Meta and South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies have launched AI Academy South Africa, offering R82,293.15 in equity-free funding to each of two startup winners, Bizcommunity reported on 19 October. The free programme also offers virtual training to students, developers and professionals across the country.
Key points
- Applications for the startup competition close on 20 October; a panel will select 10 entries to pitch in Johannesburg.
- Two winners will each receive R82,293.15 without giving up equity and a trip to Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul.
- The separate eight-week AI Masterclass is delivered through virtual instructor-led sessions, with enrolment open until January 2027.
Johannesburg pitch contest offers equity-free funding
The AI Academy Pitchathon is open to early-stage South African startups using Meta’s AI technologies to tackle practical problems. Entrants must have a working prototype or a clear direction for their product. The competition and the masterclass are both offered at no cost.
A review panel will shortlist 10 entries. Their founders are due to present their ideas in Johannesburg on 30 October 2026. Applications close on 20 October, leaving prospective entrants until the day after the programme was reported to submit their proposals.
Meta will give each of the two winners R82,293.15 in equity-free funding and pay all expenses for their trip to its AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 24 and 25 November. The summit is set to bring together startups and other participants from Africa, the Middle East and Türkiye.
Thabo Makenete, Meta’s head of public policy for Southern Africa, said the company wanted participants to develop solutions that create economic value. Makenete said the partnership would help the benefits of AI reach more people and communities across South Africa, The Citizen reported on 20 October.
Craig Meyer, the department’s acting chief director for Emerging Technologies and Digital Innovation, said the collaboration supported its aim of an inclusive digital economy. Meyer contrasted South Africans creating AI technology with merely using it.
Kenya Pitchathon drew more than 426 applications
Meta has also run an AI Academy Pitchathon in Kenya with local partner This Is Digital. That competition drew more than 426 applications and selected 10 finalists, Tech in Africa reported. Two winning companies, Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma, received a combined KSh 1.3 million in equity-free funding.
Each Kenyan winner received $5,000, approximately KSh 645,000, as well as advertising credits from Meta. Neural Labs Africa was recognised for NeuralSight, a platform designed to connect healthcare facilities with remote specialists who interpret medical images. Me-Nasoma developed a tool that turns written material into audio for listeners using mobile or web products.
The Kenyan finalists’ products addressed healthcare, education, financial services, retail and legal technology. Meta also invited both winners to present their work at its regional AI summit in Istanbul on 24 November. The South African competition uses a similar pitch format, with its own shortlist and two funding awards.
Meta’s eight-week AI Masterclass runs virtually
The academy’s other track is an eight-week AI Masterclass for students, developers and professionals across South Africa. Instructors will lead the sessions virtually. The curriculum begins with AI foundations and moves through generative AI and prompt engineering to building applications with Meta’s AI models.
Meta says the training is intended to give participants practical skills for developing applications. The masterclass is separate from the pitch competition: its participants are offered instruction, while the startup entrants compete for the funding and summit trips.
Meta will keep enrolment for the AI Masterclass open until January 2027.
