What we offer Being recognized as 2026 VC4A Venture Showcase entrepreneur; Participation in the VC4A Venture Showcase deal room, including early-stage investor organizations; Investor Readiness Training (IRT) Professionally edited 3-minute virtual pitch; Joining the alumni network and having exclusive access to partner events and fundraising opportunities. Selected entrepreneurs commit to attending the technical sessions, be proactive when engaging with his/her mentor, and take part in the M&E exercises.
Eligibility criteria Company is for-profit and registered as an independent legal entity; A product or service available on the market and generates revenue; A product or service is clearly creating (measurable) ‘impact; A product is designed for scale, with clear potential for regional/international expansion; A very strong management team with preferably 2 to 3 people; Based in and targeting one or more countries in Africa; At least one of the founders has an African nationality. While there will be exceptions, most likely the startup has already received external investment, structured as either debt, convertible notes, SAFEs, equity or mezzanine, and/or received grants from donor organizations.
What we expect from you If you are selected for the Showcase, you are expected to: Engage with assigned mentors (partner VC investors) and VC4A team to prepare your 3-minute and 20-minute presentations, as well as 2-pagers with investor data as part of the deal book; Be prepared to pitch and engage with VC investors and be part of the VC4A Venture Showcase and events like the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit 2026 (#AESIS2026).
Selection criteria Innovativeness and scalability (20%) – Company addresses a real problem in the market in a clearly innovative way. Your product or service is different to others in the industry. Your business model is new, disruptive and designed for scale. Social, economic and/or environmental impact (20%) – Company addresses a social, economic and/or environmental issue and is able to show the impact your product or service is making in the lives of people on the African continent. Strategy for growth (20%) – There is potential to expand into new markets or expand at home. You have a clear strategy on how to grow your impact and we can see demonstrable progress in terms of customer acquisition plans, new contracts, and key partnerships. Management team (20%) – The team has the qualifications and experience needed to make the business successful. Market traction & financials (20%) – We will evaluate your market traction and look at the potential market size. We will also look at your business model, revenue streams and unit economics, and if any outside funding has been raised before.