Programme 2026

The programme of SWEAT Africa 2026, held on 13–14 February. Kept here for reference.

Looking for 2027? See what we can share so far.

Day 1: Friday, 13 February

Dress Code: Smart-casual (shorts welcome – it’s summer!)

13:00-14:00 | Registration

Venue: Reception

Participants: Open to all attendees

Settle in, get your tags, and meet innovators, investors, and ecosystem partners.

14:00-14:30 | Welcome Session

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

A high-energy opening to set the tone for a weekend designed to challenge, inspire, and activate future founders and thinkers.

14:30-15:00 | Open Startup Opening Panel

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

An insightful discussion about investing in deep-tech in Africa from an LP perspective.

Panelists:

Eya Chemli – Head of Partnerships & Fundraising, Open Startup.
Khaled Ben Jilani – Senior Partner, AfricInvest.
Wayne Stocks – Managing Partner, University Technology Fund (UTF).
Jacques Grassmann – Senior Investment Analyst, AfricaGrow Fund / KfW.
Rowena Luk – Founder, Africa Health Ventures.

15:00-15:15 | Interlude 1

Catch your breath.

15:15–16:15 | Select Pan-African Deep-tech Pitches

Host: Open Startup – BRAIN Accelerator Programme

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

Featuring deep-tech startups from across Africa.

BRAIN presented by Open Startup International: expect world-class ideas, bold founders, and real investment opportunities coming out of Africa.

16:15-16:30 | Interlude 2

Grab refreshments.

16:30–17:30 | VC Reverse Pitches

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

VCs share their focus areas, so founders know exactly who to connect with.

17:30-19:00 | Parallel Sessions: Pitchin’ Picnics and Student Orientation

Pitchin’ Picnics

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

Venue: Various locations around Bertha retreat. Participants will be directed on the day.

A curated, pre-matched speed-networking picnics.

Student Sweat Equity Program (Orientation)

Host: LaunchLab

Participants: Senior students

Venue: Main meeting room

An orientation for students to familiarise them with the purpose of the event, and a basic introduction to the startup ecosystem.

19:00–19:15 | Day 1 Closing, But Not Shutting Down

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

Recap of Day 1 and set the vision for Day 2.

19:15–20:30 | Side Events

Venue: Various locations at Bertha retreat. Guests will be directed on the day.

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

See our website side event page for side events happening!

Day 2 – Saturday, 14 February

Dress Code: Smart Casual – and bring active wear for the active events!

09:15–14:00 | Side Events

Venue: Various locations at Bertha retreat. Guests will be directed on the day.

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

See our website side event page for side events happening!

12:00–12:15 | Opening + Announcing of R100k pitch comp top 10

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

Find out who our top 10 SWEAT Africa pitch competitors are.

14:00–14:30 | Welcome Back to the Main Stage

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

Regroup and talk before the SWEAT panel.

14:30–16:00 | SWEAT Panel

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

The conversation will explore what it really takes to build, scale, and sustain globally competitive ventures, with a particular focus on science- and technology-driven businesses emerging from Africa.

Panelists:

Urmi Richardson, a global life sciences executive with over 25 years’ experience scaling healthcare businesses worldwide, including serving as President, EMEA at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Yolisa Nalule, who leads Wellcome’s Major International Programmes in Africa, working to strengthen equitable research and health ecosystems across the continent.
Mike-Alec Kearney, co-founder and executive at CubeSpace, building globally competitive space-tech hardware from South Africa.
Dele Olojede, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, founder and host of Africa In the World. Olojede has spent more than four decades in journalism – as publisher, editor and reporter.
Francis Kombe, CEO of EthIXPERT – a non-profit Pan African organisation which aims to build responsible and ethical research capacity in and for Africa.

16:00–18:00 | SWEAT’s Active Events

No PBs. No pressure. Just movement.

Join the Stellenbosch Shake-Out crew, trail builders, good humans, and general legends for a walk, walk-run, or run-walk to get the blood flowing and the brain firing in the lovely Cape floral region.

Venue: Meet at the main stage (Bedouin tent) for instructions

Participants: Open to all attendees (yes, even non-runners)

Sunset Yoga with lovely Lente: Stretch the stress away. Flow, breathe, and reset with Lente in the summer air. Perfect for sore legs, tired brains, and founders who forgot what a deep breath feels like.

Venue: Conference room

Participants: Open to all attendees

BS Bingo: Business-Only Networking. No small talk. No “So what do you do?”
Just sharp conversations, real connections, and zero fluff. A curated networking session for people who’d rather talk business than exchange LinkedIn pleasantries.

Venue: Meet at the main stage (Bedouin tent) for instructions

Participants: Open to all attendees

18:00–18:45| Pitch Competition Finals

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

The top 3 SWEAT Africa pitch finalists will battle it out on the main stage: one winner takes ALL R100,000. No splits.

18:45–19:00 | SWEAT Recap and Closing

Venue: Main stage at Bedouin tent

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

Signing off but not signing out.

19:00–21:00 | Sunset Sweatshop!!!

Participants: VCs | Startups | Mentors | Ecosystem Builders

Unwind, mingle, and enjoy a proper South African-style evening with a live music performance by Sunset Sweatshop and a lekker spit BRAAI.

Halaal and vegan options available.