The FINCA Ventures Prize Competition supports rising African entrepreneurs with bold visions, disruptive business models, or new products or technologies that can create meaningful impact for poor and low-income people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted by FINCA Ventures annually since 2024, the Prize Competition is a “shark tank” style event where entrepreneurs compete for the opportunity to be awarded grant funding of up to $100,000 to further develop their social enterprises. This event brings together early-stage companies and visionary leaders, donors and investors who are passionate about entrepreneurship.Learn more about previous years’ competitions and finalists here!
Eligibility
What kind of companies are eligible to participate?
Companies must:
- Have at least one African founder
- Be a for-profit organization
- Be post-revenue (generating revenue)
- Be operational for no more than five years
- Be operational in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Address issues in Fintech for Financial Inclusion or Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
To win a grant award, participants must be willing to travel to San Francisco (with costs covered by FINCA) to present in front of a panel of judges and attend the awards ceremony and reception.In the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems category, we seek entrepreneurs who are scaling innovative solutions that support the development of more sustainable agriculture and food systems. Key areas of interest include solutions that strengthen agrifood value chains and improve outcomes for farmers and the environment. This may include but is not limited to improving access to sustainable inputs, financing, agricultural knowledge and extension services, irrigation and mechanization, digital tools, climate and weather-related information, insurance products, post-harvest management, market access, and offtake opportunities. In the Fintech for Financial Inclusion category, we are looking for founders who are rethinking the provision of financial services through innovative digital-first channels to provide access to financial resources, increase financial literacy & unlock productivity of underserved populations. This may include but is not limited to savings products, insurance, productive-use credit, digital banking and embedded finance.Is there a cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate in the competition. For applicants invited to pitch at the events in San Francisco, FINCA will arrange for and cover the costs of travel.What materials are required to enter?
Applicants must create an account and answer all the questions posed in this application form available at https://fincaventures.awardsplatform.com/. Submissions must be complete before the application deadline on April 10, 2026, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by June 2026. Are previous applicants allowed to reapply?
Yes, we welcome applications from founders who have applied in previous years.
Judging and Prizes
How does the judging work?
The FINCA Ventures Prize Committee will review all eligible entries and select three finalists per category to pitch in front of a panel of judges, followed by an awards ceremony and reception on October 6th in San Francisco. At the event, the judges will select and announce the first, second, and third place winners within both categories.What is the judging criteria?
The entries will be judged according to the following criteria:
- Strength of Entrepreneur & Team
- Innovativeness of Solution
- Social & Environmental Impact
- Market Traction and Financial Sustainability
- Strategy for Growth
What are the prizes?
In each category, finalists will receive grant awards of up to $100,000 (depending on 1st, 2nd and 3rd place).
What to Expect Post-Competition
Will FINCA Ventures provide any support to the finalists after the Prize Competition event?
Over the course of the selection process and in-person event, the FINCA Ventures team will work closely with the finalists to determine priority areas of technical assistance support and organize informational workshops (both in-person and online) that align with the needs of the finalists.Will FINCA Ventures make investments into any of the Prize Competition finalists?
Companies that participate in the Prize Competition will not automatically be considered for investment, however the FINCA Ventures team views this competition as a way to actively screen early-stage pipeline opportunities for future investment by using criteria that aligns directly with our investment strategy.
Support
If you have questions, contact Melissa Tickle at melissa.tickle@finca.org.
