Open Startup Launches Fifth DeepTech Accelerator Programme

Open Startup has announced the launch of the fifth edition of its flagship accelerator programme, BRAIN 5.0, aimed at supporting African DeepTech startups to become investment- and market-ready.

According to the organisation, this milestone marks five years of continuous learning and refinement. Over time, the BRAIN programme has evolved to offer more practical, tailored support to help founders overcome both technical and business challenges. Each edition builds on the last, reinforcing efforts to bridge science and entrepreneurship across the continent.

Over the past five years, BRAIN has supported more than 40 DeepTech startups across 10 African countries and 12 industries. Of these, 25 startups have been accelerated, 60% have raised investment, and collectively they have secured over $5 million in funding across multiple sectors.

The fifth cohort will place greater emphasis on health and climate, offering deeper, specialised support to advance impactful DeepTech innovation in Africa. BRAIN is a 12-month hybrid accelerator designed for science-based startups deploying advanced AI technologies or complex hardware in health and climate sectors.

Developed in collaboration with AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, and the Dutch Good Growth Fund, the programme also partners with Steve Madden, Digital Africa, MIT-Africa, the MIT Executive MBA Program, Bpifrance, Sanofi, and InstaDeep.

Participants will benefit from a regional intensive bootcamp in South Africa co-delivered with MIT Executive MBA students and global DeepTech experts, international immersions across Africa, the United States, and Europe, and investor access through exclusive pitch clinics and meetings with top DeepTech investors.