Applications are open for Cohort 2 of the timbuktoo UniPods AI Innovation Programme, a capacity-building initiative supporting African innovators developing early-stage artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-enabled solutions.
The programme is designed for innovators who have moved beyond the idea stage and are already building, testing or developing a real solution. Selected participants will receive technical AI training, entrepreneurship support, mentorship and access to the wider timbuktoo innovation network.
Applications close on October 30, 2026.
The UniPods initiative forms part of timbuktoo’s broader effort to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship capacity across African universities and innovation ecosystems. UniPods provide spaces where students, researchers and innovators can develop ideas, build prototypes and access mentorship and technical support.
The AI Innovation Programme focuses specifically on innovators using artificial intelligence and AI-enabled technologies to develop solutions to real-world challenges.
The programme is supported through a partnership involving timbuktoo, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Cohort 2 is open to individual innovators and teams developing AI or AI-enabled solutions. It is particularly suited to AI developers, technical builders, early-stage founders and innovators working on AI-powered products or services.
Applicants should have progressed beyond simply having an idea, with the programme placing emphasis on active development and building, including the use of code. Female innovators are especially encouraged to apply.
Selected participants will receive technical, entrepreneurial and mentorship support to help strengthen both their solutions and their business models.
The programme includes AI technical skilling as well as access to an AI course from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Participants will also take part in a 14-week Wadhwani entrepreneurship programme covering areas including customer discovery, business modelling, go-to-market strategy and investment readiness. The entrepreneurship component is intended to help innovators develop the commercial side of their solutions alongside their technology.
Technical mentors will provide guidance to participants as they develop and refine their AI solutions, while selected innovators will gain access to the wider timbuktoo ecosystem, connecting them with other innovators, mentors and ecosystem stakeholders across Africa.
Selected participants may also have the opportunity to attend an in-person bootcamp in Addis Ababa, where they will work with technical mentors and other members of the timbuktoo network.
A notable feature of the programme is that applicants do not need to submit a pitch deck. Instead, the programme focuses on innovators who are actively building and developing their solutions.
Applicants should therefore be prepared to demonstrate their development work, technical progress and the AI or AI-enabled solution they are working on.
The programme is aimed at early-stage solutions in which AI plays a meaningful role in the product or technology. This may include AI-powered products, AI-enabled services and other technology solutions that use artificial intelligence to address real problems.
The focus is on solutions at the early prototype, minimum viable product (MVP) or early-stage venture phase that could benefit from additional technical development, product support and entrepreneurship training.
The deadline to apply for Cohort 2 of the timbuktoo UniPods AI Innovation Programme is October 30, 2026.
Interested innovators can submit their applications through the timbuktoo UniPods AI Innovation Programme Cohort 2 application form.
There is no application fee stated in the programme information.
Leave a Reply