The Innovation Hub at Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) has officially announced the call for applications for the 2026 TechSkills Marketplace Program—a flagship initiative designed to connect African startups and MSMEs with exceptional CMU-Africa graduate talent.
Running from November 1 to December 1, 2025, this competitive program offers startups across the continent a unique opportunity to access skilled graduate interns in fields driving Africa’s digital transformation.
The TechSkills Marketplace Program matches African startups with CMU-Africa students to work on real-world technical challenges. Through this initiative, companies get fresh perspectives and advanced technical support, while students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for the future of work.
Startups benefit from expertise in high-demand areas such as:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Data Science
Software Engineering
Product Design & Development
Digital Platforms & Systems Innovation
This collaboration strengthens Africa’s innovation ecosystem and accelerates tech-driven solutions across sectors.
The program is seeking impact-driven startups and MSMEs that meet the following criteria:
Registered and operational in Africa, with a clear business model or product in development
Able to co-fund the internship within the co-financing structure
Working on technology or digital innovation projects, such as platform development, data system enhancements, AI-driven tools, or product engineering
Committed to mentorship, providing a supportive environment for CMU-Africa interns
Open to remote or hybrid work arrangements
This call targets forward-thinking companies ready to scale, innovate, and strengthen their technical capacities.
November 1, 2025: Applications open
January–February 2026: Selection of startups and MSMEs
March–May 2026: Matching and onboarding
June 2026: Internship placements begin
Participating startups gain:
Tap into CMU-Africa’s pool of elite graduate students with world-class training in cutting-edge technologies.
The program offers a cost-sharing internship model, reducing the financial burden on startups while maximizing impact.
Gain exposure through CMU-Africa’s Innovation Hub partner network, increasing collaboration and investment opportunities.
Startups play a direct role in shaping Africa’s next generation of tech leaders while advancing their own digital solutions.
If you are an impact-driven founder or lead a growing tech-enabled startup, this is your opportunity to gain skilled technical support while contributing to high-impact education and innovation in Africa.
Learn more and apply by December 1, 2025: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScg4pCwlaZ6KSmWhQkGynjzUsDdrfTya_OMGXWD6SyNRg_hwg/viewform
Copyright 2025 Site. All rights reserved powered by Opportunities for Women
Comments are off for this post.