PITCH PERFECT AFRICA 2026 APPLICATION

Organisation: Health Innovation Hub (H2i), University of Toronto

Programme: Pitch Perfect Africa 2026

Location: Virtual

Winning prize: CAD $5,000

Pitch Competition: 16 November 2026

Application Deadline: 29 September 2026

OVERVIEW

Pitch Perfect Africa 2026 gives early-stage health ventures in Africa a chance to showcase their innovations and gain support for further development. Six eligible H2i Level 2 ventures will be selected to pitch their ideas to a panel of expert judges, with three winning ventures each receiving a CAD $5,000 Innovation Fellowship. The competition also allows entrepreneurs to strengthen their pitching and investment readiness while connecting with experts and potential partners. The programme includes a virtual pitch competition and a masterclass focused on developing stronger pitches and market research skills. Applicants must be current H2i Level 2 ventures that were onboarded by their lead mentor by 31 August 2026.

ELIGBILITY

Applicants must:

Be a current H2i Level 2 HENT venture onboarded by their lead mentor by 31 August 2026. No exceptions.
Be at the Discovery stage of H2i’s four-level venture development model.
Have not previously won Pitch Perfect Africa. Past finalists who did not win are welcome to reapply.

Key Dates

Applications Open: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 11:59 pm (Eastern Time)

Building a Winning Pitch Masterclass: Friday, October 9, 2026

Pitch Competition (Virtual): Monday, November 16, 2026

BENEFITS

Three winning ventures will each receive a CAD $5,000 Innovation Fellowship to support the continued development of their health innovation.

The competition also provides selected ventures with an opportunity to:

Pitch their innovations to expert judges.
Strengthen their pitching and communication skills.
Improve their investment readiness.
Develop a stronger understanding of their market and competition.
Connect with experts, potential partners, customers, and investors.

Building a Winning Pitch Masterclass

A strong pitch starts with a clear understanding of your venture’s value proposition.

Join the Health Innovation Hub (H2i) for Building a Winning Pitch Masterclass, a practical session designed to help early-stage health entrepreneurs strengthen how they communicate their venture.

Led by Professor Paul Santerre, the session will cover the 10 key elements of a winning pitch, from defining the problem and solution to understanding your market, competition, milestones, and team.

Date: Friday, October 9, 2026

Time: 8:00 – 9:00 am ET | 12:00 – 1:00 pm GMT

Format: Zoom

Registration: https://luma.com/gov7ux06 (This masterclass is open to all)