Emergent Ventures Grant to Support Innovative Projects and Ideas in Africa 2026
Applicant criteria
- 13 - 60
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity description
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University offers the Emergent Ventures Africa & the Caribbean program, a funding track designed to support ambitious individuals with ideas and projects capable of creating meaningful and scalable change across Africa and the Caribbean.
The program is part of the broader Emergent Ventures initiative, which was created to support entrepreneurs, innovators, and promising talent with bold “zero-to-one” ideas that can generate real improvements in society. It particularly seeks applicants with unconventional, practical, and scalable ideas rather than projects that simply follow traditional approaches.
Projects may come from a wide range of fields. Previous initiatives supported through the Africa and Caribbean track have included scientific research, statistical genetics, biological research, youth training in data science, and other projects aimed at creating meaningful impact across the region.
Suitable Fields
The program is not limited to a single discipline and may be suitable for individuals with ideas in areas such as:
- Technology and innovation.
- Entrepreneurship.
- Education and training.
- Science and scientific research.
- Data and artificial intelligence.
- Health.
- Community development.
- Social impact projects.
- Initiatives offering new solutions to existing challenges.
Benefits
Selected participants in the Emergent Ventures program may receive:
- Financial support for the selected project or idea.
- The opportunity to develop and implement an innovative idea aimed at creating meaningful social impact.
- Support through a program designed for high-potential, scalable ideas.
- Access to a network of experts and mentors connected to the Mercatus Center and the Emergent Ventures program.
- Support in testing and developing ideas more quickly.
- No requirement to be enrolled in a university or academic program to apply for the program’s general track.
- The opportunity to apply with ideas and projects across different fields, provided they demonstrate clear potential for meaningful impact.
- Access to a dedicated track for projects focused on Africa and the Caribbean.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants may apply if they:
- Are 13 years old or older.
- Have an innovative idea or project that could make a meaningful contribution to improving society.
- Have an idea with strong potential for growth or scalability.
- Intend to implement a practical project or initiative rather than presenting only a broad or undefined concept.
- Are able to clearly explain the problem the project seeks to address and its expected impact.
- For the Africa & the Caribbean track, can clearly explain how the project could contribute to meaningful change or impact in Africa and/or the Caribbean.