Ventures that create jobs as they grow.
AFSI's entrepreneurship launchpad for African ventures in emergent green and digital fields that solve a real problem, can scale, and create skills and jobs for others as they grow. Twelve ventures pitch to investors in the Auditorium on Day Two (14:00 to 16:00), then meet them in the Deal Room (16:30 to 18:00).
- Who can apply
- African ventures in green and digital fields that create skills and jobs for others as they grow. Applicants complete a Skills & Jobs Pathway template and a financial summary template.
- Places
- 12 ventures (2 per track) and 4 reserves. Up to four places are for youth-led ventures.
- Package fee
- R9 950, paid after selection (due 12 February 2027). It covers a pitch slot, Deal Room meetings, a display table, two passes, Investment Lounge access, an Investor Guide profile, clinics, media training, a panel scorecard and a year in the cohort. The fee is waived for youth-led ventures where the title sponsor covers it.
- Dates
- Applications 2 November to 15 December 2026; selection 29 January 2027; fees due 12 February 2027; Showcase and Deal Room on Day Two, 23 March 2027; awards on 24 March 2027 at 16:15.
- What it produces
- Investor Guide profiles, deals in the Investment Compact, work-based learning placements, and the AFSI Pathfinders 2027 Cohort Report and Investor Guide (within 30 days, with quarterly cohort updates).
Two ventures in each.
Clean Energy & Power
Green Industry & Circular Economy
Climate Finance & Fintech
Digital, AI & Deep Tech
Creative & Digital Content Economy
Future of Learning & Work
Each award is offered only if its sponsor signs by 31 January 2027. No prize money comes from APEA's budget.
Pathfinder of the Year
Fast-tracked due diligence and 12 months of mentorship
Green Innovator of the Year
A pilot opportunity
Digital Innovator of the Year
A pilot opportunity
How ventures are scored
Eligibility vetting (4 to 8 January 2027), then independent scoring by the reviewer pool (11 to 14 January) on the AFSI 0 to 5 scale, weighted to a total out of 100. A shortlist of up to 24 is interviewed with reference checks (18 to 27 January), and the Pathfinders Panel selects on 29 January. At the Indaba, investors complete scorecards in the Deal Room, a delegate vote runs from the Showcase close until 20:00 on Day Two, and each venture receives its panel scorecard after the Indaba.
Who decides
The Pathfinders Panel selects ventures and awards, and the Investment Chamber chair has the casting vote. The reviewer pool is consulted; award sponsors sit as non-voting advisers. Up to 40 vetted investors attend the Showcase.
From application to the 12-month report.
- Call opens
- Call closes
- Eligibility vetting
- Independent scoring
- Shortlist of up to 24
- Interviews and reference checks
- Selection
- Results sent
- Package fees paid
- Reserves called up for unpaid places
- Readiness clinic 1
- Decks and Investor Guide profiles due; clinic 2
- Online dry run
- Media training on Day One
- Pathfinders Showcase: 5-minute pitch plus 3 minutes of investor questions
- Deal Room: three rounds of matched 20-minute investor meetings
- Awards at the Public Session
- Scorecards sent
- Six and twelve month reports on jobs and placements
Register your venture's interest.
We'll send the call, the Skills & Jobs Pathway template and the financial summary template the day applications open. Young practitioners with non-commercial innovations can apply to the Practice Track.