Call for Application: Qualcomm Make in Africa Startup Mentorship Program 2026 is open now!!!
As the first initiative of its kind in Africa, this equity-free mentorship program will identify promising early-stage startups keen on applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies to innovative end-to-end systems solutions, including hardware, and provide these companies with business coaching, access to engineering consultation for product development, and guidance on protecting intellectual property. It is run by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Get the Youth Opportunities iOS App here for the fully-funded opportunities.
The Program is open to any company registered with operations in Africa. This program provides selected start-ups with comprehensive mentorship, education, and training in transformative technologies, with a strong focus on 5G, Edge AI, machine learning, computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Each year, ten promising start-ups from across the continent are chosen to receive tailored support, including technical, business, and intellectual property (IP) guidance.
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- Youth Opportunities: https://m.me/j/AbZTmgEzD1UchDte/
2. Fully Funded Conferences: https://m.me/j/AbZTfhFTiPCnXf2D/
3. Full Scholarships: https://m.me/j/AbbrjbkOMM6I68Cs/
4. Paid Internships/Jobs: https://m.me/j/AbaAskb6jFFnRser/
5. Circle: https://m.me/j/AbY0vVKSPJULUnE4/
Proposals from Participants will be accepted during the Application Phase subject to the eligibility criteria and the selected Participants and their Proposals will be shortlisted by the sponsor (shortlisted Participants) to participate in the next phase of the Program for the development and incubation. Participants must comply with Qualcomm’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. They must ensure proposals are original, lawful, and free of third-party rights issues. Qualcomm may use participants’ names, logos, likeness, and results for promotional purposes. Participants may be asked to join case studies or marketing activities.
Program Timeline
Application Phase: : December 17th 2025 to February 15th 2026
Shortlisting of the Startups: March 2026
Mentorship Program: April 2026 to November 2026
Program Finale & Demo Day: December 2026
Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Their leading-edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity deliver proven solutions that transform major industries. The program offers African startups mentorship, funding, and technical support to develop innovative solutions, with strict eligibility, compliance, and intellectual property rules ensuring fairness and lawful participation.
Benefits
- Mentorship: 1:1 mentorship with Qualcomm subject matter experts
- Masterclasses: Expert-led technology training in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) including AI-Hub, Internet of Things (IoT), Extended Reality (XR), Compute (AI-PC), 5G, Intellectual Property Law, and more. Additional access to technology, business, and IP training is available at Qualcomm Academy
- Stipends: One startup will be awarded a Social Impact Fund grant from Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™. All other participating startups will be eligible for a USD $5,000 stipend upon successful completion of program requirements.
- Patent filing incentives: Reimbursement of up to USD $5,000 for one full utility patent application filed in the startup’s country, at the USPTO, or via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
- Visibility and Industry Connections: Participation in a virtual finale event in December 2026, including the announcement of the Social Impact Fund award winner. This event will showcase the startups and help accelerate their business success
Eligibilities
- Open to companies registered with operations in Africa.
- Participants must not be “Restricted Persons” (e.g., on U.S./EU/UK sanctions lists, located in embargoed countries like Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Crimea)
Application Process
- Applicants are required to register by completing the form given in the “apply link” below
Application Deadline: February 15, 2026 (15 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
