Connected Africa Summit 2026

The Connected Africa Summit is Africa's flagship platform for advancing collaboration, policy dialogue, and investment in the digital economy. As Africa moves toward deeper regional integration and the realization of a Single Digital Market, innovation plays a critical role in translating policy aspirations into practical, scalable solutions that serve citizens, businesses, and governments across borders.

In line with the 2026 theme, "Uniting Innovation for a Single Digital Market," the Innovation Component of the Connected Africa Summit 2026 is designed to identify, nurture, and showcase high-impact startups whose solutions promote interoperability, inclusion, cross-border digital trade, and shared digital infrastructure. The component will bring together innovators, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem enablers to demonstrate how African-built solutions can power a unified and competitive digital market.

The Innovation Component will be implemented in partnership with the Association of Countrywide Innovation Hubs, leveraging their nationwide reach to identify promising startups from across the country. Following a competitive selection process, the top 10 startups will participate in a structured boot camp ahead of the Summit and exhibit their solutions during the main event in Diani.