Latitude59 Opens 2026 Kenya Pitch Competition for African Startups

Latitude59 is returning to Kenya for the fourth consecutive year, with applications now open for its 2026 Kenya Pitch Competition, giving early-stage startups across Africa an opportunity to compete for non-equity funding, partner prizes and a place on the main stage in Nairobi.

The Latitude59 Kenya Edition will take place on December 3–4, 2026, bringing together founders, investors and technology companies from Africa and international markets.

December 3 will focus on investor activities and side events, while the main conference and pitch competition will take place on December 4.

Last year’s Kenya edition attracted about 2,000 participants, with organisers expecting a similar turnout this year. The event is also expected to bring around 600 investors from Africa, Europe, the Nordics and Asia.

“Rooted in Estonia, Latitude59 has established a strong international presence and built strong connections across Africa,” said Latitude59 CEO Liisi Org. “We are now returning to Kenya for the fourth year in a row and inviting founders from across Africa to apply for the opportunity to present their startups on the Latitude59 Pitch Competition stage in Nairobi this December.”

Startups From Across Africa Can Apply

The pitch competition is open to early-stage startups from Kenya and other African markets. Latitude59 is not restricting applications to specific sectors, but applicants must demonstrate a strong technology component and a scalable business model.

Organisers are particularly interested in startups that already have a functioning minimum viable product, demonstrable traction and teams actively raising capital.

More than 600 startups participated in last year’s pitch competition, according to Krista Meinarde, Latitude59 Head of Investor-Startup Relations.

“We do not restrict applicants to specific sectors, but a strong technological component and a clearly scalable business model are important. Ideally, we are looking for startups with a functioning MVP, clear traction, and teams that are actively fundraising,” said Meinarde.

The competition gives founders an opportunity to present their businesses to investors and other participants attending the Nairobi event, while the winners will compete for non-equity funding and partner prizes.