Antler has officially opened applications for its 2026 Nairobi residency.
The 10-week in-person program will start in April 2026 and is designed for both individuals and early-stage teams looking to accelerate their startup journey. Participants receive hands-on coaching, access to a global network of founders and investors and up to $100,000 in initial funding for a 10% equity stake.
If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here.
Antler accepts applicants from diverse backgrounds, including seasoned business operators, technologists and aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Individuals with 5–15 years of experience can join the residency to explore ideas, form co-founding teams and validate their business concepts.
- Early-stage startups with an MVP or early customer traction can apply for direct investment and mentorship on a rolling intake basis.
Program Structure
The Nairobi residency is structured in three main phases:
- Team Formation, Ideation & Validation (Weeks 1–5) – Founders work on forming teams, refining startup ideas and validating concepts through coaching, masterclasses, speaker sessions, and VC meetups.
- Sharpening Your Value Proposition (Weeks 6–10) – Participants focus full-time on business model refinement, customer interaction, and preparing to pitch to Antler’s Investment Committee.
- Pitch to Antler Investment Committee – Teams deemed ready will pitch for the $100,000 investment, with additional funding support available to match follow-on investor commitments.
Application Process
Applications typically take 2–3 weeks. Individual applicants submit a CV or LinkedIn profile and go through three rounds of interviews assessing alignment, leadership qualities and problem-solving skills. Startup teams submit a pitch deck and may be invited to present their idea in-person or via call.
Apply Now: https://www.antler.co/residency/kenya
For these and more stories, follow us on X (Formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn and Telegram. You can also send us tips or reach out at info@techarena.co.ke.
Also Read: Antler Nairobi Opens Applications for Next Startup Cohort, Offers $100K Pre-Seed Investment