Are you an African startup building the next generation of hardware or end-to-end system solutions? Qualcomm has officially launched the application phase for its 2026 Make in Africa mentorship program.
As the first initiative of its kind on the continent, this equity-free program is designed to identify and support early-stage startups that are leveraging advanced connectivity, AI, and processing technologies.
What is Qualcomm Make in Africa?
The Qualcomm® Make in Africa program is a strategic mentorship initiative aimed at helping African startups bring their innovations to the global market. Unlike many accelerators that take equity, Qualcomm focuses on providing intellectual and technical capital.
Selected startups will receive business coaching, engineering consultation, and guidance on protecting their intellectual property (IP).
Program Benefits
The 2026 cohort (up to 10 startups) will access a wide range of benefits:
Financial Support: A $5,000 stipend for every startup that successfully completes the program requirements.
Social Impact Fund: One startup will be awarded a significant grant from the Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™ fund.
1:1 Mentorship: Direct access to Qualcomm subject matter experts.
Technical Masterclasses: Expert-led training in Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT, 5G, Extended Reality (XR), and Compute.
Patent Filing Incentives: Reimbursement of up to $5,000 for a utility patent application (USPTO or PCT) and access to IP legal consultations.
Global Visibility: A chance to showcase your innovation at the virtual finale in December 2026.
Who Should Apply?
Qualcomm is looking for early-stage startups that are:
Based in Africa.
Developing hardware or end-to-end system solutions.
Utilizing technologies like AI, 5G, IoT, or edge computing.
Interested in applying advanced connectivity to solve local or global challenges.
Note: Proposals using Arduino Uno Q-based use cases are welcome.
Timeline
Application Phase: December 17, 2025 – February 15, 2026
Shortlisting: March 2026
Mentorship Program: April 2026 – November 2026
Finale & Demo Day: December 2026
How to Apply
Don't miss this opportunity to partner with one of the world's leading technology companies.
Apply here: Apply via Qualcomm Official Site
Deadline: February 15, 2026
Queries: qdesigninfo@qualcomm.com