Are you a tech-enabled early-stage startup in need of investment funding? Apply for the Renew Venture Lab.
Are you a tech-enabled early-stage startup in need of investment funding? Apply for the Renew Venture Lab.
Renew Capital, a pan-African early-stage investment firm invites applicants for the Renew Venture Lab, a hybrid training for early-stage tech startups. The Lab targets growth-oriented founders of tech-enabled, asset-light companies in East African countries, including Rwanda, with traction and are at the stage of raising their first round of capital.
Interested applicants will be invited for orientation sessions to learn the operations of Renew Capital, the basic steps of the investment process, and key documents involved in the investment process.
Successful applicants will receive the following benefits:
- Investment Capital between USD 50,000 and USD 300,000 for each startup, depending on Renew Capital’s assessment of growth potential. Businesses may qualify for larger rounds of funding from Renew Capital’s follow-on fund as they continue to scale their business
- Business skills development including growth tools, management tactics, and pitch coaching
- Networking skills, including instruction, coaching and mentorship from Renew Capital staff
Shortlisted startups will be invited to pitch to Renew Capital’s investment committee.
To apply, visit Renew Venture Lab Applications
Are you a tech startup interested in scaling your business? Apply for the SLINGSHOT 2024 Competition before 1 July 2024
Are you a tech startup interested in scaling your business? Apply for the SLINGSHOT 2024 Competition before 1 July 2024
SLINGSHOT 2024, a tech startup pitch competition powered by STARTUP SG, invites applicants for its 2024 edition. The program is a unique opportunity for deep tech startups to accelerate their growth and gain exposure in the global market. Through SLINGSHOT 2024, 50 selected startups will have a chance to be immersed in Asia’s leading startup community and win cash prizes. Successful applicants will also receive the following benefits:
- Pitching Workshops: Participants will attend workshops led by industry experts to learn how to craft compelling pitches and effectively communicate their value proposition.
- Mentorship: Participants will be paired with experienced mentors who will provide guidance and support throughout the competition, helping startups refine their business strategies and navigate the challenges of the deep tech industry.
- Networking Opportunities: SLINGSHOT 2024 will facilitate networking events, allowing startups to connect with potential investors, partners, and customers, as well as learn from the experiences of other deep tech entrepreneurs.
- Exposure: The competition provides a platform for startups to showcase their innovative solutions to a global audience, increasing their visibility and credibility in the deep tech industry.
- Funding Opportunities: Winners of SLINGSHOT 2024 will receive cash prizes and potential investment opportunities from venture capital firms and angel investors.
- Business Support: Startups will have access to resources and support services, such as legal advice, market research, and office space, to help them scale their businesses.
- Knowledge Sharing: Participants will gain valuable insights and learn best practices from industry experts, mentors, and fellow entrepreneurs.
Interested participants should meet the following criteria to apply:
- Focus on Deep Tech: Startups must be developing innovative solutions in the deep tech industry, such as:
- Consumer Media, Goods and Services
- Environment, Energy and Green Technologies
- Health and Biomedical
- Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity
- Transformative Digital Technologies
- Early-Stage: The competition is open to startups in the pre-seed, seed, or Series A funding stages
- Traction: Startups should demonstrate traction in their target market, such as having a minimum viable product, customer validation, or early revenue.
- Team: Startups must have a dedicated and skilled team with the necessary expertise to execute their business plan.
- Commitment: Participants must be committed to attending the training program and actively engaging in the competition.
To apply for the program, visit: SLINGSHOT 2024 Application
Do you have an innovative solution tackling adolescents sexual reproductive health or mental health? Apply for funding and mentorship from the Innovation Accelerator before 12 May 2024.
Do you have an innovative solution tackling adolescents sexual reproductive health or mental health? Apply for funding and mentorship from the Innovation Accelerator before 12 May 2024.
Imbuto Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, Ministry of Youth and Arts and Friends of Imbuto, invites applicants with solutions addressing mental health and Sexual Reproductive Health challenges for the sixth phase of the Innovation Accelerator (iAccelerator) programme. The programme aims to explore new and engaging ways to tackle pressing population challenges in the region while promoting social entrepreneurship among young people. It also seeks to generate innovative, youth-led solutions for youth in Rwanda to increase the utilization of health services and adopt healthy and safe attitudes and behaviors.
The programme will start with a countrywide selection of sustainable and scalable youth-friendly SRH and Mental Health projects to select four projects as winners. Successful projects will receive seed funding of 10 million Rwandan Francs, skills development training, and mentorship for six months.
This year’s phase will focus on adolescent sexual reproductive (ASRH) and mental health. Interested participants should have innovative, sustainable solutions to break the stigma around mental health or improve access to adolescents’ SRH quality information and services. Additionally, interested applicants should be Rwandan nationals or residents of Rwanda between 18 and 30 years of age.
To apply, visit iAccelerator Applications.
Do you have a tech initiative that drives civic participation? Apply for the Africa Union Civic Tech Fund 2.0 by 12 May 2024!
Do you have a tech initiative that drives civic participation? Apply for the Africa Union Civic Tech Fund 2.0 by 12 May 2024!
The African Union Civic Tech Fund is a pan-African competition that seeks to support innovative civic initiatives that demonstrate the potential to lead to citizen-led transformative action across the African continent. Through the Fund, select initiatives will be awarded financial support of up to EUR 15,000 over an implementation period of six months to focus on upscaling, adaptation, or replication of pre-existing civic tech initiatives. Support may also be channelled towards funding the deployment of civic technology in partnership with a particular citizen group or civil society that does not have the expertise to do so independently.
In addition to financial support, the Fund will also provide technical support, including:
- Access to opportunities for skill development and enhancement covering digital literacy, promotion of inclusivity and diversity across initiatives, and development of advocacy strategies to influence policy at local levels
- Pitching your work within the vibrant civic tech community
- Peer-to-peer learning and becoming part of a network of civic-tech innovators from Africa.
Priorities for the Fund are relevant areas such as civic engagement, transparency and accountability, community-driven solutions, governance innovation and service delivery, youth empowerment, gender equality, peacebuilding and security.
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Have a legally registered entity
- Be registered in an African Union Member State
- Have proof of activity at least in the last year
- Have a comprehensive budget and financial structure
- Have a sustainability strategy
- Have a signed letter of recommendation
For more information about the Fund, visit CIVIC TECH FUND
To apply, visit CIVIC TECH FUND Application
Are you in need of training and mentorship to scale up your business? Apply for Cohort 2 of the SME Growth Lab Africa Accelerator Program before 23 April 2024
Are you in need of training and mentorship to scale up your business? Apply for Cohort 2 of the SME Growth Lab Africa Accelerator Program before 23 April 2024
SME Growth Lab Africa, a community impact project created to upskill SMEs in Africa, invites applicants for Cohort 2 of the 2024 Africa Digital Accelerator Program. Through this Program, established business owners across African countries will gain access to business training, mentorship, and support to take their businesses to a higher level.
Successful applicants will be taken through a 4-week extensive training led by exclusive facilitators in for modules in selling techniques, marketing strategies, financial literacy and management, and legal counselling. Additionally, participants will have access to community events, mentorship from experts, and a certificate of completion.
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to register:
- Be business owners based in any African country
- Be between 18-40 years of age
- Commit to attending virtual sessions and group calls
- Be willing to volunteer and participate in community events and project
To apply for the Program, visit: Applications
Are you an entrepreneur who addresses climate and energy challenges? Apply for the NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator programme before 13 April 2024.
Are you an entrepreneur who addresses climate and energy challenges? Apply for the NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator programme before 13 April 2024.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) invites applicants for the second edition of the NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator (NewGen) Programme. The Programme serves as a platform for nurturing and amplifying the voices of young entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who are committed to addressing climate and energy challenges. By providing support, resources, and mentorship, NewGen aims to catalyze the development and implementation of youth-led solutions in the renewable energy and climate technology sectors.
Successful applicants will benefit from the following:
- Webinars, workshops, and mentorship provided by IRENA experts
- Access to pitching events and investment matchmaking
- Dedicated Climate Impact forecasting workshop.
- A tailored acceleration program in renewable energy and climate technology
Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Age between 18 and 35 years old.
- At least one start-up founder falls within the age range of 18 and 35.
- Start-up’s primary focus should be renewable energy technologies, climate adaptation technologies, or climate mitigation technologies.
- At least two start-up founders must commit 16 monthly hours to attend accelerator sessions.
- Participants must ensure the originality of submitted documentation and compliance with copyright laws.
To apply for the Programme, visit Applications.
Are you a tech startup interested in mentorship and investor networking opportunities? Apply for the Market Access and Acceleration Program from the African Tech Startup Forum before 19 April 2024
Are you a tech startup interested in mentorship and investor networking opportunities? Apply for the Market Access and Acceleration Program from the African Tech Startup Forum before 19 April 2024
The African Tech Startup Forum, a Market Access and Acceleration Program designed to prepare, train, expose, and connect tech ventures with opportunities applicants for this year’s edition of the program. Its primary objective is to showcase exceptional tech innovations emerging from Africa and provide them with the necessary support and exposure to thrive in the global marketplace. The forum endeavours to accelerate the development and scaling of tech ventures across various industries by facilitating access to resources, mentorship, and strategic connections. Through this initiative, the forum seeks to advance the African tech landscape and drive the continent’s economic growth and technological innovation.
Successful applicants will receive the following benefits:
- Access to specialized resources, mentorship, and collaborative workspaces through the incubation program.
- Strategic connections facilitated by the B2B matchmaking platform to foster mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Investor sourcing assistance, connecting promising startups with potential investors to secure funding for scaling operations.
Target beneficiaries of the African Tech Startup Forum include tech ventures spanning all industries, encompassing established entities such as Accelerators and Incubators (ESOs) and early-stage startups operating within eligible African countries. These countries include Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda, Egypt, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana.
Applicants must create and submit a 1-3 minute video introducing themselves and their business or project. The video should articulate the applicant’s aspirations and objectives for participating in the program. Once created, the video must be uploaded as private or unlisted on platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo. It should be accessible to anyone with the link, and applicants are advised to have the link ready for submission along with their application.
To apply, visit Application form
Do you have a business addressing sustainable and environmentally friendly food systems? Apply for the Circular Food Systems Rwanda SME Fund before 23 March 2024
Do you have a business addressing sustainable and environmentally friendly food systems? Apply for the Circular Food Systems Rwanda SME Fund before 23 March 2024
The Circular Food Systems for Rwanda, a three-year (2021-2024) program that seeks to transform the country’s food systems to operate more circularly and sustainably, invites applicants for the 2024 intake. The program specifically targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector, offering support to adopt circular business models or improve existing practices. By focusing on SMEs, the program aims to drive systemic transformation and establish an enabling policy environment for sustainable food systems in Rwanda.
Successful participants will receive the following benefits
- Access to specialized expertise that is otherwise difficult to obtain or expensive in Rwanda
- Access to a technical assistance provider from the program’s network, tailored to the specific needs or goals of the entrepreneur
- Opportunity to choose a provider and collaborator for designing a customized circular adoption plan or scaling solution
- Access to market linkages within the agri-business sector
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Be operating in the agri-food sector in Rwanda
- Demonstrated focus on agri-food
- Have a clear understanding of business fit in the value chain
- Have a proposal for new or expanded circularity integration
- Have at least two years of operation
- Be locally registered in good standing with relevant authorities in Rwanda
- Be technology-enabled
- Have partner/investor relationship referrals
For more information and application details, visit Circular Food Systems for Rwanda
Are you a woman social entrepreneur advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Apply for the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge before 12 April 2024
Are you a woman social entrepreneur advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Apply for the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge before 12 April 2024
The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge is a global competition for social entrepreneurs advancing or inspiring others to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will honor innovative women leaders globally who incorporate the SDGs in sustainable business practices and inspire others to follow suit.
Awardees will receive capacity-building and opportunities to connect to an unparalleled global network to advance their businesses. Additionally, awardees will participate in events surrounding the 79th UN General Assembly and in a dynamic pitch competition for an opportunity to receive a grant worth USD 20,000.
Interested entrepreneurs should fulfil the following criteria to apply:
- Woman entrepreneur with a lead decision-making role in a for-profit or non-profit organization/business
- Be at least 21 years old by 1 August, 2024
- Have a business/organization that has been in operation for three years as of 1 August, 2024
- Have at least three full-time employees
- Proficiency in writing and speaking English
- Have a business/organization that generates at least USD 75,000 in annual revenue or sales
- Be available to travel to New York and participate in events from 22-29 September 2024 or participate in a virtual program if needed from August through October 2024
To apply for the Challenge, visit: WE Empower UN SDG Challenge Application
Do you have an innovative solution that positively impacts the climate crisis? Apply for funding from the 2024 Ashden Awards before 25 January 2024.
Do you have an innovative solution that positively impacts the climate crisis? Apply for funding from the 2024 Ashden Awards before 25 January 2024.
Ashden, a United Kingdom (UK) based charity organization, invites applicants for the 2024 cycle of the Ashden Awards. The Awards aim to recognize organizations working on the frontlines of the climate crisis through the development and implementation of innovative energy solutions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The Awards highlight the most promising new technologies, business models, and approaches that can accelerate progress on sustainable energy access and use in developing economies.
Successful participants in the Awards will receive the following benefits:
- £30,000 unrestricted cash prize for the winning organization
- Global recognition and visibility that can help scale impact
- Increased access to potential investors and partners
- Learning and networking opportunities
Interested participants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Have projects located in Africa, Asia, or Latin America
- Have innovative energy solutions at an early commercial stage (1-3 years operational)
- Demonstrate clear potential for replication or scaling up across markets
- Demonstrate positive social and environmental outcomes
- Have a strong management team and vision for growth
To apply, visit: Application for Ashden Awards – 2024