African technology founders developing blockchain and artificial intelligence solutions will have a new opportunity to connect with investors, venture capital firms and experienced mentors through a fellowship programme being introduced in Nairobi.
The Africa Blockchain Festival has announced the ABF Fellowship Program 2026, which will put selected founders in direct contact with investors during the three-day Africa Blockchain Festival, scheduled for October 15 to 17 at the Sarit Expo Center in Nairobi.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with Antler and Launch Africa Ventures, giving participating startups access to pitching opportunities, investor introductions, deal-making sessions and mentorship beyond the festival.
Africa Blockchain Festival Launches 2026 Fellowship, Opens New Path for Tech Founders to Investors
Antler, a global early-stage venture capital firm, will serve as the official venture partner for the festival and will support the identification and assessment of startups taking part in the programme.
The firm will also sit on the jury for the fellowship pitch competition and conduct a technical workshop for participating startups on the second day of the festival.
Launch Africa Ventures, a pan-African early-stage venture capital firm, will similarly support the screening of startups and participate in judging the pitch competition.
The program aims to address one of the biggest hurdles facing young technology companies across Africa, where access to early-stage capital, experienced mentors and investor networks can determine whether an idea progresses from a prototype into a scalable business.
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Selected founders will pitch their businesses before an audience comprising investors, technology executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, financial institutions and potential commercial partners.
Startups that qualify will also have access to the ABF Deal Room, where founders and investors can hold more focused discussions on possible partnerships, investment, and business opportunities.
The support will continue after the festival, with selected startups expected to benefit from mentorship intended to help founders strengthen their businesses and prepare for future investment and expansion.
Olubunmi Fabanwo, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Blockchain Festival, said the initiative was intended to ensure African founders have access to the networks and resources required to turn ideas into sustainable businesses.
“Africa has one of the youngest populations in the world, and that generation is growing up at a time when technology is completely changing what is possible. A young person in Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Kigali, Accra or Dar es Salaam can build a solution today that potentially reaches millions of people,” said Fabanwo.
“The challenge is making sure that talent has access to the capital, mentorship and networks required to turn those ideas into sustainable companies.”
He said the festival was seeking to move beyond discussions about emerging technologies by creating practical opportunities for founders to meet investors and build relationships that could support the growth of their companies.
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African Blockchain and AI Startups Invited to Apply for 2026 Fellowship
The fellowship will target startups operating in areas including blockchain infrastructure, artificial intelligence, fintech, digital payments, stablecoins, tokenization, digital identity and cybersecurity.
Applications are being sought from founders across East Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, as well as other parts of West and Southern Africa.
Fabanwo said many young African entrepreneurs were already developing technology-driven solutions in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, trade, education and financial inclusion, but often struggled to gain access to the capital needed to expand.
“We have incredibly talented young people across Africa building solutions around payments, agriculture, healthcare, trade, education and financial inclusion. Increasingly, they are using blockchain and artificial intelligence to approach these challenges differently,” said Fabanwo.
He said connecting founders with investors early could help more African startups move beyond the prototype stage and compete in wider markets.
The fellowship comes at a time when blockchain, artificial intelligence and digital finance are creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs on the continent.
For the organizers, the broader objective is to encourage more Africans to become technology founders and owners rather than limiting participation in the digital economy to technology users or employees.
“The next major African technology company could already be sitting on someone’s laptop in Kampala, Nairobi, Lagos or another African city,” said Fabanwo.
Africa Blockchain Festival will announce further details on eligibility, selection criteria and the application process for the 2026 fellowship.
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