Seedstars2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply

Seedstars is a Swiss investment and startup-support group founded in 2012 and headquartered in Geneva. It focuses only on emerging markets in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia, excluding China. It became known for Seedstars World, a global pitch competition.

Today it works mainly through funds and sponsored programs. Seedstars International Ventures (SIV) is a $30 million, sector-agnostic fund for pre-seed and seed companies. Its first ticket is $150,000 to $350,000 depending on stage, with follow-on up to $500,000.

SIV takes equity but no board seat. A $30,000 fee for its Value Creation Platform is deducted from the investment, which founders should factor in. SIV says it has invested in more than 100 companies across 40 countries and does not back biotech, hardware or capital-intensive businesses.

Seedstars Africa Ventures is a separate fund for Sub-Saharan Africa that writes $250,000 to $2 million at seed and Series A. It reached a $42 million first close in December 2024. Seedstars also runs donor- and corporate-funded programs, such as SEED Inclusivity, whose Asia-Pacific cohort 3 closed on August 28, 2026.

The group has 15 offices, more than 100 staff and a network of more than 1,200 mentors.

There are two main routes. The investment route starts with a pitch submitted through the Seedstars funds page. SIV aims to reply within days, then runs a 30-minute call, a second interview with the founding team and an investment committee review, which can take one to two weeks.

After investment, startups join the Value Creation Platform, which includes a three-month Growth Track held twice a year, plus help with fundraising, hiring, PR and investor introductions. The program route covers cohort programs funded by partners such as development banks and foundations. Each has its own call, region, length and benefits, and most are free for selected startups.