Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of Pitch Perfect Africa, a competition designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to health-related challenges across Africa.
The programme, now in its second year, is organised by the Health Innovation Hub (H2i) under the Africa Health Collaborative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. It aims to help promising health ventures improve their investment readiness while providing opportunities to pitch their innovations to experienced judges.
Six H2i Level 2 ventures will be selected to participate in the virtual pitch competition. Three of the selected ventures will each receive a CAD $5,000 Innovation Fellowship to support the continued development of their work. Fellowship payments may take three to four months to process after the competition.
The programme is specifically open to current H2i Level 2 HENT ventures that were onboarded by their lead mentor by August 31, 2026. Applicants must also not have previously won Pitch Perfect Africa, although previous finalists who did not win remain eligible to apply.
The selected ventures will have the opportunity to strengthen their pitching skills and present their innovations before a panel of expert judges. The programme also includes a market research workshop and a Building a Winning Pitch Masterclass designed to help participants better communicate their solutions, understand their markets and prepare for funding opportunities.
The masterclass is scheduled for October 9, while the virtual Pitch Perfect Africa competition will take place on November 16, 2026.
Applications opened on September 8 and will close on September 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Pitch Perfect Africa was created to provide early-stage ventures with funding and pitching opportunities while helping entrepreneurs develop the skills needed to attract investment and grow their health-focused innovations across the continent.
