META AI ACADEMY KENYA · 2026
AI Pitchathon — Meta AI Academy Kenya
Kenya's startup AI competition. Ten Kenyan startups building with Meta's AI technologies pitched live in Nairobi on 16 October 2026. Neural Labs and Me-Nasoma each won US$5,000 in equity-free funding, Meta advertising credits and a place at Meta's AI Summit in Istanbul in November.
THE RESULTS · 16 OCTOBER 2026
Two winners. Ten finalists.
Ten finalists pitched live at The Social House, Lavington, on 16 October 2026. Neural Labs Africa and Me-Nasoma won.
Each winner takes US$5,000 in equity-free funding, Meta advertising credits and a place at Meta's AI Summit in Istanbul in November 2026.
Thank you to all ten startups who pitched: Neural Labs Africa (NeuralSight), Me-Nasoma, Jackfruit Network (School Needs Recommender), Utter Africa, Tembotrade, JuaFlow, HakiChain, Solivia Data (AfyaEdge), John Digital Solutions (Sawazisha AI) and O.C.A. (Offline Claims Audit).
THE WINNERS
KEY FACTS
AI Pitchathon 2026 — held in Nairobi, 16 October
- APPLICATIONS CLOSED
- 30 September 2026, 23:59 EAT
- SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
- 8 October 2026 — ten startups
- PITCH DAY
- 16 October 2026, Nairobi — held
- PRIZE
- US$5,000 equity-free × 2 winners + Meta advertising credits
- AND THEN
- Meta AI Summit, Istanbul, November 2026
- WHO COULD APPLY
- Kenyan startups and developers building with Meta's open-source AI models, tools or platforms
Applications closed
What happens next →Organised by Meta with This Is Digital. Read the Pitchathon privacy notice or go back to the Meta AI Academy Kenya page.
FAQS
Pitchathon questions, answered.
What is the AI Pitchathon?
A live pitch competition for Kenyan startups and developers building with Meta's AI technologies, run under the Meta AI Academy Kenya with This Is Digital. Ten shortlisted teams pitched in Nairobi on 16 October 2026.
Who could apply?
Startups and independent developers based in Kenya whose product or prototype uses Meta's open-source AI models, tools or platforms, entering as a team — one application per startup. Applications closed on 30 September 2026.
Who won?
Ten shortlisted startups pitched live in Nairobi on 16 October 2026. Neural Labs and Me-Nasoma won; each receives US$5,000 in equity-free funding, Meta advertising credits and a place at Meta's AI Summit in Istanbul in November 2026.
What do the winners receive?
Two winners each receive US$5,000 in equity-free funding, Meta advertising credits and a place at Meta's AI Summit in Istanbul in November 2026.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Applying and pitching are free. Travel to Nairobi for pitch day is each team's own responsibility.
Questions we haven't answered? Contact the team.
META × THIS IS DIGITAL
Masterclass applications closed on 22 October 2026.
Everyone accepted was contacted on 30 October; the Masterclass starts online on Tuesday 3 November.