Applications open for the 2025 Cross Border Jobs Startup Competition
Applications are now open for the 2025 Cross Border Jobs Startup Competition. The Cross Border Jobs Startup Competition is being launched to discover and support visionary startups transforming the future of labour mobility for Africans. The initiative aims to uncover bold ideas, highlight effective solutions, and accelerate progress toward safer, fairer, and more scalable cross-border work opportunities across the continent.
If you are building a platform or service that empowers African talent to move, connect, and thrive beyond borders, this is your opportunity to make a difference.
Why We Are Running This Competition
Africa’s labour market is expanding faster than ever. Each year, 10–12 million young people enter the job market in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet only about 3 million formal jobs are created. This mismatch leaves millions underemployed or jobless, pushing many to seek opportunities abroad.
At the same time, regions like Europe and the Gulf are struggling with acute labour shortages across industries such as construction, hospitality, and healthcare. This imbalance presents both a challenge and an opportunity — African workers are ready, and global demand is growing, but systems that enable ethical and transparent mobility are still underdeveloped.
The Jobtech Alliance, Labor Mobility Partnerships (LaMP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Tech Safari have joined forces with the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) to address this. Through this competition, they aim to identify existing innovators, spotlight impactful models, and catalyse collaboration for a more inclusive labour mobility ecosystem.
What We’re Looking For
The organisers seek startups that:
- Facilitate worker mobility across African or international borders through recruitment, placement, or service management.
- Offer support services tailored to migrant workers, such as financial solutions, compliance tools, housing, or language training.
- Integrate or expand jobtech platforms into the labour mobility and migration sector.
Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must:
- Provide cross-border labour mobility solutions for Africans, either within Africa or globally.
- Operate as a registered business (startups at idea or MVP stage with some traction are eligible).
- Adhere to ethical and responsible migration principles.
Prizes & Support
The top three startups will each receive:
- $10,000 in grant funding.
- Access to Jobtech Alliance’s tech perks worth up to $200,000 per company, including AWS credits and other digital tools.
- Mentorship and community support from Jobtech Alliance, LaMP, IOM, and other partners.
- Eligibility for follow-on support for high-performing ventures.
Key Dates
- Applications open: 1 October
- Q&A Webinar: 17 October (Register here)
- Application deadline: 31 October
- Shortlisting: 7 November
- Pitch sessions: 10–17 November
- Winners announced: Early December
How to Apply
👉 Apply here by completing the short application form and attaching a 10-slide pitch deck outlining your idea, traction, and vision.
Queries and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who can apply?
Any registered startup developing cross-border labour mobility solutions for Africans. NGOs and individuals without a registered entity are not eligible.
What is the selection criteria?
Applicants will be evaluated on:
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Impact Potential: Both scale and depth of social and economic impact.
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Business Model Viability: Evidence of traction, sustainability, and potential for growth.
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Innovation: Originality in addressing the challenges of migration and mobility.
Safeguarding will also be considered across all dimensions.
Who is behind the competition?
The competition is organised by Jobtech Alliance, LaMP, IOM, and Tech Safari, with support from the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE). The Jobtech Alliance team at Mercy Corps will administer the cash prizes.
Jobtech Alliance: Builds digital ecosystems that connect people to dignified work across Africa, including microenterprises and the creative industries. It is also preparing to release a Labour Mobility and Jobtech Sector Scan by the end of the year.
LaMP (Labor Mobility Partnerships): A global non-profit that designs, pilots, and scales ethical migration models, improving outcomes for both workers and employers.
IOM (International Organization for Migration): The UN migration agency, offering technical guidance and frameworks to promote safe and regular migration pathways.
Tech Safari: A storytelling and visibility platform that spotlights Africa’s most innovative startups, helping them reach global audiences and investors.
The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) supports this competition as part of its mission to create safe and dignified jobs for young Africans.
Where can I ask additional questions?
For more information, contact [email protected] or join the Q&A webinar on 17 October.
