and industry experts
- Opportunities for funding support
- Exposure to international innovation and investor networks
Eligibility
To ensure a high standard of scientific rigour and entrepreneurial potential, participation in the 2026 AGEA Business Start-up Competition is open to individuals in teams meeting the following criteria:
- Academic and Professional Profile:
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- Academics (including lecturers, professors, and researchers)
- Students currently enrolled in Masters and PhD programmes
- Entrepreneurs, recent Masters or PhD graduates (1 – 2 years)
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- Institutional Affiliation: Applicants must be affiliated with universities located in Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tunisia, and Ethiopia.
- Team Composition: Participation should be in teams comprising students, scientists, and/or graduates. Each member of the team must be eligible.
- Faculty Mentor: To ensure academic backing and strong institutional ties, student-led teams or recent graduate founders should have a faculty mentor from their affiliated institution. The Faculty Mentor serves as an advisor, validating the scientific foundation of the start-up project and, where relevant, facilitating access to university resources (e.g., laboratories).
- Project Maturity Requirement: Given the 2026 focus on developed technology start-ups, a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or Minimum Marketable Product (MMP) must be available at the time of application. The product must be sufficiently developed to clearly demonstrate its functionality and potential. Start-ups with established market traction with their product or service are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Gender Inclusion: The participation of women is highly encouraged and actively sought, whether applying as founders or as key members of the start-up team.
AGEA welcomes applications from scientists, lecturers, researchers, and students affiliated with universities in Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tunisia.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to provide detailed, relevant information about their innovative start-up through the official application portal. The information submitted should be concise and persuasive, specifically highlighting the uniqueness of the product or service, the efficacy of the solution it offers, and its investment-worthiness.
Applications must address the following key areas and submit the required deliverables:
- The Problem: What is the specific, main challenge that the start-up addresses? Provide context on why the issue is a significant problem requiring a novel solution.
- Scientific Research: Describe in detail the underpinning scientific research conducted that has directly resulted in the start-up. Provide publications (e.g., peer-reviewed paper, thesis, dissertation) detailing the research results.
- The Solution (Product/Service): Clearly describe the product and/or service and explain how it solves the identified problem. You must present evidence of your MVPs or MMPs. Submissions should include high-quality photos or video demonstrations of the product or service in action. Please provide a link to the materials.
- Innovativeness: What is fundamentally “new” about the technology you have developed? What specific features or intellectual property make your solution unique and defensible against current competitors or alternative solutions?
- Customers and Business Model: Who are the key customers of the product or service? How do you plan to reach your target customers? What is the business model and your practical strategy for generating revenue from the targeted customers?
- Industry and Competitor Analysis: To demonstrate your readiness as a start-up, provide an analysis of market dynamics, barriers to entry, and comparable businesses. Prove why your technological solution is uniquely positioned and not easily replicable.
- Current Needs and Future Potential: What are the key needs of the business start-up to progress to the next stages? Provide your vision for the growth trajectory of the business over the next 1-3 years. What are the critical, actionable next steps planned to advance this start-up?
- Pitch Deck and Video Pitch Deliverables: Applicants must submit a pitch deck and a video pitch for the start-up. The pre-recorded video pitch should not be more than 5 minutes long. The video must clearly articulate the problem, the scientific solution, and the business potential.
For more information and application.
