Africa Startup Congress Opens Call for Entries for ASC27 Pitch Competition

The road to Africa Startup Congress 2027 has officially begun. Organizers have opened registration for the ASC27 Pitch Competition and Roadshow, inviting startups from ten African countries to compete for a spot on the continental stage in Kigali.

The national pitch competitions will run through 2026, with the strongest startup from each participating country advancing to the Africa Startup Congress (ASC27), set for February 24 to 26, 2027, at the Kigali Convention Center. Registration for the national roadshow closes on September 30, 2026.

Ten Countries, Ten Winners, One Stage

The competition spans Cameroon, Congo, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Each country will hold its own national pitch competition, with the winner earning a fully sponsored trip to Kigali to represent their nation at the continental finale, competing across sectors including technology, energy, agribusiness, and creative industries.

10 Countries · 10 Winners · One Destination: Kigali. National competitions run through 2026, culminating in the Continental Pitch Competition at ASC27 in February 2027.

What Is Africa Startup Congress?

Beyond the pitch competition, ASC27 is positioned as a marketplace bringing together startups, governments, development stakeholders, and investors, with organizers projecting over 2,000 delegates, 100-plus speakers, 300-plus exhibitors, and more than 30 panels and masterclasses across the three-day event.

The congress program includes keynote addresses from senior government officials and industry leaders, thematic panels on investment and innovation policy, hands-on masterclasses covering investment readiness and business development, an African Creative and Cultural Gala and Awards Ceremony, and a Made in Africa exhibition and marketplace showcasing products and innovations from across the continent.

How Startups Can Get Involved

Founders interested in competing can register for their country's national roadshow ahead of the September 30 deadline. Beyond the pitch track, the congress is also open to delegates seeking networking and investment opportunities, exhibitors through the Made in Africa marketplace, and organizations interested in sponsorship or partnership. Interested parties can find registration details on the official ASC27 website.

With national competitions unfolding across ten countries over the coming months, ASC27 organizers say the initiative is designed to surface some of the continent's most promising startups ahead of their moment on the continental stage in Kigali next February.