Call for Submissions: MIT Kuo Sharper Center Deep Tech Program in Africa, powered by Material Impact.
Deadline Sept 30th 2025
From the MIT Kuo-Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship
The MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship is proud to announce the launch of the Deep Tech Program for Africa, powered by Material Impact, part of a historic collaboration between the Government of Botswana and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Hosted in Gaborone, Botswana, November 10–16, 2025.
Applications are now open for early-stage African founders to develop their technologies in advanced sciences and engineering into solutions to regional market needs and address society’s most pressing challenges in health, renewable energy, agriculture, and mining.
Why Deep Tech? Why Africa?
Africa’s future lies in transitioning to knowledge-driven economies, and deep tech innovation is central to the continent’s global competitiveness. Yet many promising scientific breakthroughs stall in the lab due to gaps in commercialization knowledge, mentorship, and networks.
The Deep Tech Program bridges that gap by equipping innovators with the tools, guidance, and connections needed to translate research into market-ready ventures.
“Deep tech is central to solving the most pressing challenges of our time. By offering African scientists the right education, networks, and support, we can unlock innovations that will drive prosperity across Botswana, the continent, and the world,” said Dina H. Sherif, Executive Director, MIT Kuo Sharper Center.
What You’ll Gain
Over an intensive week in Botswana, followed by virtual engagements, participants will:
Master the deep tech startup journey from need definition to scaled business
Understand market needs and translate them into critical pain points
Productize technology into focused solutions
Create a clear and concise fundraising narrative
Elucidate value propositions and align stakeholders
Develop an operating plan
Learn directly from MIT faculty, global deep-tech founders, and case studies.
Build lasting connections with a network of peers, mentors, and supportive stakeholders.
Access customized mentorship from Material Impact, a leading deep-tech venture firm with $750M+ in assets under management and a portfolio of pioneering startups in fields such as manufacturing/biofacturing, water and food supply, healthcare, and energy transformation.
“The challenges facing our world today demand bold, disruptive solutions that can scale for meaningful impact,” said Adam Sharkawy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Material Impact. “By combining MIT’s global leadership in entrepreneurship education with Material Impact’s hands-on operational company-building approach, this program empowers African entrepreneurs to transform local breakthrough technologies into enduring companies that drive regional and global change.”
Why Botswana?
Botswana is positioning itself as a continental hub for science-driven entrepreneurship, aligned with its vision to build a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy. Hosting the Deep Tech Program signals Botswana’s commitment to frontier innovation and its role in shaping the future of prosperity in Africa and beyond.
Program Details
Applications Open: September 10, 2025
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Selected Teams Notified: October 10, 2025
Program Dates: November 10–16, 2025 (Gaborone)
Cohort Size: 15 teams
Who Should Apply?
We are seeking early-stage teams from across Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Egypt, Botswana, South Africa, and beyond) who are:
Working on scientifically backed ventures with strong IP or advanced research
Exploring or beginning the commercialization of their innovations
Ambitious to transform their industry and region through deep tech
This program is your chance to accelerate your venture, connect with global networks, and be part of Africa’s next generation of deep-tech leaders.