START Fellowship Accelerator 2026 for Founders from Latin America & Africa (Deadline: 14 September, 2025)

Applications are open for the START Fellowship Accelerator 2026. The START Fellowship Accelerator is a unique program aimed at empowering young founders from Latin America and Africa!

Immerse yourself in the European Startup ecosystem over a period of 3 months in Switzerland through input sessions with experienced investors and entrepreneurs, classes at the University of St. Gallen, mentoring and coaching with experts, alongside funding opportunities. Build a strong network of like-minded entrepreneurs forming a tight-knit community and receive potential investments to make your startup grow exponentially.

Benefits

• Get immersed in the most vibrant Startup hubs of Europe and connect with the key stakeholders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem at events, or trips.
• Hosted by experts from a wide range of backgrounds, their Workshops offer insights into key topics regarding your Startup, including Fundraising, Marketing, Sales and more.
• Your two Mentors guide you throughout the entire accelerator in bi-weekly meetings, provide you with advice and all the support you need to see your Startup succeed.
• At the end of the accelerator, you’ll pitch your Startup to investors and ecosystem leaders, with the chance to secure funding and gain high-level exposure.
• You’ll get 24/7 access to an inspiring office full of driven founders, unlimited coffee, and a space designed to boost productivity and motivation.
• You’ll join exclusive events across Europe, connect with fellow founders, investors, and partners, and grow your network in the global startup ecosystem.
• You’ll have the opportunity to pitch in front of a jury and compete for up to 60k in equity-free funding to accelerate your startup’s growth.
• They cover your apartment, health insurance, and food allowance—so you can focus entirely on building your Startup without financial worries.

Eligibility

• Enrollment at a partner university in LatAm or Africa (If you’re not already enrolled, they still encourage you to apply since they can help you to get enrolled upon being selected for the program);
• You are between 18 – 25 years old;
• Committed to founding;
• You already have an MVP or a first prototype;
• English C1 Level.

Application

Note: If you have co-founders who want to participate, organisers recommend that you all apply separately to increase your chances of acceptance. Each application will be evaluated separately.

Deadline: September 14, 2025

For more information, visit START Fellowship Accelerator.