Timbuktoo MineTech Startup Incubation Programme

Timbuktoo MineTech Startup Incubation Programme – Driving Innovation in Africa’s Mining Sector

The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) timbuktoo Initiative has opened applications for MineTech startups to join the Pan-African Incubation Network.

The timbuktoo MineTech Hub will identify and support startups building technology to make African mining safer, cleaner and more transparent — from equipment that protects artisanal miners, to tools that track where minerals come from, to systems that monitor environmental damage before it spreads.

Mining anchors much of Africa’s economy, but the sector is still defined by several complexities including dangerous conditions for artisanal miners, environmental damage that goes unmonitored, opaque supply chains, and mining communities that see little benefit from the resources extracted around them. The MineTech Hub is formed on the steadfast belief that African founders are best placed to solve these problems at scale.

Startups selected for the programme will received structured incubation from accredited incubators inside the timbuktoo network, plus access to mentors, investors and founders across the continent through the timbuktoo digital platform, built to match founders with mentorship, learning resources, and AI-powered guidance as they prepare for investment.

What the programme covers

Applications are welcome from startups working across the mining value chain, including:

• Mine safety technology and workforce protection
• Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) formalization and mechanization
• Mineral traceability and resource governance
• Environmental monitoring and climate resilience
• Lithium-ion battery design and value chain development
• Remote and autonomous mining operations
• Mine dewatering, ventilation and geotechnical risk management
• Market access, trade and financial inclusion for mining-linked businesses

Who can apply

To be eligible, startups must be based in Africa or building solutions for African mining markets. They must also have a working prototype or MVP, a committed team, and a clear answer to a real problem somewhere in the mining value chain. Applications from women-led and youth-led startups are especially encouraged, and from founders working in underserved or mining-affected communities.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with new cohorts admitted every three months. The first cohort begins in July 2026.