The African Union Commission (AUC) has officially opened applications for the 2025 edition of its Youth Start-Up Programme, inviting young African entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to showcase their ventures at the upcoming Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) scheduled for September 4–10, 2025, in Algiers, Algeria. The application deadline is May 30, 2025.
The call targets early-stage founders and innovators tackling real-world problems across Africa in sectors such as health, agriculture, education, and digital inclusion. With the continent’s service industry booming due to increasing mobile and digital penetration, the AU is pushing to connect youth-driven enterprises with investors, policymakers, and business leaders from across Africa and the globe.
According to the AUC, Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with over 70% of its population under the age of 35. This youthful energy is fueling a new wave of entrepreneurship, but many young innovators still face challenges accessing the networks, funding, and platforms needed to scale their ideas. The AU Youth Start-Up Programme aims to bridge this gap by offering structured opportunities for learning, exposure, and growth at one of Africa’s most influential trade events.
Launched in 2021 at the Durban edition of IATF, the program has steadily expanded. The 2023 edition in Cairo saw increased focus on practical business development through masterclasses, pitch sessions, and investor networking. For IATF2025, the African Union, in collaboration with Afreximbank and the Government of Algeria, will support 75 selected start-ups with curated training, market access, and strategic partnerships.
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The AU Start-Up Pavilion, now recognized by the IATF Advisory Council as a permanent feature of the trade fair, will be a centerpiece of the Algiers event. It will spotlight breakthrough African innovations and foster connections across the continent’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Selected participants will have the chance to present working prototypes and business models directly to high-level stakeholders, offering them not just visibility but real avenues to funding, partnerships, and continental market expansion. This initiative is also aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aiming to support youth-led businesses in scaling operations across borders and contributing to Africa’s industrial and economic transformation.
The African Union emphasizes that this program is part of its broader Agenda 2063 goals to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development. As digital literacy continues to rise across the continent, initiatives like the AU Youth Start-Up Programme are increasingly vital to turning potential into progress.
Interested applicants are encouraged to act fast. The application portal will close on May 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EAT. Aspiring entrepreneurs can submit their applications by visiting: https://2025.iatf.africa/newfront/page/explore#auyouth
