Heal Salone
AI for diagnosis, maternal and child health, health records and medicine supply.
WinnerUSD1,250Runner-upUSD750
USD10,000In awards across ten winners
5Pillars, one entry each
18 to 35Age of the lead founder
ECOWASStartups from any member state
About the challenge
Proven work, in the room where decisions are made.
Young Africans are already building AI products that diagnose illness, advise farmers, open up government, teach children and turn local data into evidence. They rarely reach the rooms where investment and policy decisions are made.
WAIIS 2026 brings ministers, financiers and development partners to Sierra Leone from 13 to 19 November. This challenge gives youth-led startups a place in that week on their own terms.
1A virtual challengeJudged by an independent panel before the Summit, so the session rewards proven work rather than promises.
2A youth session in FreetownAn afternoon that opens with the ten winners, then a founders’ panel and a hands-on workshop.
Who can enter
For startups that already exist and already use AI.
This is not an ideas competition.
- A working product or pilot that uses AI in a meaningful way
- Youth-led
The lead founder is aged 18 to 35.
- Registered or operating in an ECOWAS member state
With a solution that can serve Sierra Leone.
- One entry per startup, in one pillar
The five pillars
Pick the pillar your product serves.
Each pillar has a winner and a runner-up. Awards are paid within 30 days of the announcement, once identity, age and bank details are checked.
Feed Salone
AI for crop advice, pest and disease detection, market prices and climate risk.
WinnerUSD1,250Runner-upUSD750
Govern Salone
AI for public services, transparency, citizen feedback and open data.
WinnerUSD1,250Runner-upUSD750
Teach Salone
AI for personalised learning, assessment, teacher support and local-language content.
WinnerUSD1,250Runner-upUSD750
Discover Salone
AI for research tools, data analysis, local datasets and evidence for policy.
WinnerUSD1,250Runner-upUSD750
Independent judging
Two judges score every eligible entry.
AfCEN screens each entry first. A chair moderates any gap of more than 15 points between the two judges. Results stay sealed: the top two in each pillar are told they placed, but not where, until the announcement.
Impact
01How many people in Sierra Leone it can reach, and how much it changes for them.
30%
Quality and use of AI
02AI is central to the product and works as shown in the demo.
25%
Traction and viability
03Users, pilots, revenue or partners, and a credible path to sustain it.
20%
Responsible AI and inclusion
04Data protection, fairness, and reach to women, rural users and low-connectivity settings.
15%
Team
05Capacity of the team to deliver and grow.
10%
What you submit
Eight things, all online.
- 01
Startup profile. Name, country, founding year, team and the pillar you are entering.
- 02
Proof of registration. Or evidence that the startup is operating.
- 03
Pitch deck. No more than 10 slides.
- 04
How you are funded today. Commercial revenue, grants or bootstrapping.
- 05
Demo video. No more than 3 minutes, showing the product working.
- 06
How the product uses AI. A short note, including how it handles data responsibly.
- 07
Traction or impact. Users, pilots, revenue or partners.
- 08
Proof of the lead founder’s age. A national ID.
Key dates
From call to Freetown.
- Mon 19 Oct
Call for submissions opensNext
- Thu 22 Oct
Online information session for applicants
- Mon 2 Nov
Submissions close
- 3 to 4 Nov
Eligibility screening
- 5 to 9 Nov
Independent judging
- Tue 10 Nov
Top two in each pillar told they placed
- 13 to 19 Nov
Winners announced at the youth session in Freetown
Questions
What people ask before they enter.
Can I enter with an idea?
No. The challenge is for startups with a working product or pilot that already uses AI.
Does my startup have to be in Sierra Leone?
No. It can be registered or operating in any ECOWAS member state, as long as the solution can serve Sierra Leone.
Can we enter more than one pillar?
No. One entry per startup, in one pillar.
Do I have to travel to Freetown?
No. Winners who cannot travel join online, and the announcement is streamed. Travel for winners is not covered.
When are awards paid?
Within 30 days of the announcement, once the winner’s identity, age and bank details are checked. Three months later, each winner sends a one-page note on how the funds were used.
Bring your startup to WAIIS 2026.
Register, enter one pillar, and submit before 2 Nov.
Register your startup