Are you an entrepreneur or graduate interested in enhancing your business skills? Apply for the Archipelagos Capacity Building program before 30 June 2024.
Are you an entrepreneur or graduate interested in enhancing your business skills? Apply for the Archipelagos Capacity Building program before 30 June 2024.
Archipelagos, a multi-year international cooperation program developed by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, the Italian Financial Institution for International Development Cooperation, with the support of the European Commission, invites applicants for the Archipelagos Capacity Building program.
The program aims to support African SME growth, facilitate capital market access, and create a more enabling business environment through stakeholder engagement. Participating SMEs will embark on a tailored learning journey to increase their readiness for capital markets and long-term success.
Successful applicants will receive the following benefits
- Access online training courses through the Archipelagos digital platform to develop business skills
- Receive mentoring from experienced professionals to navigate challenges
- Connect with other businesses to establish partnerships and share best practices
- Explore potential collaborations and funding opportunities
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Be a small or medium enterprise operating in Africa
- Be willing to develop new capabilities and boost competitiveness
- Be willing to connect with other businesses and investors
- Be interested in pursuing opportunities to access debt financing
The most promising SMEs will receive support raising funds through innovative debt instruments backed by a European Commission guarantee facility. In addition, young entrepreneurs can strengthen their skills through the capacity-building program.
To apply, visit: Application form.
Are you a woman entrepreneur with an innovative solution making a positive difference in your community? Apply for funding from the Les Margaret Awards before 8 January 2024
Are you a woman entrepreneur with an innovative solution making a positive difference in your community? Apply for funding from the Les Margaret Awards before 8 January 2024
JFD, an international growth accelerator for women making a positive difference in their communities invites nominations for the Les Margaret Awards. The Awards aim to recognize and honour outstanding individuals and organizations making a positive difference in their communities.
Now in its third year, the annual awards shine a spotlight on social entrepreneurs, non-profits, activists, and community leaders driving impactful change. There are five categories that projects or initiatives can be nominated for: Education, Environment, Poverty Alleviation, Health, and Community Building.
Successful nominees will benefit from the following:
- Total of CAD 500,000 in prize money awarded among categories
- $100,000 grant for the Social Impact Champion of the Year
- Increased visibility, exposure and networking opportunities
- Resources to help scale projects and initiatives
- Recognition for outstanding work creating social impact
Nominees must fulfil the following to be eligible for the Awards:
- Be a citizen of a European, African country, or from Canada, with an innovative project that responds to societal issues
- Entrepreneur category: be a female founder or co-founder of a tech startup
- Intrapreneur category: have an innovative project in agreement with an employer while remaining an employee
- Junior category: be a young woman under 18 years with a project that highlights creative, innovative and entrepreneurial spirit
To apply for the awards, visit: Application form
Do you have an agribusiness with a climate-smart innovative solution? Apply for funding and business development support from CGIAR before 8 January 2024
Do you have an agribusiness with a climate-smart innovative solution? Apply for funding and business development support from CGIAR before 8 January 2024
The Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a global research partnership that unites organizations engaged in research on food security, invites applicants for the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator program. The program aims to support agribusiness in scaling climate-smart innovations to solve pressing challenges in agribusiness value chains.
Successful applicants to the program will receive the following benefits:
- Technical assistance from CGIAR scientists that encourages agribusinesses’ adoption and strengthens their compliance, safety, and accountability practices.
- Technical assistance on impact measurement and management (IMM) from CGIAR scientists and experts.
- Technical assistance on investment readiness from CGIAR partners and its network to help secure private sector financing.
- Provision of a de-risking Grant of USD 20,000 to four successful companies at the end of the program.
- Access to investors and corporate partners to attract follow-on funding and potential business opportunities.
Interested agribusinesses must fulfill the following to apply:
- Be legally registered and compliant with regulatory authorities. Applicants should present the following supporting information:
- A Certificate of Incorporation for a Limited Company or Partnership Deed for a Partnership Business.
- Two years of audited accounts.
- Contact details of the company’s references.
- Team composition.
- Curriculum Vitae for the management team.
- Tax Compliance Certificate.
- Have a clear inclusive strategy for smallholder farmers, women, and youth within the business model in at least one of the dimensions: ownership, management team, workforce and policies, supply chain, and/or customers.
- Be a for-profit company and demonstrate commercial viability and either be profitable or on the path to profitability. NGOs, corporate companies, and consultants will not be considered
- Be operating in the following countries: Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia
For more information on the program, visit: CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator
To apply, visit: Application
Calling Tech Entrepreneurs for the Africa Tech Summit Investment Showcase. Apply before 19 December 2023.
Calling Tech Entrepreneurs for the Africa Tech Summit Investment Showcase. Apply before 19 December 2023.
The Africa Tech Summit, an annual tech event that brings stakeholders in Africa’s tech ecosystem together, invites applicants for the investment showcase. The showcase provides exceptional African startups with direct access to international investors to pitch their business models to significant VC funds, corporate investors, development finance institutions and angel networks. It allows entrepreneurs to market their products efficiently, demonstrate traction and seek capital that may not otherwise be available locally.
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Companies must be from African countries
- Startups should have a minimum viable product
- Demonstrate strong growth potential
- Preference given to fintech, health tech, agritech, logistics and renewable energy sectors
- Early and growth investment stages considered
Selected startups are provided with exhibition booths, where they can creatively display demos, videos and marketing materials to capture investors’ interest. Short scheduled pitch sessions allow entrepreneurs face time to present their business proposition and field questions.
To apply, visit: Application form
Do you have a business that operates in agriculture, food processing, distribution or related sectors? Apply for funding from the Support for Early-Stage Businesses program.
Do you have a business that operates in agriculture, food processing, distribution or related sectors? Apply for funding from the Support for Early-Stage Businesses program.
The Africa Agriculture Development Company (AADC), a United Kingdom investment company that has invested in over 50 companies, invites applicants for the Support for Early-Stage Businesses program.
The aim of the program is to foster entrepreneurship and innovation that can drive agricultural transformation across Africa. It targets startups and growing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in food production, processing, distribution and related sectors.
Successful applicants will benefit from the following:
- Seed capital investments ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 that do not need to be repaid if milestones are met
- Technical assistance to help businesses professionalize operations, strengthen management and access new markets
Interested applicants should meet the following criteria to apply:
- Be registered and operating legally in a sub-Saharan African country
- Be operational for less than five years
- Have a proven business model
- Demonstrate potential for long-term growth
- Demonstrate potential to positively impact people, economies and the environment
- Have annual revenues below USD 1,000,000
Priority will be given to women-led, youth-led and businesses in underserved regions/value chains
Interested applicants should contact investment@agdevco.com.
Are you a startup entrepreneur with a tech solution addressing challenges in the healthcare sector? Apply for the HealthTech Hub Africa (HTHA) Accelerator Program before 11 December 2023.
Are you a startup entrepreneur with a tech solution addressing challenges in the healthcare sector? Apply for the HealthTech Hub Africa (HTHA) Accelerator Program before 11 December 2023.
HealthTech Hub Africa, a hybrid pan-African healthtech accelerator invites applicants for the 2024 HealthTech Hub Africa (HTHA) Accelerator Program. The program is designed to provide startups with the necessary resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help them scale their solutions and make a meaningful impact in the healthcare sector.
Successful applicants will receive the following benefits:
- Access to mentorship from industry experts
- Funding opportunities from investors
- Networking with key stakeholders in the healthcare and technology sectors
- Platform to showcase solutions to a wider audience
- Valuable insights into market trends and user needs
- Guidance on refining business models and growth strategies
Interested participants must fulfil the following requirements to apply:
- Be a health technology startup based in Africa
- Have a viable and innovative solution addressing a significant healthcare challenge
- Demonstrate strong potential for scalability and impact
- Have a minimum viable product (MVP) or prototype
- Have a dedicated and passionate team committed to driving the solution forward.
To apply for the program, visit: Application form
Are you an entrepreneur with an innovative solution addressing climate change? Apply for funding from the Climate Finance Lab before 27 December 2023.
Are you an entrepreneur with an innovative solution addressing climate change? Apply for funding from the Climate Finance Lab before 27 December 2023.
The Climate Finance Lab, an innovative program designed to address the urgent need for financing climate solutions, invites applicants for the 2024 edition. The program seeks to bridge the funding gap for climate-related initiatives and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future. By leveraging private sector capital, the program aims to unlock new opportunities for sustainable development and drive positive environmental impact.
The program offers several benefits to successful participants, which include:
- Financial Support: Selected projects receive financial support through grants, concessional loans, or equity investments.
- Technical Assistance: The program provides technical expertise and guidance to project developers, helping them refine their business models, develop investment strategies, and navigate the complexities of climate finance.
- Access to Networks: Participants gain access to a global network of investors, policymakers, and experts in the field of climate finance. This network facilitates knowledge sharing, collaboration, and potential partnerships, enhancing the visibility and scalability of projects.
- Market Validation: Being selected for the Climate Finance Lab 2024 program provides a stamp of credibility and market validation, which can attract further investment and support from other stakeholders.
Interested participants must meet the following criteria to apply:
- Have solutions demonstrating innovative approaches to addressing climate change, such as new technologies, business models, or financial instruments
- Demonstrate potential for significant scale-up and replication
- Have a clear and viable financial model, demonstrating the potential for long-term sustainability and profitability
- Have a measurable and positive impact on climate change mitigation or adaptation
To apply, visit: Application form
Do you have a solution that creates a positive social, economic, and environmental impact in your country? Apply for funding from the Global Innovation Fund.
Do you have a solution that creates a positive social, economic, and environmental impact in your country? Apply for funding from the Global Innovation Fund.
The Global Innovation Fund (GIF), an initiative aiming to support and scale innovative solutions to global development challenges, invites applicants for the 2023 edition. Launched in 2014, GIF provides funding, expertise, and networks to help innovators turn their ideas into impactful solutions. The primary aim of the Global Innovation Fund is to identify and support innovative ideas that have the potential to create positive social, economic, and environmental impact in developing countries.
The GIF program is designed to benefit individuals and organizations, including entrepreneurs, researchers, social enterprises, non-profit organizations, and government entities. The program mainly focuses on supporting innovations that address the needs of vulnerable populations, such as women, children, refugees, and those living in poverty.
Successful applicants to the program will receive the following:
- Funding at various stages of innovation, including seed, scale-up, and performance-based funding
- Access to a network of experts, mentors, and advisors who guide and support innovators. This includes technical expertise, business development support, and connections to potential partners and investors
- Learning and knowledge sharing among innovators through workshops, webinars, and peer-to-peer exchanges
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to be eligible for the GIF program:
- Be innovative, offering a new approach or significantly improving upon existing solutions
- Demonstrate the potential to create positive social, economic, or environmental impact, particularly in developing countries
- Have the potential to scale up and reach a large number of beneficiaries
- Have a clear plan for the financial sustainability of their innovation beyond the GIF funding
- Have a solution aligned with at least one of GIF’s focus areas: agriculture, energy, health, education, and governance
To apply for the GIF program, visit Applications.
Are you a social entrepreneur that addresses pressing needs in your community? Apply for funding from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Are you a social entrepreneur that addresses pressing needs in your community? Apply for funding from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK), a global venture philanthropy supporting early-stage, high-impact social enterprises, invites social entrepreneurs to apply for funding. The foundation seeks to support outsized impact through entrepreneurs and enterprises that address pressing societal problems affecting people.
The foundation seeks to find social enterprises that fulfil the following:
- Address a critical social or environmental issue as the focus of their work
- Have founders who intend to expand their impact significantly over time
- Be operating in Africa, Europe, India, Latin America, and the United States
- Be an independent non-profit or impact-first, mission-driven for-profit entity
- Have one or more founders who are full-time or intend to be
- Demonstrate diversity of people proximate to the problem at hand and a commitment to foster justice, equity, inclusion, and belonging practices
- Have a program, product or service already in the market with an early indication for impact
Applicants admitted for interviews will be taken through three phases of interviews to assess their eligibility for funding. Successful applicants will be accepted through a final due diligence phase to work towards clear goals for the new venture, including metrics and milestones to help the social enterprise achieve its mission.
Applicants that have successfully passed through all the interviews will receive funding twice a year over a three-year term, totalling USD 300,000.
To apply for the opportunity, visit: Application form
Nurturing Mental Wellbeing: Insights from Entrepreneurs
Nurturing Mental Wellbeing: Insights from Entrepreneurs
We have the privilege of hearing from entrepreneurs who have grappled with the challenges of maintaining their mental health amidst the demands of their ventures. These firsthand accounts will provide valuable insights and practical strategies for coping with the unique pressures entrepreneurs face.
Hearing from Entrepreneurs: Shared Experiences in Mental Wellbeing
