Latitude59 is returning to Kenya for the fourth consecutive year, with applications now open for its 2026 Kenya Pitch Competition.
The competition is open to early-stage startups from Kenya and across Africa. It offers selected founders an opportunity to pitch on the main stage of Latitude59 Kenya Edition 2026 in Nairobi.
Latitude59 Kenya Edition 2026 will take place on December 3–4 in Nairobi. December 3 will focus on investor activities and side events, while the main conference will take place on December 4.
Latitude59 CEO Liisi Org said the event has continued to build connections between African startups and international investors, companies and ecosystem players.
“Rooted in Estonia, Latitude59 has established a strong international presence and built strong connections across Africa,” said Org. “We are now returning to Kenya for the fourth year in a row and inviting founders from across Africa to apply for the opportunity to present their startups on the Latitude59 Pitch Competition stage in Nairobi this December.”
The two-day event will bring together African founders, international investors and companies operating across African and global markets.
Last year’s Latitude59 Kenya event attracted around 2,000 participants, and organizers expect a similar turnout in 2026. The audience is expected to include around 600 investors from Africa, Europe, the Nordic countries and Asia.
Startups invited to apply
According to Latitude59 Head of Investor-Startup Relations Krista Meinarde, the competition is open to early-stage startups across sectors.
“Last year, the Latitude59 Pitch Competition attracted over 600 startup participants, and we expect similar interest this year,” said Meinarde.
The organizers are particularly interested in startups with a functioning MVP, clear traction and teams that are actively fundraising.
From the applications, 10 startups will be selected to receive professional pitch training and mentoring ahead of the competition.
The finalists will then pitch on the main stage on December 4, competing for a prize pool comprising non-equity funding and prizes from Latitude59 partners.
One startup will also receive a fast-track invitation to Latitude59 2027 in Tallinn, Estonia, with Latitude59 covering the cost of round-trip travel to Estonia.
Apply here: https://start.hopohopo.io/public/apply/d7193e19b77efbb38236dfcca456a4c6
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 [email protected].
Also Read: Google Launches Five New AI and Cloud Initiatives for Africa at Inaugural Cloud Summit
