Qualcomm® Make in Africa Startup Mentorship Program 2026

Qualcomm is inviting early-stage startups across Africa to apply for its “Make in Africa” mentorship program. This initiative is designed to support the continent’s growing hardware and deep-tech ecosystem. It focuses on startups that are building innovative products using advanced connectivity and processing technologies.

Program Benefits

• **Equity-Free Support:** Unlike many accelerators, Qualcomm does not take any equity in your company.
• **Financial Grant:** Selected startups receive a stipend of $5,000 to support their operations or prototyping costs.
• **Mentorship:** Participants gain access to Qualcomm engineers and business leaders for technical and strategic guidance.
• **IP Protection:** The program emphasizes the importance of intellectual property, helping startups patent and protect their innovations.
• **Global Exposure:** Startups are showcased to a global audience of investors and industry partners.

Eligibility Criteria

• **Stage:** Must be an early-stage startup (typically Pre-Seed or Seed).
• **Location:** The startup must be based in and legally registered in an African country.
• **Technology:** The product should ideally leverage hardware, AI, 5G, or IoT technologies. Pure software plays (like simple e-commerce apps) are usually less competitive for this specific hardware-focused program.
• **Team:** A dedicated full-time team is preferred.

Application Process

• **Deadline:** February 15, 2026.
• **Submission:** Applications are submitted via the Qualcomm Make in Africa portal.
• **Requirements:** A pitch deck, a technical description of the product, and details about the founding team.

Click here to Apply Now