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Askya AI Growth Platform is selecting 10 African AI-native startups for a six-week cohort, with coaching, GPU access, and up to $200,000 investment.
Askya has opened applications for the Askya AI Growth Platform, a six-week growth programme for African AI-native startups. The cohort will include 10 startups and may come with up to $200,000 investment for the top company.
Askya launched the Askya AI Growth Platform to support African startups that build products where artificial intelligence is core, not just an add-on feature.
The programme runs from October 26 to December 4, 2026. It includes weekly one-on-one coaching and access to cloud computing and GPU infrastructure, which is the specialised hardware used to train and run AI models faster.
Askya says it may invest up to $200,000 in the most promising company in the cohort. The programme is aimed at commercial startups, so nonprofits and research institutions are not eligible.
To apply, startups must have a working product, plus at least one paying customer or an active pilot. Eligible stages range from MVP to Series A. Applicants must also be focused on African markets.
Askya expects to unveil the selected companies during Moonshot by TechCabal in Lagos on October 28 and 29. Moniepoint founder and Group CEO Tosin Eniolorunda is listed as honorary chair of the inaugural cohort.
Applications close on September 30, 2026.
Funding for AI-native startups in Africa remains tight. Figures cited by ICTworks say AI-native companies received less than 2% of African startup funding in the first half of 2026.
Programmes that bundle capital with compute access can reduce a common bottleneck for founders. GPUs and cloud credits are often expensive, and they can slow down experimentation, model training, and product iteration.
The selection criteria also signals what investors and operators want to see right now. That includes real usage, revenue signals, and a clear path to scaling in African markets, even at early stages.
Primary Source: Techinafrica
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