<- Backing Africa's next generation

We back Students building the Future of Africa

SmartTeller LaunchPad gives student founders the capital, mentorship and technology infrastructure to turn bold campus ideas into companies that move the continent forward.

No equity at idea stage. Open to every African campus.

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Africa’s most ambitious youth are building online; they just need early backing.

We invest in student founders solving real problems for African markets closing infrastructure gaps, expanding access, and building products that work for the next billion users.

Talent is everywhere on the continent; capital, mentorship and tools are not. SmartTeller LaunchPad exists to close that gap early backing builders at the idea and prototype stage, long before traditional investors show up.

We don't wait for the perfect pitch deck. We bet on the person, the obsession and the unfair insight that only a student living the problem could have.

145

Student founders we
aim to back by 2027

40

Campuses across the
continent

12

African countries in
our reach

400

Strong builder
community via
SmartTeller

How we back you

More than a cheque. A full LaunchPad.

06 PILLARS

1
Pre-seed Capital
Non-dilutive grants at idea stage and first cheques at prototype stage, so you can build before you've raised a round.
2
Founder Mentorship
One-on-one guidance from operators and engineers who've shipped products across African markets.
3
Tech Infrastructure
Free access to SmartTeller's engineering, banking and digital infrastructure to launch faster and cheaper.



4
Hands-on Training
Practical software and product training through SmartTeller Academy built for real African contexts.
5
Network & Access
Warm introductions to follow-on investors, partners and a 90k+ strong builder community.
6
Demo Day
A stage to pitch your company to investors, partners and press at the end of every cohort.
Apply

Tell us what you're building.

If you're a student with an idea, a prototype or an obsession we want to hear from you. Applications take under 5 minutes.

  • Open to undergraduate & postgraduate students across Africa
  • Solo founders and teams both welcome
  • No prior funding or company registration required
  • We reply to every applicant within 3 weeks

By applying you agree to be contacted by the SmartTeller team.