A new initiative backed by the Austrian federal development agency aims to transform 200 Kenyan and Ugandan tech professionals into startup founders through a fully funded, six-month programme titled Tech Wings Africa.
The programme is delivered by Tunga Academy in partnership with StartHub and VC4A and is open to Kenyan and Ugandan technology professionals who wish to shift into entrepreneur-founder roles.
Participants will enter one of two tracks:
- A “Build Now” track where about ten participants per cohort (50 overall) will receive intense venture-building guidance aimed at launching registered, revenue-generating companies.
- A “Future Founders” track where the remaining participants (approximately 150) will undertake ideation and validation phases, leading to business model development and go-to-market plans.
The programme will also include a one-week launch bootcamp, followed by paid internships placed in African tech startups aiming to create at least 40 paid job positions over the cohorts.
Funded through Austria’s development cooperation (via the Austrian Development Agency) and implemented through local ecosystem partners, the initiative signals a strategic push by Austria into East Africa’s startup ecosystem.
Implications:
• The programme presents a significant opportunity for Kenyan and Ugandan tech professionals to move from employment into entrepreneurship with structured support and funding behind them.
• For innovation-consulting firms, startup accelerators and ecosystem builders in Kenya and Uganda, this opens partnership opportunities in mentoring, internships and venture support.
• More broadly, the venture reflects increasing interest from European development agencies in entrepreneurship and startup ecosystems in East Africa, moving beyond traditional aid models.
What to watch:
• The quality and sustainability of the startups that emerge from Tech Wings Africa, whether they gain traction, funding and scale.
• The extent to which paid internship placements convert into long-term employment or entrepreneurship outcomes.
• How local ecosystem partners (StartHub, Tunga, VC4A) mobilise networks, mentorship and capital to support the founders beyond the six-month programme.
• The potential for replication or scaling of the programme to other East African countries or technology domains.
Applications are open until 30th November 2025
To apply or for more information, visit the website.
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