Call for Applications: TTSWG Innovation Makers Challenge 2.0 (Win Up to ₦6 Million)

DEADLINE: 15, August 2026

Applications are now open for the Innovation Makers Challenge 2.0, an initiative by The Time-Travelling Solutions Working Group (TTSWG) designed to support early-stage, revenue-generating startups in the technology and sustainability sectors.

The challenge provides funding, mentorship, incubation, and a national platform to help innovative startups scale their impact.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to:

Early-stage startups

Revenue-generating businesses

Technology startups

Sustainability-focused ventures

Entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions with the potential for social and economic impact.

Prizes

Successful participants will compete for the following cash prizes:

Grand Winner: ₦6,000,000

First Prize: ₦2,000,000

Second Prize: ₦1,500,000

Programme Benefits

Selected startups will receive:

Cash funding to accelerate business growth

Business mentorship from industry experts

Startup incubation support.

National exposure and visibility.

Access to a platform for scaling innovative solutions.

APPLY HERE

ECOWAS Startup Awards 2026: Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for $65,000 Prize

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has opened applications for the second edition of its Startup Awards, giving startups across the region, including Nigeria, an opportunity to compete for a total cash prize of $65,000.

The programme is designed to identify and support innovative startups while promoting digital entrepreneurship, innovation and economic integration across West Africa.

Applications opened on August 3, 2026, and will close on August 31, 2026. The official application portal lists the deadline as 10:59 p.m. GMT on August 31.

Who Can Apply?

The awards are open to startups based in ECOWAS member states. The programme will select 60 startups from across the region for participation.

Applicants should have an innovative business operating within one of the six priority sectors:

• EdTech and Skills Development
• FinTech
• HealthTech
• AgriTech and Food Systems
• CleanTech, Climate and Green Innovation
• Tourism, Hospitality and TravelTech

Female-led startups are particularly encouraged to participate.

How to Apply

Step 1: Visit the application portal

Interested startups should visit the official ECOWAS Startup Awards application portal and begin the application process.

Step 2: Provide your startup information

Applicants will be required to provide relevant details about their startup, including information that demonstrates the nature of the business, the problem it addresses and the solution it offers.

Step 3: Explain the innovation

Applicants should clearly demonstrate what makes their solution innovative and how it responds to a specific need or challenge.

Step 4: Highlight the team and business model

The application should demonstrate the capacity of the team to execute the idea, as well as explain the startup’s business model and financial viability.

Step 5: Demonstrate market potential and impact

Startups should show the potential of their businesses to scale across markets, alongside their social and economic impact and alignment with ECOWAS priorities.

Step 6: Submit before the deadline

Completed applications must be submitted by August 31, 2026. Applicants are advised to ensure that all required information is provided before submitting their entries.

How Startups Will Be Selected

Applications will be assessed using several criteria, including problem clarity and solution fit, innovation and originality, team capacity, market potential and scalability, business model and financial viability.

Social and economic impact, alignment with ECOWAS priorities, as well as the quality of the pitch, online voting and data integrity will also form part of the assessment.

The scoring is weighted as follows:

Problem clarity and solution fit: 20 per cent

Innovation and originality: 20 per cent

Team capacity and execution ability: 15 per cent

Market potential and scalability: 10 per cent

Business model and financial viability: 10 per cent

Social and economic impact: 10 per cent

Alignment with ECOWAS priorities: 10 per cent

Pitch, online voting and data integrity: 5 per cent

What Selected Startups Will Get

Selected startups will participate in virtual masterclasses from September 21 to 25, 2026, before proceeding to the physical programme in Abuja from September 28 to 30.

The regional finals will take place on September 30, where finalists will pitch their businesses before an independent jury of industry experts, investors and policy stakeholders.

APPLY HERE

Call For Applications: TTS Nigeria Program 2026 (Free Training +Job Placement)

Applications are open for the TTS Nigeria Programme, an initiative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundationand Tech4Dev, designed to equip young Nigerian women with skills for tech-enabled career opportunities.

The programme offers free training and job placement opportunities across several sales, banking, and customer-focused roles.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is open to women aged 18–35 who are interested in developing their careers in tech-enabled roles.

Available Career Opportunities

Participants may be trained and considered for roles including:

Sales Executive

Telesales

Direct Sales Agent

Retail Banking Officer

Relationship Officer

Customer Acquisition Officer

What You’ll Get

Free professional training

Job placement opportunities

Skills development for tech-enabled careers

Exposure to the financial and technology sectors

Inclusive career opportunities

How to Apply

Interested applicants can complete the online application form:

APPLY HERE

Call for Applications: Pave Her Way Women’s Grant Programs 2026 (Up to $90,000 in Funding)

Applications open for the Pave Her Way Women’s Grant Programs, a global funding initiative designed to empower women through financial support, mentorship, leadership development, and access to a network of change makers.

The program supports women at different stages of their personal and professional journeys, whether they are established leaders creating impact, innovators developing transformative ideas, or women seeking financial assistance to advance their education or careers.

Who Should Apply?

The programme is open to women who:

Have demonstrated leadership in their communities or professions

Are developing innovative projects benefiting women and girls

Need financial support for education or career advancement

Face financial barriers to achieving their goals

Want to scale their impact and expand their leadership

Are committed to empowering women and creating positive social change.

Applicants from all sectors are encouraged to apply, including education, healthcare, business, technology, science, journalism, social entrepreneurship, arts, environmental conservation, government, and community development.

Funding Opportunities

1. Change Agent Prize

This award recognizes accomplished women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and measurable impact in improving the lives of women and girls.

Funding:

Up to $90,000

Additional Benefits:

Optional mentorship

Cohort learning experience

Networking opportunities

Access to a global community of women leaders

2. Disruptor Award

The Disruptor Award supports women with innovative projects or ideas that have the potential to create meaningful change for women and girls.

Projects may focus on:

Women’s economic empowerment

Education

Healthcare

Technology

Entrepreneurship

Leadership development

Gender equality

Climate resilience

Financial inclusion

Social innovation

Community development

Funding:

Up to $90,000

Additional Benefits:

Mentorship

Cohort-based learning

Professional networking opportunities

3. Financial Aid Program

This programme provides financial assistance to women facing economic challenges that limit their ability to pursue education, professional development, or opportunities for personal growth.

Funding may be used to:

Continue education

Access professional development opportunities

Overcome financial hardship

Invest in career advancement

Funding:

Up to $30,000

Additional Benefits:

Optional mentorship

Optional cohort experience

Networking opportunities

Programme Benefits

Successful applicants may receive:

Funding of up to $90,000

Leadership mentorship

Professional development opportunities

Cohort learning experiences

Global networking opportunities

Access to an international community of women leaders and changemakers

 

Application Timeline

Applications Open: August 2026

Application Deadline: To be announced

Application Timeline

Applications Open: August 2026

Application Deadline: To be announced

APPLY HERE

Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) Young Innovation Challenge 2026 for young Innovators.

Application Deadline: 31st August 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) Young Innovation Challenge. Through strategic partnerships, KCDF has expanded the programme’s reach, enabling more innovators to access critical funding and technical support. In 2026, we are pleased to partner with I&M Foundation to implement the Young Innovators Challenge (YIC). While the name has evolved to reflect a broader innovation agenda, the Challenge remains committed to supporting youth-led solutions that address sustainable development challenges.

By combining resources and expertise, KCDF and I&M Foundation aim to award a total of 16 innovators (10 organisations and 6 Individuals) in this edition, seeking to strengthen their enterprises and accelerate scalable solutions that contribute to Kenya’s green transition. The finalists will be unveiled in 2027.

Awards Categories

Category 1: To award six Young Innovators 

Grant Amount: Up to KES 1,500,000

Eligibility: Individual youth (aged 15–35) with tested and impactful environmental innovations. (i.e an Individual or a group of individuals not formally registered)

Category 2: To award 10 Youth-led Organisations    

Grant Amount: Up to KES 5,000,000

Eligibility: Registered youth-led organisations/companies with scalable sustainable solutions. (i.e Civil Society organisations, Company Limited with shares, Company limited by Guarantee e.t.c) 

Timelines

Applications Open: 31st July 2026

Applications Close: 31st August 2026

Information Session: 19th August 2026 @10.00 am

Review & Site Visits: By December 2026

Notification of Awards: By January 2027

Only innovators residing in Kenya and whose actions are implemented in Kenya are eligible to apply

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted via the links provided below:

You will need to submit:

A technical application

A high-level budget

Any supporting documents, such as videos or pictures

APPLY HERE

Call For Applications: Women at the Front of Digital Space Fellowship 2026 (Cohort I)

Applications are now open for the Women at the Front of Digital Space Fellowship 2026 (Cohort I), a capacity-building programme designed to empower women with practical digital skills, leadership training, mentorship, and career development opportunities.

The fellowship aims to increase women’s participation and leadership in the digital ecosystem by equipping participants with the knowledge, networks, and tools needed to thrive in technology and digital innovation.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will have access to:

Comprehensive digital skills training

Leadership and professional development sessions

Mentorship from experienced professionals

Networking opportunities with women in technology

Practical learning and collaborative projects

A community of women advancing digital innovation and leadership.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is open to women who are interested in building careers and leadership in the digital space, including:

Students

Recent graduates

Early-career professionals

Entrepreneurs

Digital creators

Technology enthusiasts

Women seeking to develop digital and leadership skills.

Applicants should review the official application form for the complete eligibility requirements.

Programme Focus

The fellowship is designed to help participants:

Strengthen digital and technology skills

Build leadership capacity

Expand professional networks

Develop career opportunities within the digital ecosystem

Contribute to inclusive digital transformation.

Why This Matters

Although women’s participation in the digital economy continues to grow, they remain underrepresented in many technology-related fields. Programmes like the Women at the Front of Digital Space Fellowship help bridge this gap by providing mentorship, practical training, and a supportive community that enables women to build successful careers in digital innovation.

APPLY HERE

Call for Applications: Lagos Youth Climate Action Fund 2026 for Youth-Led Climate Projects (Up To $5,000 Grants)

Young people in Lagos with innovative solutions to climate change can now apply for grants of $1,000 to $5,000 through the Lagos Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF), an initiative supported by the Lagos State Government and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The program is designed to fund youth-led projects that promote a greener, cleaner, and more climate-resilient Lagos by supporting practical and innovative environmental solutions.

 

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:

Be part of a youth-led group.

Be between 15 and 24 years old.

Have an innovative climate action project

 focused on addressing environmental challenges in Lagos.

Grant Amount

Successful youth groups will receive microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to implement climate action projects across Lagos State.

Project Focus

The programme seeks projects that contribute to:

Climate action

Environmental sustainability

Community resilience

Green innovation

Youth-led environmental solutions

Pre-Launch Webinar

Interested applicants are required to attend a mandatory information webinar where organisers will explain the eligibility criteria, application process, funding requirements, and project expectations.

Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2026

Time: 11:00 a.m.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

Register for the pre-launch webinar: 

APPLY HERE

Complete the registration form with their first name, last name, and email address.

Attend the webinar to receive guidance on the application process.

Prepare a youth-led climate action proposal once the official application portal opens.

 APPLY HERE