Grace Ashiru
Applications are now open for the 2025 Llama Impact Accelerator Program, with a deadline of June 27, 2025. This regional initiative supports startups across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Senegal that are building impactful solutions using Llama. The program empowers participants to create scalable, locally relevant AI applications that tackle critical national challenges in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, education, safety, and public services. With expert mentorship, technical training, and post-program growth support, it aims to drive the next wave of AI innovation in Africa.
The Llama Impact Accelerator Program is an 8-month innovation and capacity-building initiative aimed at supporting startups using Llama to address critical challenges in the program’s focus countries. It features a 6-week intensive accelerator followed by 6 months of post-program support.
Llama is a collection of large language models developed by Meta, built to understand and generate human-like text. Open-sourced and optimized for efficiency, Llama models demand less computational power for training and inference than many other LLMs, making them more accessible to a broader range of developers and researchers.
Requirements
Startups must be based in Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, or South Africa and be developing impactful solutions using Llama. Eligible startups should:
- Have a working prototype or MVP, including early-stage products that clearly show technical potential
- Be available to fully participate in the 6-week accelerator, including in-person sessions
- Offer a solution aligned with the focus areas specific to their country (see country pages for details)
Benefits
- Chance to win up to $25,000 in equity-free funding
- Access to workshops and practical technical training
- Mentorship from industry experts and AI professionals
- Ongoing post-program support and visibility
- Program winners will be invited to pitch for up to $100,000 in additional funding at the Africa, Middle East, and Turkey (AMET) Llama Summit, and may apply for the Global Llama Impact Grant and other funding opportunities
Program Details
May 26, 2025: Applications Open
June 27, 2025: Application Deadline
August 2025: Accelerator Launch
September – October 2025: Demo Days
October 2025 – March 2026: Post-Program Support
For More Information:
Visit the official webpage of the Llama Impact Accelerator Program.
