African entrepreneurship initiatives launch in South Africa and Congo

New initiatives are emerging to support entrepreneurship and startup growth across Africa. The SiGMA Pitch Startup Competition 2027 is set to provide African startups with international visibility. Scheduled for February 17, 2027, in Cape Town, South Africa, the event will feature over 100 startups, with six finalists competing live before investors, venture capitalists, and industry leaders in the technology, gaming, and fintech sectors.

In Congo, the Fonds d’impulsion, de garantie et d’accompagnement (FIGA) has launched the O-SEED (Student Entrepreneurship for Economic Development) program in Brazzaville. Partnering with PRATIC and its incubator PUI, the program aims to transition academic ideas into viable market businesses. The pilot phase will select 20 high-potential projects for incubation and structuring, with a goal of directing 15 of those projects toward financing. The initiative focuses on sectors such as digital technology, agriculture, industry, green economy, and culture.