SWEAT Africa 2026
- Wits University
Positioning Africa at the centre of global innovation, investment and collaboration. SWEAT Africa takes place from 13–14 February 2026.
Africa’s first experiential start-up and venture festival, uniting entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment, launches in just a few weeks. Hosted at the Bertha Retreat between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, SWEAT Africa brings together students, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, researchers, and founders from across the continent and beyond – creating a space where ideas, collaboration, and investment opportunity converge to showcase Africa as a global hub for innovation.
Some of the top universities in South Africa (e.g. Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, University of Witwatersrand, University of Pretoria, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Free State University) have joined SWEAT Africa and are sending some of their top start-ups. In addition, around 100 international investors and founders are attending the event – because this inaugural event will also host one of the top start-up programmes in Africa, established by the Open Startup International in partnership with the MIT Executive Programme.
SWEAT Africa was born after a 14 km Cape Epic mountain run, when a group of young founders, still dripping with sweat, joked with international Angel investors from Google and OpenAI about hosting a tech acceleration program in Africa’s hottest month. Inspired by Finland’s Slush and fuelled by laughter (and heat), they came up with SWEAT – 足球竞彩app排名s Working to Empower African Talent – and decided to create an event combining world-class startup acceleration, mentorship, and networking. More than a startup accelerator, SWEAT Africa is a human accelerator: a place to sweat, work, invest and connect together while shaping the Africa we envision and dream of.
Intentionally different from traditional conferences, SWEAT Africa is a curated platform recognising that sustainable progress happens where ideas, people, and context intersect. The programme combines focused startup engagement and investor access with shared experiences designed to foster openness, trust, and long-term collaboration.
“SWEAT Africa creates space for the kinds of conversations that matter – across disciplines, sectors and borders,” said Centre for Epidemic Research and Innovation (CERI)’s director and co-founder of SWEAT, Professor Tulio de Oliveira. “SWEAT will host over 100 start-ups from Africa and 50 venture capitalists and investors together. When one puts founders and investors together with the top universities, that’s where real innovation starts.”
At its core, SWEAT Africa is a two-day, high-impact gathering connecting top investors with Africa’s leading deep-tech startups and early-stage founders. The 2026 programme features:
- Deep-tech startups from across the continent.
- The Open StartUp BRAIN 5.0 accelerator programme, hosted in partnership with MIT.
- Participation from international investors and ecosystem stakeholders, enabling cross-border collaboration and co-investment.
- Curated networking experiences, including facilitated matchmaking between founders, venture capitalists, and lending partners.
- Pitchin’ Picnics highlighting investment-ready startups.
- Founder and investor storytelling sessions, including the SWEAT panel inspired by the Hot Ones format, offering candid perspectives on building and scaling deep-tech ventures in Africa.
SWEAT Africa is organised collaboratively, bringing together partners from academia, industry, startup ecosystems, and investment networks. This approach ensures equal representation and shared ownership, reflecting a vision of ecosystem-building that prioritises contribution over hierarchy.
One of the co-organisers, Open Startup, expressed huge motivation for this new partnership; “We love the idea of African organisations teaming up to promote science-led ventures. This will showcase the momentum for African Deep Tech, and that Africans are ready to SWEAT for it!” said Houda Ghozzi.
Another co-organiser, University of Witwatersrand, is equally excited. “We recognise the depth of talent in our universities and how often promising ideas stall due to limited opportunities. As an institution committed to research translation and societal impact, Wits wants to help innovators move from proof of concept to real-world adoption, while building ethical, inclusive businesses that create jobs and address meaningful challenges,” said Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation. “Africa’s next generation of founders should not have to leave the continent to access world-class support. SWEAT will help participants clarify a credible path forward, build practical skills in validation, team formation, and pitching, form strong networks of mentors and peers, and gain the confidence to innovate at global standards from an African base.”
A key objective of SWEAT Africa is connecting African startups with global investors and partners in practical, meaningful ways. Through curated pitch sessions, targeted matchmaking, and facilitated discussions, founders gain access to capital and international networks, while investors engage directly with ventures shaping Africa’s future across deep tech, emerging technologies, and impact-driven sectors.
“For Africa to harness its true potential, we need to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop inter-dependant ecosystems where economies grow and thrive at regional and continental levels. This is an amazing opportunity to catalyse this and break down the barriers between siloed funding programmes, by connecting ecosystems in Africa,” said Dr Richard Gordon from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), also a SWEAT co-organiser.
“Africa’s biggest gap for startups is funding. This limits scalability and growth,” said UVU Bio’s Dheepak Maharajh, a SWEAT Africa co-organiser. “SWEAT brings together all key players in the ecosystem and gives startups an opportunity to showcase their business ideas to a multitude of different investors. It allows the ecosystem to engage and share ideas and learn from each other.”
Beyond formal programming, SWEAT Africa emphasises community and cultural immersion. Outdoor runs through the Winelands, shared meals, informal networking, and celebratory moments reinforce the belief that relationships built through shared experiences, hard work, and even sweating together are stronger and longer-lasting.
Ross Vermeulen, SWEAT Africa co-organiser, added: “We’re designing an environment where connection happens naturally – through movement, conversation, and time spent together. That’s how lasting collaborations are formed.”
SWEAT Africa 2026 invites those building, funding, and supporting innovation – as well as anyone interested in Africa’s rapidly evolving tech and entrepreneurial landscape – to participate in a gathering that positions the continent as a leading hub for innovation, collaboration, and global relevance.
Tickets are on sale now and in high demand. In line with SWEAT Africa’s commitment to inclusivity, opportunities to win tickets will also be offered to students, early-stage founders, and community members, supporting broad access and diverse participation.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the future of African innovation, culture, and community – and to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and tech leaders.
Learn more and secure your ticket at: https://sweat.africa/