By Mahdi Waziri Isa
The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat has launched the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration & Partnership Program 2026 in collaboration with the Korea Africa Foundation.
The flagship initiative is designed to support high-potential African startups in scaling their businesses, strengthening innovation capacity, and expanding into global markets.
Program Overview
The AfCFTA Startup Acceleration & Partnership Program 2026 is a strategic initiative aligned with the broader goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area. It focuses on strengthening Africa’s startup ecosystem by enabling businesses to scale across borders and connect with international markets.
The programme is designed to strengthen startup competitiveness and scalability, support international market entry particularly into Korea and global markets, and facilitate cross-border partnerships and investment opportunities.
By linking African startups with partners and investors abroad, the program aims to help businesses move beyond domestic markets and take advantage of the single African market created under AfCFTA.
The collaboration with the Korea Africa Foundation is expected to provide participating startups with exposure to Korea’s technology and innovation ecosystem, opening pathways for market entry and investment.
Further details on eligibility, application timelines, and selection criteria are expected to be released by the AfCFTA Secretariat.