SMCON26 · Nov 12–14, 2026 · Buea. Free with registration · Register →
12–14 NOV · BUEA
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Attend SMCON26

Three daysthat pay back.

Three days, several venues across Buea, one ecosystem. The main conference is free with registration. Here is what happens each day, who you will meet and how to get to Buea.

Register freeSee the programme
The audience reacting during a session at a past SMCon

Why attend

What you take home.

Ideas you can use

Sessions built around one question: what can tech do for you? Practical answers, not slogans.

The right people

Founders, investors, developers and officials in one place for three days.

A stage to compete on

Three contests with XAF 3M in prizes, and finals played out live on the main stage.

Products, working

Demo Day and the Tech Exhibition show what the ecosystem is shipping.

Who you'll meet

Everyone who identifies with Silicon Mountain.

Whether or not they are members of the association.

DevelopersFoundersStartupsStudentsUniversitiesResearchersCreativesInnovation hubsWomen in techYoung peopleInvestorsAngel investorsVenture fundsDiaspora professionalsTechnology companiesBusiness ownersGovernmentRegional & municipal authoritiesDevelopment partnersPrivate-sector executivesMediaCommunity organisers
Business ownersFind software, partners and talent that help you scale and run smoother.
FoundersMeet investors, customers and the people who regulate your market.
DevelopersCompete, ship in the Hackathon and meet teams that are hiring.
InvestorsSee working products from Cameroon and the region, then meet the teams.
Policy makersHear from the people your rules affect, in the Policy Forum.
StudentsLearn from builders, enter a contest and find your first role.
CreatorsTell the story of tech, and enter the AI Movie Contest.

The programme

Three days. One ecosystem.

Provisional programme, to be refined with cluster leaders and activity leads.

Get updates by email
Thu 12 Nov

Community, Media & Connection

Venues across Buea

  1. Press Conference
  2. Silicon Mountainers vs Entertainers Football Match
  3. Hackathon and Code Battle kick-off
  4. Community networking

Day 2 · Four tracks side by side

Technology & Developer

Code Battle, hackathon, generative AI workshops, technical masterclasses and trainings.

Startup & Entrepreneurship

Pitch Contest preliminaries, founder discussions, growth workshops, investor readiness and mentoring.

Women & STEM

Dedicated programming for women in technology, STEM and entrepreneurship.

Policy & Ecosystem

A Policy Forum bringing together policymakers, government, universities, the private sector, development partners and researchers.

Formats

CompeteStartup Pitch ContestStartups pitch for XAF 1,000,000 in prizes, with the final and Demo Day on the main stage.
CompeteCode Battle & HackathonTeams build, coders battle. Kick-off Thursday, awards Saturday.
CompeteAI Movie ContestFilms and content made with AI, screened on the main day.
Connect & discoverFour tracksTechnology & Developer, Startup & Entrepreneurship, Women & STEM, Policy & Ecosystem.
Connect & discoverPanels & Fireside ChatsBuilders, investors and officials on what tech should do next.
Connect & discoverPolicy ForumPolicymakers, government, universities, the private sector and development partners in one room.
Connect & discoverExhibition & Demo Day50 stands of startups and companies, and products shown live.
Connect & discoverFounders/Funders DinnerFounders, investors, executives, development partners and the diaspora. Ticketed.
Connect & discoverGala NightMusic, a guest artist and networking to close the conference.

Speakers

On stage at SMCON26.

Speakers are announced in waves. The first names land soon.

KeynoteKeynote speakerOpening the main stage · revealed soonGet notified PanelistComing SoonBuilding from Cameroon for the world · revealed soonGet notified InvestorInvestorFunding what Buea builds · revealed soonGet notified PolicyPolicy makerAt the Policy Forum · revealed soonGet notified EngineerEngineerShipping AI that works locally · revealed soonGet notified FiresideFireside guestA long conversation on stage · revealed soonGet notified CreatorCreatorTelling the story of tech · revealed soonGet notified PanelPanelistOn what tech can do for you · revealed soonGet notified OpenCould this
be you?Apply to speak at SMCON26. Keynotes, panels, firesides and workshops.Apply to speak
01 / 09
See all speakersApply to speak
Mount Cameroon rising above the forest near Buea

Venue & travel

Getting to Buea.

  • From Douala: about 70 km by road, usually around 1.5 hours. Douala International Airport is the nearest international airport.
  • From Yaoundé: about five hours by road via Douala.
  • Main day: Mountain Hotel, Buea, on Saturday 14 November. Thursday and Friday run at venues across Buea.

Convince your boss

The case, written for you.

Copy this into an email to your manager. Edit the names and send.

“I'd like to attend SMCON26, the Silicon Mountain Conference, in Buea on November 12–14. In three days I can meet investors, partners and potential hires, see working products at Demo Day and the Tech Exhibition, and hear policy makers at the Policy Forum. I'll share a written summary with the team afterwards.”

Attendee FAQ

Before you come.

How do I get to Buea?

Douala International Airport is the nearest international airport. From Douala, Buea is about 70 km by road, usually around one and a half hours depending on traffic. From Yaoundé, plan for about five hours by road via Douala.

Where will sessions take place?

Thursday and Friday run at venues across Buea, with parallel tracks on Friday. The main day, Saturday 14 November, is at Mountain Hotel, Buea, for about 1,000 participants.

Does it cost anything?

The main conference is free with registration. The Founders/Funders Dinner on Friday is ticketed.

Can I apply to speak?

Yes. Use the speaker application on this page. The programme team reviews every proposal and replies by email.

Is there a dress code?

No. Come as you are, and bring a light jacket: Buea is cooler than Douala, especially in the evening.

Your place on
the mountain.

The main conference is free with registration. Register once for all three days.

Register free