Opportunities

Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.

MsingiLab Librarian

What are you looking for today?

Harvard Africa Business Club New Venture Competition | MsingiLab

Back to Opportunities

CompetitionClosed10 spots availableExpired

Harvard Africa Business Club New Venture Competition

$55,000 total prize pool ($30,000 first, $15,000 second, $10,000 third)

ExpiredWebsiteEst. 1998

PrizeAll SectorsPre-SeedSeedEarly-stage

Apply Now

Annual pitch competition hosted by the Africa Business Club at Harvard Business School as part of their Africa Business Conference. Select African and Africa-focused startups receive HBS MBA coaching, networking with Africa-focused investors, and compete for $55,000+ in non-dilutive prize money before 1,100+ conference attendees. The first 30 applicants receive pro bono Harvard MBA consulting support to refine strategy and pitch.

What You Get

First Place Prize

$30,000 non-dilutive cash prize

Second Place Prize

$15,000 non-dilutive cash prize

Third Place Prize

$10,000 non-dilutive cash prize

HBS MBA Coaching

First 30 applicants receive pro bono Harvard MBA consulting support to refine strategy and pitch

Investor Exposure

Pitch before 1,100+ attendees including Africa-focused investors and Harvard alumni

Harvard Network Access

Access to Harvard's global investor and alumni network

Conference Participation

Full access to the annual Africa Business Conference with 25+ panel discussions, keynotes, and networking events

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Africa Business Club website or VC4A portal during the open application window (typically Oct-Dec). Submit business plan and pitch materials. Selected semifinalists (10) are announced and paired with HBS MBA student coaches to refine their pitch. Semifinalists pitch live at the conference before 1,100+ attendees and a judging panel.

Geographic Focus

Pan-Africa

Applications Open

October 1, 2025

Decision Timeline

~3 months from application close to conference (Dec-March)

Key Dates

2025-10-01Applications open (approximate — based on pattern)

2025-12-05Application deadline (11:59 PM EST)

2026-01-15Semifinalists announced (approximate)

2026-03-2728th Africa Business Conference Day 1 — semifinalist pitches

2026-03-2828th Africa Business Conference Day 2 — winners announced

Eligibility

African or Africa-focused entrepreneur
Business must have majority or all operations in Africa
At least a prototype or MVP (no minimum revenue required)
Open to all sectors focused on shaping Africa's future

Traction Required

At least a prototype or MVP; no minimum revenue required

Team Requirements

Strong founding team; willingness to pitch live at Harvard Business School

Selection Criteria

Strength and clarity of business model
Scalable African market thesis
Team capability and founder-market fit
Impact potential for African communities
Quality of pitch and presentation

Focus Areas

All Sectors

Open to any sector — the competition evaluates African and Africa-focused startups across all industries. Past semifinalists include fintech, healthtech, agritech, logistics, beauty tech, and more.

What They Look For

Entrepreneurs with a clear, scalable African market thesis. Startups that demonstrate deep understanding of the African market opportunity, a viable business model, and the team to execute. Strong diaspora investor audience means global scalability narratives resonate. Past semifinalists span fintech, logistics, beauty tech, AI, and agritech.

Post-Investment Support

Pro bono Harvard MBA consulting (for first 30 applicants and all semifinalists); access to Harvard's global alumni and investor network; media visibility from the conference; ongoing Africa Business Club community membership.

Red Flags to Watch

Confirm current funding cycle is open. Review reporting burden. Check geographic restrictions.

Insider Tip

Harvard brand opens global doors. Strong diaspora investor audience at the conference. Apply early — the first 30 applications receive dedicated HBS MBA coaching. Build your pitch around a clear scalable African market thesis with global potential. The competition is sector-agnostic, so differentiation comes from execution strength and market understanding, not sector choice. Applications typically open Oct-Nov for the following year's conference.

1998

Active Since

Yes

Deploying

Notable Investments

Midddleman (Nigeria) — 2026 semifinalist, import logistics; Tausi App Limited (Kenya) — 2026 semifinalist, AI beauty tech; 600+ applications received for 2026 cycle