The FemSTEM Pitch Competition 2026 is organized by the Africa Health Collaborative at Addis Ababa University in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Its goal is to support women entrepreneurs developing science- and technology-led health innovations that address urgent public health challenges in Ethiopia and beyond. Participants receive entrepreneurial training, opportunities to pitch their ideas to judges, and support to help turn their ideas into impact-ready ventures.
Benefits / What You Will Get:
- Prize Money: Up to $3,000 for winning teams
- Training: Capacity building in health entrepreneurship during February–March 2026
- Mentorship: Hands-on coaching from subject matter and business experts
- Networking: Connections with peers and health innovation leaders
- Exposure: Showcase your venture during the live pitch event
- Slide Deck Submission Opportunity: Opportunity to refine and present your pitch deck in March 2026
Eligibility:
- Must be a female undergraduate, MSc, or PhD student at Addis Ababa University
- Must be an individual applicant or a team of 2–3 students from the university
- Startup or venture must be health-focused with a solution to a healthcare or public health challenge
- Applicants should have a scalable idea and a basic business pitch concept
