---
markdown_generated_at: "2026-11-04"
title: "Qualcomm Make in Africa"
url: "https://www.qualcomm.com/company/locations/africa/qualcomm-make-in-africa"
---

# Qualcomm Make in Africa

Helping African startups bring their innovations to the market

Thank you for your interest. Registrations are closed for this year. Stay tuned for 2027.

[Stay Tuned](https://www.qualcomm.com/support/contact/forms/qualcomm-make-in-africa)

Program Overview

## Qualcomm® Make in Africa Startup Mentorship Program

As the first initiative of its kind in Africa, this equity-free mentorship program will identify promising early-stage startups keen on applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies to innovative end-to-end systems solutions, including hardware, and provide these companies with business coaching, access to engineering consultation for product development, and guidance on protecting intellectual property.

## Program Benefits

1. **Startup cohort:** Up to 10 startups will be selected for the 2026 incubation program. [QMIA 2026 Rules](https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/QMIA-2026-Official-Rules.pdf)
2. **Mentorship:** 1:1 mentorship with Qualcomm subject matter experts
3. **Platforms:** Arduino Uno Q based usecase proposals welcome
4. **Masterclasses:** Expert-led technology training in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) including AI-Hub, Internet of Things (IoT), Extended Reality (XR), Compute (AI-PC), 5G, Intellectual Property Law, and more. Additional access to technology, business, and IP training is available at [Qualcomm Academy](https://academy.qualcomm.com/course-catalog/Global-Startups-and-Ecosystem-Training)
5. **Stipends:** One startup will be awarded a Social Impact Fund grant from Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™. All other participating startups will be eligible for a USD $5,000 stipend upon successful completion of program requirements
6. **Patent filing incentives:**
   - Reimbursement of up to USD $5,000 for one full utility patent application filed in the startup's country, at the USPTO, or via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
   - Eligibility for a patent filing consultation hours from Adams & Adams, Africa's leading IP law firm. [Learn more](https://www.adams.africa/collaboration-sponsorships/qualcomm-make-in-africa-initiative/)
   - Free access to online IP education, including filing procedures for several African countries, at [L2Pro Africa](https://l2proafrica.com/)
7. **Visibility and Industry connections:** Participation in a virtual finale event in December 2026, including the announcement of the Social Impact Fund award winner. This event will showcase the startups and help accelerate their business success

## Program Timeline

Application Phase: **: December 17th 2025 to February 15th 2026**

Shortlisting of the Startups: **March 2026**

Mentorship Program: **April 2026 to November 2026**

Program Finale & Demo Day: **December 2026**