Latitude59, the leading Estonian event for startups and technology, is calling on early-stage startups across Africa to compete for a significant prize pool of non-equity financial support. Celebrating its 12th edition in Tallinn this past May, the event attracted over 3,500 participants, including more than 900 startup enthusiasts and nearly 600 investors.

Invitation for African Startups

As part of its mission to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, Latitude59 is inviting African startups to join the upcoming pitch competition, a key highlight of the event’s next edition. Prior to the main event, selected startups will have the chance to showcase their business ideas at a special Latitude59 conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 28.

A Path to the Main Event

The winner of this preliminary round in Nairobi will earn the opportunity to pitch at the flagship Latitude59 event. For the past two years, the Latitude59 pitch competition has offered a substantial prize fund of EUR 1 million (around US$1.1 million).

Recognition of African Talent

Liisi Org, Chief Executive Officer of Latitude59, expressed excitement about the talent emerging from Africa, particularly highlighting the remarkable performance of African startups in last year’s competition. These startups have excelled in key areas such as green technology, financial technology, and clean technology. Inspired by these successes, Latitude59 is returning to Kenya for the second consecutive year, encouraging founders from across Africa to apply.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Latitude59 pitch competition in Kenya are open until November 1.