Why now
AI-assisted development has collapsed the cost and time required to build a working software product. An idea that once required a technical co-founder, months of development, and tens of thousands of dollars can now reach a working prototype in days, for a few hundred dollars in AI platform credits.
This is not an edge case. Even Y Combinator — the world's most selective accelerator — has disclosed that a majority of its recent batches now ship codebases that are largely AI-generated. The bottleneck for a founder today is not “how do I code.” It is “how do I turn a real idea into a working product, fast, with the right guidance.”
4
Weeks, start to pitch
8
Places in Cohort 1
Build in four weeks. Pitch on Demo Day.
A hard deadline is the point. It is what turns an idea you talk about into a product people can use.
Who Abuur is for
Early-stage founders — solo or in small teams — with a defined problem and a clear target user. We select for idea clarity and demonstrated execution ability, not technical credentials.
No coding background
Not required, not expected. You will build with AI tools from day one.
A real problem
One you understand well, and a specific person it affects.
Open to everyone
Open applications from across Somaliland — anyone with an idea worth building.
Ready to show up
The build weeks are in person, and the pace is intense.
Four weeks, idea to Demo Day
A time-boxed sprint with a hard deadline. Every week has one job — open a week to see what it looks like.
AI tool onboarding, problem validation, and MVP scoping.
- Onboard onto the AI development tools you will build with
- Pressure-test the problem against real users, not assumptions
- Scope an MVP you can actually finish in three weeks
- Leave the week knowing what you are building — and what you are not
Step 1 of 4
What you get
Everything you need to go from idea to demoable product, and nothing that slows you down.
AI tools & credits
Access to the AI development platforms your product will be built on, with the credits to use them properly.
Daily mentorship
Office hours every build day with mentors who have shipped products and raised money in this market.
A place to build
A dedicated in-person build space in Hargeisa, and a cohort of eight teams working next to you.
A room to pitch in
Pitch coaching and a Demo Day audience of investors and regional technology companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cohort 1 starts October 3, 2026
Applications are not open yet. Tell us you are interested and we'll reach out the moment they are.