The Llama Impact Accelerator Program is a regional program supporting startups building impactful solutions with Llama. Running in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Senegal, the program enables participants to develop scalable, locally relevant AI applications that address pressing national challenges in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, safety, and public services. Through expert mentorship, technical training, and post-accelerator growth opportunities, the program is unlocking Africa’s next generation of AI innovation.
Llama is a suite of large language models developed by Meta, designed to generate and understand human-like text. Open-sourced and optimized for efficiency, Llama models require fewer computational resources for training and inference compared to many other LLMs. This makes them more accessible to a wider community of developers and researchers.
The Llama Impact Accelerator Program is an 8-month innovation and capacity-building initiative designed to support startups building impactful solutions using Llama to develop relevant solutions to pressing challenges in the program countries. The program includes a 6-week intensive accelerator and 6 months of post-program support.
Startups that are building scalable AI-powered solutions that address real-world challenges in the focus areas of each country. Applicants must be based in the country they are applying to.
The program is currently open to participants from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Senegal. Each country has its own thematic focus areas aligned with local development priorities.
Focus areas vary by country but generally include sectors such as Healthcare, Agriculture, Education, Public Safety, and more. A Wild Card category is also available to accommodate exceptional ideas outside the listed sectors.
The winning teams from the Demo Day may be eligible for equity-free funding of up to $25,000 to support the development and deployment of their solutions.
- First prize: $25,000
- Second prize: $15,000
- Third prize: $10,000
Participants will receive:
- Expert mentorship
- Technical training on Llama
- Exposure to policy stakeholders and potential partners
- Opportunities to showcase at Demo Day event
Applications are reviewed based on the relevance of the proposed solution, technical feasibility, team capacity, alignment with program focus areas, and potential for impact.
You can apply through the country-specific application portal. Visit the relevant country page to begin the application process.
You may apply with an early-stage prototype, but your team must demonstrate strong technical capabilities and a clear plan to develop and deploy the solution during/after the program.
You can learn more about Llama here.
How to update this block.
1. Clone this Module (Bio #1). You'll need to clone one for each of your speakers.
2. Rename each clone to correspond with a speaker's name. Then fill in the bio information for each.
3. Hover over the "+" button and click the link icon.
4. In the second dropdown, make sure the "Link To" section is selected to "Open Module (builder)".
5. In the last dropdown, find and link the corresponding speaker bio.
The Llama Impact Accelerator Program (the “Program”) is designed to support startups in Sub-Saharan Africa building AI-powered solutions using open-source models, particularly Llama. Participants selected into the Program will engage in a structured 6-week accelerator comprising training, technical sessions, and mentorship, followed by a Demo Day and up to six (6) months of tailored post-program support (collectively, the “Program Activities”).,
The Program will proceed as follows (dates subject to change at the discretion of the Program Sponsor and partners):
• Application Period: May 26 – June 27, 2025
• Accelerator Phase: August – September 2025
• Demo Day: September – October 2025
• Post-Program Support: October 2025 – March 2026
• Participation in the Program is contingent upon full compliance with these Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”) and any applicable agreements or policies.
The Program is open to legally registered companies, teams, or organizations (“Participants”) that:
• Are headquartered in the country where the Program is delivered;
• Have a working prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) that integrates or plans to integrate the Llama model;
• Address one or more of the focus sectors defined for their country (e.g., healthcare, agriculture, education, public safety) or present a high-impact solution under the Wild Card category;
• Commit to full participation in the 6-week accelerator, including both virtual and in-person sessions;
• Are not under any legal or contractual obligation prohibiting their participation.
Participants must be able to demonstrate their legal eligibility upon request and must not be currently restricted from participating in similar initiatives under any prior or existing funding agreements.
To participate, eligible entities must:
• Complete and submit the official Program application during the open Application Period.
• Provide accurate, complete, and truthful information, including technical documentation, team information, and other materials as specified in the application form.
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to participate in additional evaluation stages, which may include the submission of further documentation or clarification of their application. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel comprising program delivery partners and technical experts. Finalists will be selected based on the following non-exhaustive criteria:
• Innovation and originality;
• Technical feasibility and quality of integration with Llama;
• Alignment with Program sector priorities;
• Team experience and execution capacity;
• Social or commercial impact potential.
All decisions of the review and selection panel are final and binding. Submission of an application does not guarantee admission into the Program or receipt of funding.
Participants selected into the Program agree to:
• Fully engage in all Program Activities, including but not limited to workshops, technical sessions, mentorship sessions, and community events;
• Abide by the Program’s Code of Conduct, which upholds principles of professionalism, inclusion, and responsible use of AI;
• Submit progress updates and participate in monitoring and evaluation activities during and after the Program.
Failure to comply with participation expectations may result in removal from the Program and forfeiture of associated benefits.
Participants may be considered for equity-free funding of up to $25,000 (the “Seed Funding”), subject to:
• Achievement of milestones as determined by the Program Sponsor and delivery partners;
• Submission of required deliverables and compliance with Program reporting;
• Execution of an Agreement detailing funding terms and disbursement schedules.
The availability and disbursement of funds are not guaranteed and may be revoked or adjusted at the discretion of the Program team based on participant conduct or performance.
Participants shall retain all rights, title, and interest in any intellectual property (“IP”) developed independently or during the course of the Program. By participating, each Participant:
• Grants the Program and its affiliates a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use the name, logo, and description of their project for promotional and reporting purposes;
• Acknowledges responsibility for securing all rights necessary for any third-party content used in their solution;
• Affirms that participation in the Program and submission of materials will not violate the rights of any third party.
Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as transferring ownership of any Participant’s IP to the Program or its partners. Each Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Program, the Program Sponsor and delivery partners, do not now nor will they have in the future any duty or liability (direct or indirect; vicarious, contributory or otherwise) with respect to the infringement or protection of Participant’s patent, copyright, or other proprietary rights.
Participant information collected through the application and Program activities will be used strictly for administration, evaluation, and reporting purposes. All personal and proprietary information will be handled in compliance with applicable data protection regulations.
Participants may be asked to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) when engaging with certain Program mentors, partners, or technical providers.
By participating, Participants consent to be photographed, recorded, and featured in media or promotional materials produced in connection with the Program. This includes use on websites, social media, presentations, and reports.
Participants may be invited to contribute to public content such as blogs, panels, or press features. Any use of proprietary content will require prior approval.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:
• The Program Sponsor and partners shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from or related to participation in the Program.
• Participation in the Program does not guarantee funding, investment, future opportunities, or commercial success.
• Each Participant is solely responsible for the legality, safety, and intellectual property compliance of their product or solution.
The Program reserves the right to:
• Modify, suspend, or terminate any part of the Program or these Terms at any time.
• Revise timelines due to operational or strategic considerations.
• Remove Participants who fail to comply with the Terms, applicable laws, or Program policies.
Any updates to these Terms will be communicated to Participants in a timely manner.
