Askya Investment Partners, an African venture capital firm, has launched the Askya AI Growth Platform, a pan-African programme designed to scale artificial intelligence startups into enduring, continental-scale enterprises.
The programme offers up to $200,000 in investment to each selected startup and, crucially, takes no equity from founders. This means entrepreneurs keep full ownership of their companies while receiving the capital and support they need to grow. The initiative is free for startups and represents a significant shift in how African AI companies can access funding and mentorship.
What the Programme Offers
The Askya AI Growth Platform is a six-week hybrid programme that will bring together ten AI-native, Africa-focused startups from seed to Series A. To qualify, companies must have a live product and demonstrated customer demand, meaning the programme is targeting startups that have moved beyond the idea stage and are already serving real customers.
During the six weeks, founders will participate in masterclasses, one-on-one coaching, and company-building support from some of Africa’s best founders and operators. The curriculum covers technology, product development, governance, and distribution. Participants will also gain access to cloud and computing resources, potential corporate customers, and talent.
The programme combines virtual sessions with in-person activities, ensuring that founders receive both the flexibility of remote learning and the value of face-to-face connections. Applications are open until September 30, 2026, and the inaugural cohort will be announced at Moonshot by TechCabal in Lagos on October 28-29, 2026. The programme will then run through December 4, 2026.
A Leader Who Has Walked the Path
The inaugural cohort will be chaired by Tosin Eniolorunda, founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint, one of Africa’s most successful technology companies. His appointment places an experienced African technology entrepreneur at the centre of an initiative seeking to build more home-grown AI companies across the continent.
Eniolorunda’s journey from building Moniepoint into a leading business technology platform to now guiding the next generation of founders makes him uniquely qualified for this role. He understands the challenges African entrepreneurs face because he has faced them himself. “Africans can build solutions for people all over the world, and AI may be the clearest opportunity yet to prove it,” Eniolorunda said. “Our young founders are ready; what they need is execution support and access to real customers”.
Babacar Seck, founder and managing partner of Askya Investment Partners, explained why Eniolorunda was the right choice to lead this effort. “As founder and CEO of Moniepoint, Tosin has shown how to build a generational technology company that addresses real African needs, with ambition, relentless commitment, superior execution and authenticity,” Seck said. “It is an honour to have him chair our first cohort and help show the way to the next generation of builders”.
A Pivotal Moment for African Technology Ecosystem
The launch of this programme comes at a pivotal moment for Africa’s technology ecosystem. The African Development Bank estimates that inclusive deployment of AI could add as much as $1 trillion to Africa’s gross domestic product by 2035. This is nearly one-third of the continent’s current economic output, representing an extraordinary opportunity for growth and development.
Seck captured the urgency of the moment perfectly. “AI is rapidly becoming a key driver of economic development. Africa can either become a producer of AI technology, capturing the tremendous value it creates, or remain a mere importer, watching its productivity gap with other economies widen even further,” he said. “Since 2024, Askya has advocated for an ambitious approach to African AI. With the Askya AI Growth Platform, we put our money where our mouth is – backing founders building generational AI companies that address Africa’s biggest needs”.
Africa has a unique advantage in this moment. The continent has the world’s fastest-growing digital-native workforce and no legacy systems to unwind. Just as Africa leapfrogged traditional banking with mobile money, the continent can leapfrog into an AI-enabled economy. African entrepreneurs are already building world-class technology at scale, as demonstrated by the wave of African unicorns from Jumia to Moniepoint.
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Breaking Down the Barriers
What slows down African technology companies is not a lack of talent or ambition. Instead, it is access to distribution, reliable infrastructure, and the lessons learned by successful founders and operators. The Askya AI Growth Platform was built specifically to close these gaps.
The programme will provide selected startups with access to cloud and computing infrastructure through technology partners, connections to potential corporate customers, and coaching from experienced operators who have built successful companies on the continent. This combination of capital, infrastructure, and expertise is designed to help startups achieve product-market fit and scale their commercial traction.
“Every week that follows is built around one thing: getting founders closer to a signed contract,” said Femi Awoniyi, co-founder and chief executive officer of Magna Collective, the firm designing and delivering the programme.
Building a Strong Ecosystem
The Askya AI Growth Platform is not operating alone. It has brought together founding partners who are deeply embedded in Africa’s technology and AI ecosystem. Deep Learning Indaba, Africa’s largest AI community, supports pipeline and reach across the continent’s machine learning talent. Big Cabal Media, publisher of TechCabal, will host the cohort reveal and kickoff at its Moonshot event in Lagos.
Magna Collective serves as the programme design and delivery partner. Additional partners across cloud and compute infrastructure, pan-African policy institutions, and enterprises will be announced ahead of the cohort reveal in October.
This collaborative approach reflects a growing recognition that building a thriving AI ecosystem in Africa requires more than just funding. It requires bringing together the right players across the technology, business, and policy landscape to create an environment where AI startups can truly flourish.
What This Means for African Founders
This programme is a genuine opportunity for African founders to take their companies to the next level. The combination of up to $200,000 in funding, zero equity dilution, world-class coaching, and access to customers and infrastructure is rare anywhere in the world, let alone in Africa.
The programme is open to founders across the entire continent. Whether you are building AI solutions for financial services, healthcare, commerce, or agriculture, the Askya AI Growth Platform is looking for startups that are ready to scale. The focus on AI-native companies means the programme is specifically designed for startups whose core product or service is built around artificial intelligence.
Askya Investment Partners, founded by Babacar Seck, has a track record of backing successful African technology companies. Its portfolio includes Moniepoint and Jumia, two of the continent’s most recognised technology success stories. This experience gives the firm deep insight into what it takes to build companies that can scale across Africa and beyond.
An Opportunity that Should not be Missed
Applications for the inaugural cohort of the Askya AI Growth Platform close on September 30, 2026. The programme will begin with the cohort announcement at Moonshot by TechCabal in Lagos on October 28-29, and will run through December 4.
For African AI founders who have a live product and demonstrated customer demand, this is an opportunity that should not be missed. The combination of funding, mentorship, and market access being offered is unprecedented in its scope and generosity. The fact that Askya is not taking any equity means founders can focus entirely on growing their businesses without worrying about dilution.
