The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge is pleased to invite members of the public, ecosystem partners, founders, investors, students, researchers, and innovation stakeholders to attend the 2026 SEF 2.0 Pitch Day.
đź“…Tuesday, 9 June 2026
🕛2.30pm – 6.00pm: Pitching at Cambridge Judge Business School
đź“ŤLT1, Cambridge Judge Business School
Register to attend: SEF 2.0 Pitch Day 2026 · Luma
This year's entrants
This year, 13 scholar-led start-ups will present innovative ventures addressing critical challenges across:
- Clean Technology
- Agricultural Technology
- Health Technology
- Climate Tech
The start-ups will pitch bold and scalable ideas demonstrating how their innovations can create meaningful impact and drive transformation across Africa.
The showcase forms part of the Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF) 2.0, an entrepreneurship and venture development initiative supporting Mastercard Foundation Scholars to move from ideation to implementation through structured venture support.
During the event, participating teams will present their ventures before a panel of judges and ecosystem experts who will provide strategic feedback on venture readiness, market understanding, implementation potential, and pathways to scale.
Successful ventures within the cohort will receive:
- Up to $5,000 in catalytic funding
- Follow-on venture development support
- Mentorship and ecosystem access
- Structured guidance towards implementation and market readiness
SEF 2.0 adopts an inclusive and developmental approach to entrepreneurship. We invite you to join us in supporting the next generation of African innovators and entrepreneurs building solutions for the continent’s future.
Judge’s Profiles
Adeyemi Adegbayi is an investor at Catalyst Fund, focusing on deal flow generation, investment execution and portfolio management. He's spent his career in venture capital and tech, working alongside start-ups, investors, DFIs, and funders to pioneer tech-enabled solutions across emerging markets.
Maria is an energy transition investment strategist with extensive experience in African markets and capital partnerships. She currently leads the Transition Finance Advisory practice at a global management consultancy, advising investors, corporates, governments and early-stage ventures.
Nadia Mohd-Radzman is a plant biologist specialising in peptide and legume biology at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU). She is a founder of an early-stage agritech company that develops peptide-based bioherbicide to displace glyphosate, and the director of Broad 'n Mind.
Kamiar Mohaddes is an expert in the macroeconomics of climate change and sustainability. He's the Director of climaTRACES Lab, an interdisciplinary research initiative focusing on climate and sustainability.
He is also the Director of the Global Executive MBA programme and co-founder of King's E-Lab.