The 12-week hybrid accelerator, backed by ₦100 million in grants, brings together some of Africa’s most promising startups across fintech, healthtech, agritech, edtech, and cleantech.

These startups have demonstrated exceptional potential to scale across the continent by leveraging MTN’s infrastructure, APIs, and strategic partnerships.

Speaking at the announcement, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief enterprise business officer at MTN Nigeria, said:

“Today is not just another launch. It is the beginning of a bold new chapter in Africa’s digital transformation story. It all began with a dream: to build a world-class data centre and launch MTN Cloud, a solution designed to deliver on world-class capabilities without the usual barriers. Building on that momentum, we made a promise: to create an Accelerator Program that would empower African startups to scale, thrive, and lead globally. And today, we have delivered.

For too long, our continent has been described as ‘emerging.’ But what we see are markets already bursting with innovation, resilience, and grit.

What African entrepreneurs lack is not ideas, but the right environment, partners, and tools to scale globally. And that is exactly what this program provides.”

Among the Accelerator Program startups are DoktorConnect, led by Joseph Olowe, shifting healthcare from reactive to preventive using FDA-certified IoT devices; and MYITURA, founded by Shina Arogundade, which is building integrated digital health ecosystems across Africa.

In fintech, Regxta, led by Bello Rukayat, is targeting 600 million underserved Africans through AI-powered digital banking, while Creditchek, (Kingsley Ibe), is developing machine learning tools for credit assessment and fraud prevention.

In the sustainability space, Trashcoin Limited, founded by Olamide Phebe Ilesanmi, is digitising recycling through Africa’s first eco-fintech platform, while Scrapays Inc., led by Boluwatife Arewa, is building decentralised recycling infrastructure that has already reached over 36,700 households.

In agritech, Agrovesto, under Bayo Adewoye, is improving farmer incomes by 30–60% for over 20,000 farmers, and XChangeBOX, led by Abiola Jimoh, is driving excellence in agro-commodity trading and exports.

The MTN Cloud Accelerator offers a robust support system, deep integration with MTN’s APIs and cloud infrastructure, access to Africa’s largest telecom network, one-on-one mentorship from industry leaders, go-to-market support, and investor pitch opportunities.

The programme runs from September 6 to December 6, 2025, and will culminate in a showcase event where the startups will pitch to potential investors and partners.

This initiative reaffirms the technology company’s commitment to fostering digital solutions for Africa’s progress.

But for many of these startups, the real battle begins after the launch. Scaling, securing infrastructure, and finding the right partners can often stall even the most promising ventures.

Enter the MTN Cloud Accelerator Programme, a 12-week growth journey designed by MTN Nigeria to help African startups not only scale but thrive.

A Launchpad for Africa’s Next Big Tech Players

Officially launched in July 2025, the MTN Cloud Accelerator was born out of a simple yet powerful idea: Africa’s innovators deserve more than inspiration, they deserve the infrastructure, mentorship, and reach to go global.

This initiative, led by MTN Nigeria’s Enterprise Business Unit, targets growth-stage startups, companies with live products or minimum viable products (MVPs) already in the market. These aren’t just ideas in notebooks; these are businesses looking for that final push into regional and international markets.

“This is a platform for Africa’s innovators to create, scale, and redefine industries,” says Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief enterprise business officer at MTN Nigeria. “We are giving founders access to world-class infrastructure and mentorship because we believe in their power to transform communities and economies.”

What Startups Will Gain

Selected startups will join a diverse cohort tackling real African challenges, from fintech and agri-tech to health, education, and cybersecurity.

Over three intensive months, founders will gain:

• Access to MTN’s cloud infrastructure and technology ecosystem
• Business and technical mentorship from leading experts
• Funding opportunities and investor exposure
• Product integration into MTN platforms
• Support refining their go-to-market strategy and user growth

The programme blends local insight with global best practices, offering tailored support that respects Africa’s context while preparing startups for scale.

Why it Matters

Africa’s future will be shaped by entrepreneurs. But innovation without the right support is like a seed without sunlight. The MTN Cloud Accelerator provides that sunlight, powering growth through infrastructure, knowledge, and connection.

This is more than a programme; it’s a movement to build Africa’s digital economy from the inside out. As the continent’s largest telecom and technology provider, MTN is leveraging its reach and expertise to nurture innovation that speaks directly to Africa’s needs.

How to Apply

Applications opened on July 7, 2025, and will close on August 15, 2025. If you’re a founder ready to scale your solution and change your community, visit here to apply.

The next wave of African tech leaders is rising. With MTN’s Cloud Accelerator, the leap from local idea to global impact just got a whole lot shorter.