They were more than 600 at the starting line, but only 24 were selected. Hailing from Senegal, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Ghana, these young talents make up the 2026 cohort of the Yango Fellowship. This cohort, which marks a major expansion of the program from two to six countries this year, now has 12 weeks to transform their scientific skills into concrete technological projects. The date is already set for the final "Demo Day" in Abidjan, where they will have to convince a jury of experts.

This edition focuses on the applied use of artificial intelligence. Participants will develop concrete solutions such as health education tools, energy monitoring systems, traffic optimization models, and personalized learning platforms in local languages.

The program is structured in three phases: defining the problems and market analysis, product development, and then final presentation. It concludes with a Demo Day, during which the teams present their projects to experts and partners, with the possibility of obtaining funding for the development of their prototype.

“The Yango Fellowship is part of our long-term commitment to developing local technology ecosystems,” explains Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Business Officer of Yango Group. “By supporting emerging talent and fostering collaboration between countries, we are helping to generate concrete solutions that meet the needs of African markets.”

In Senegal, this initiative reflects Yango's commitment to contributing to the development of digital skills and the emergence of a dynamic technological ecosystem. Through its various activities, the group already supports thousands of local partners and entrepreneurs in digitizing their operations and accessing new economic opportunities.

According to the World Bank, Africa faces a shortage of over 2.5 million STEM professionals. The Yango Fellowship aims to help bridge this gap by offering participants hands-on experience, mentorship, and access to an international professional network.

In previous editions, participants developed solutions in the fields of health, education, and engineering. Some joined partner organizations, while others launched startups or impact projects, continuing their commitment beyond the program.