Application Deadline: October 31st, 2025
Applications are now open for the Cross Border Jobs Startup Competition 2025. The Jobtech Alliance is launching the Cross Border Jobs Startup Competition to identify and support bold startups shaping the future of labour mobility for Africans. This competition seeks to source bold ideas, spotlight existing solutions, and build momentum for safer, fairer, and scalable pathways for the African continent to move across borders.
The Challenge: Africa’s labour market is expanding at an unprecedented pace. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 10–12 million young people are joining the labour market annually, yet only about 3 million formal sector jobs are being created. This gap leaves millions without viable and formal employment options at home.
The program is seeking startups that:
- Expand existing jobtech solutions into the labour mobility space
- Facilitate worker mobility across African or global borders, through recruitment, placement and/or service management
- Offer enabling services focused on the needs of migrants such as finance, language training, compliance, housing, or recruitment
Requirements
Eligible startups must satisfy all the following conditions:
- Offer cross-border labour mobility solutions for Africans, between Africa and globally and across African borders
- Have a registered business.
- Though the business can be at any stage (including idea/MVP stage), some evidence of traction is preferred.
- Adhere to principles relating to responsible and professional labor migration
Prizes & Support
The top 3 startups win:
- Grants worth $10k each
- Access to the Jobtech Alliance’s tech perks worth up to $200,000 per company (including AWS credits and more)
- Mentorship + community access through Jobtech Alliance, LaMP, IOM, and partners
- Eligibility for follow-on support for startups showing strong traction
- Applications open: 1 October
- Q&A Webinar: 17th October
- If you have any questions, feel free to email at [email protected] and register to join for the Q&A webinar here
- Deadline: 31 October
- Shortlisting complete: 7 November
- Pitches of Shortlisted companies: 10-17 November
- Winners announced: Early December
How to Apply
Apply Online by completing the short application form, alongside a max 10 slide pitch deck
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Cross Border Jobs Startup Competition
