Applications Open for Latest Harambeans Cohort, Closing October 31
Applications are open for the newest cohort of Harambeans, the pan-African entrepreneurship network known for its highly selective admissions process and a track record of alumni companies that now shape parts of the continent’s tech landscape.
How to Apply
Founders have two submission windows this cycle. An early admission deadline falls on September 30, 2026, followed by a regular admission deadline on October 31, 2026, according to details published on the Harambeans application page. Each class admits just 30 members from a pool that typically exceeds 3,000 applicants, making it one of the more competitive entrepreneurship networks operating on the continent. The organisation has not disclosed specific eligibility criteria beyond a general emphasis on entrepreneurial track record, though its admissions FAQ page offers further guidance for those weighing whether to submit.
A Brief on Harambeans
Founded in 2008 around the Swahili concept of harambee, meaning to pull together, Harambeans describes itself as an alliance of entrepreneurs committed to building Africa’s future. Rather than running a fixed curriculum or accelerator-style programme, it centres its model on long-term relationships between founders, mentors, and a broader community of business leaders.
Over the years, companies linked to its alumni network have included Nigerian payments company Flutterwave, talent marketplace Andela, and South African payments platform Yoco. Collectively, ventures tied to the network have created more than 3,000 jobs and raised over $1 billion from investors such as Google Ventures, CRE Ventures, and Accel, according to Disrupt Africa.
For Nigerian founders, Flutterwave’s place in that lineage gives the programme a familiar local reference point, even as outcomes at that scale remain uncommon among any entrepreneurship network’s broader membership.
Applicants can find further details on the organisation’s approach and support structure on its About Us page ahead of submitting.
