Apply Now: FemSTEM Africa 2026 Pitch Competition

Applications are now open for the FemSTEM Africa 2026 Pitch Competition!

The FemSTEM Africa Pitch Competition is the final event of the FemSTEM Africa 2026 series, co-hosted by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) and Health Innovation Hub (H2i).

This competition brings together emerging healthcare innovators to present their solutions to a panel of industry experts and key opinion leaders. Selected finalists will compete for funding and in-kind support to grow their ventures.

This year, the FemSTEM Africa Pitch Competition will take place on June 2, 2026, in person in Kumasi, Ghana, following the FemSTEM Africa Workshop and Mentor Day at KNUST.

Application Timeline

Applications Open: April 1, 2026

Applications Close: April 15, 2026

Awards

Winner: $15,000 CAD cash prize + $5,000 CAD in-kind legal services

1st Runner-Up: $5,000 CAD cash prize + $5,000 CAD in-kind legal services

2nd Runner-Up: $5,000 CAD cash prize + $5,000 CAD in-kind legal services

Legal services provided by Sustineri Attorneys.

Eligibility

To apply, ventures must meet ALL of the following criteria:

Operate in the health sector in Africa
Have at least one woman-identifying co-founder or core team member
Have a woman-identifying pitch presenter
Have at least one team member attend a minimum of two FemSTEM Africa events (Kickoff or Fireside sessions, registration can be found on our Events page)
Not be a previous winner of the FemSTEM Africa Pitch Competition (past finalists can reapply)

We encourage all interested ventures to join the H2i community as client companies to access the wealth of mentorship resources we offer.

Mentorship

Finalists will have access to one-on-one mentorship support in advance of the competition for:

Business plan development
Pitch deck development
Story development
Effective presentation
Venture building

About the FemSTEM Africa Series

Participants are encouraged to join the full FemSTEM Africa series:

Kickoff Event & Panel | March 31, 2026 | 8:00 – 9:30 AM ET / 2:00 – 3:30 PM CAT (Virtual)
1st Fireside | April 6, 2026 | 8:00 – 9:00 AM ET / 2:00 – 3:00 PM CAT (Virtual)
2nd Fireside | April 22, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET / 7:00 – 8:00 PM CAT (Virtual)
3rd Fireside | May 5, 2026 | 8:00 – 9:00 AM ET / 2:00 – 3:00 PM CAT (Virtual)

How to Apply

Submit the application form by April 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

The application includes a Team Composition document, download the template for this document here.

Application Form

FemSTEM Africa 2026 Pitch Competition Application

Please answer all of the questions below to the best of your ability. This information will be reviewed by a selection committee, in order to determine the top six finalists who will present in June, 2026. All applicants will be notified after selection, regardless of their result.

Eligibility

The FemSTEM Africa Pitch Competition is open for teams led by woman-identifying entrepreneurs who are innovating within the health space. Please ensure you have reviewed the full eligibility criteria on the pitch application webpage.

I understand the application guidelines and criteria.

Application

Venture Name

Primary Contact Name

Primary Contact Email

Company Website/URL (Optional)

Team Information

Please upload your completed Team Composition below. Download the template for this document here.

File Upload

Maximum file size: 10.49MB

Project Description

Please describe your project below. Keep in mind these 10 key questions: What is the Problem you are solving? What is the size of your Market? Who is part of your Team and what do they bring? What is your Technology and Solution? Who are your Customers and what is your Revenue model? How will you go to Market? Who is your Competition? What is your Value Proposition? What is your Financial plan? What are your key Milestones?

Project Description:

Identified Health / Medical Need:

Completed Milestones:

Current Funding Status (Inclusive of private investments, grants, sales and contest winnings):

Short Term Funding Priorities (1-6 months):

Long Term Funding Priorities (1 year +):

Work Plan/Upcoming Milestones:

Captcha

Questions

Email: Amanda Dlamini amanda.dlamini@utoronto.ca

FemSTEM Africa 2026 is co-designed and implemented by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Health Innovation Hub (H2i) under the Africa Health Collaborative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, and with legal partnership support from Sustineri Attorneys.