Applications open
West Africa AI Youth Innovation Challenge
Investors are coming to Freetown. Is your AI startup ready?
Applications close
10 November 2026
Awards
US$5,000 per theme
Lead founder age
18 to 35
Open to
ECOWAS startups
As Sierra Leone hosts WAIIS 2026, the West Africa AI Youth Innovation Challenge will put nine youth-led startups from across ECOWAS on stage at Bintumani, pitching live to judges and investors.
Startups will compete across three themes, Build, Green and Feed, with US$5,000 going to the winner of each. It is free to enter.
The three themes
Build
AI for digital trade, payments, logistics, manufacturing and services that create jobs.
Green
AI for clean and off-grid energy, energy efficiency, climate risk and environmental monitoring.
Feed
AI for crop advice, pest and disease detection, market prices, agro-processing and climate risk.
Who can enter
This challenge is for startups that already exist and already use AI. It is not an ideas competition.
- A working product or pilot that uses AI in a meaningful way
- A lead founder aged 18 to 35
- Registered or operating in an ECOWAS member state, with a solution that can serve Sierra Leone and the wider region
- One entry per startup, in one theme
- Able to send a founder to pitch at Bintumani on 14 November, if shortlisted
Key dates
2 November
Call released
4 November
Online information session for applicants
10 November
Submissions close
12 November
Shortlist announced
14 November
Pitch day at Bintumani, before judges and investors
15 November
Winners announced at the youth pre-summit session
Full rules, judging criteria and the application are on the challenge website.