InnovateHER 2026 - Inclusion by Design: Breaking Barriers, Enabling Participation

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Welcome to InnovateHER 2026, a transformative initiative hosted by the North-West University Faculty of Health Sciences.

InnovateHER is a national youth innovation and entrepreneurship programme that empowers young women to turn ideas into real-world solutions. In 2026, we focus on inclusion and accommodation. We invite participants to identify barriers that prevent people from fully participating in everyday life and to design solutions that make a meaningful difference.

What is the challenge?

Every day, people face barriers that limit their ability to learn, access healthcare, use technology, or participate in their communities.

These barriers may relate to:

  • Visible or invisible disabilities
  • Barriers to learning and education
  • Limited access to digital tools and connectivity
  • Challenges faced by ageing populations
  • Social and economic constraints

Participants are challenged to identify a real problem and design a solution that helps remove that barrier.

How does the programme work?

innovateHER 2026 is a guided, twelve-week innovation journey.

Each week follows a simple structure:

Build – Develop the solution by understanding the problem, exploring ideas, designing concepts, and improving through feedback.

Grow – Develop personal skills such as confidence, creativity, teamwork, communication, and resilience.

Each week, participants will:

  • Watch short video lessons
  • Work through a structured participant guide
  • Collaborate with a teammate
  • Engage with a mentor
  • Submit weekly progress

From idea to real-world solution

Participants will use the KasiKanvas to structure their ideas.

The KasiKanvas helps participants:

  • Understand who the solution is for
  • Clarify the problem being solved
  • Design how the solution works
  • Explain the value of the idea
  • Think about how it can become a real-world solution

No prior business experience is required.

Holiday Innovation Accelerator

During the June–July school holiday, participants will take part in a dedicated Innovation Accelerator Week.

This includes structured online coaching sessions to:

  • Strengthen ideas
  • Receive mentor feedback
  • Develop solutions further
  • Prepare for final submission

Who can apply?

innovateHER is open to young women in high school who are passionate about making a difference.

Competition Dates

 

  • Entries Open: 1 May 2026

  • Entries Close: 22 May 2026

  • Programme Start: 1 June 2026

  • Programme End: 31 July 2026

  • Final Submissions: 3 August 2026

  • Judging: 5 August 2026

  • Final Event: 9 August 2026 (Pretoria)

  • Winners’ Experience: Mid-2027

 

Competition Rules

To qualify for the grand prize, participants must adhere to the following rules:

  • The competition is open to individuals and teams of up to 2 people.

  • At least one team member must identify as female.

  • Each individual/team may submit only one idea.

  • Minors must enter with a teacher, who will mentor the team and act as a guardian for winning teams traveling abroad.

  • A teacher may mentor multiple teams from the same school.

  • Participants must have consent from their parents/legal guardians to participate.

  • Winners must have a valid passport by October to travel.

  • InnovateHER® will not claim ownership over any submitted ideas or IP.

  • The judges' decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

How to Participate

  1. Identify a real-world problem affecting women’s health and well-being that can be solved with a mobile app.

  2. Create a 3-minute TikTok/Instagram-style video, explaining:

    • The problem you’ve identified.

    • Why it is important to solve.

    • (Do not include your proposed solution in the video.)

  3. Submit your video link and personal details via the entry form.

  4. Commit to building a solution over the 12-week programme.

Participants may enter individually or in teams of up to 2 people, provided at least one team member identifies as female. Minors must have a teacher mentor who will support them through the programme and act as a guardian for winning teams during international travel.

Enter Here

Please submit your entry here.

Contact Us

For more information, reach out to us via:

 

Ready to get started?

Apply now and start building solutions that include everyone.

 

innovateHER Start-up Toolbox