Do you have a project that addresses one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Apply for funding from the iF Design Social Impact Prize before 13 September 2024
Do you have a project that addresses one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Apply for funding from the iF Design Social Impact Prize before 13 September 2024
International Forum Design invites applications for its Social Impact Prize program. This program supports projects that improve society while addressing one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Interested applicants can be companies, design studios, NGOs, foundations, public and other organisations, social enterprises, as well entrepreneurs.
Applicants should have projects answering one or more of the following questions:
- Does it approach or solve a relevant problem?
- Does it reflect moral-ethical standards?
- Does it strengthen group relations?
- Does it create a positive experience?
- Does it balance effort and use value?
Successful applicants will receive the following benefits:
- Compete for a share of EUR 100,000 cash prize
- Published on our iF Design Website
- Introduced to a global design community, the design interested public and media
- Projects selected by the jury receive an individual Winner Certificate
To apply, visit: Applications
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
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 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
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
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 an entrepreneur or business operating in the waste and circular economy sector? Apply for funding from the Circular Economy Programme before 23 October 2023
Are you an entrepreneur or business operating in the waste and circular economy sector? Apply for funding from the Circular Economy Programme before 23 October 2023
Ireme Invest, Rwanda’s Green Investment Facility, invites applicants for the Circular Economy Programme under the Project Preparation Facility. The programme aims to foster innovation, investment and collaborations across various sectors by supporting businesses working in the waste and circular economy sector.
Successful participants will benefit from the following:
- Expert mentorship for 15 weeks to enhance products or services and prepare them for market testing and fundraising
- Individual on-site coaching
- Grant investment funding of up to Rwf 60,000,000 for ten participating businesses based on achieved milestones
- Investor pitching and connection for ten supported businesses with investors in the sector
Interested participants must have businesses operating in the sector. Solutions should address plastics in construction, earth reinforcement, plastics in agriculture, non-biodegradable or non-recyclable packaging materials, payment systems for waste services, segregated household waste collection, circular product design, and reuse or refill systems.
For more information about the programme and application details, visit: Circular Economy Programme.
Are you an early-stage social enterprise interested in scaling? Apply for the BfE Incubation Programme before 1 October 2023
Are you an early-stage social enterprise interested in scaling? Apply for the BfE Incubation Programme before 1 October 2023
Bridges for Enterprise, a non-profit organization that provides pro bono advisory services to social innovators in the developing world, invites applicants for the BfE Incubation Programme. The programme lasts for 6 to 8 months, with multiple implementation stages customized to best support participants to scale their social enterprises. Applications are due 1 October 2023.
Through the programme, participants will be offered consulting and financial advisory services as well as optional legal and technical advisory services. Consulting, financial and legal advisory services will each have a 3 to 4 month timeline, while the technical advisory services will have a timeframe of 3 to 6 months.
The programme will accept social enterprises that demonstrate the following:
- A unique minimum viable product (MVP) that addresses one or more key development challenges
- Revenue-generating business model
- Generates positive environmental or social impact in the communities served
- Leadership team that demonstrates commitment
Additionally, the programme is suitable for social enterprises which fulfil the following:
- Be a for-profit or non-profit social enterprise
- Be an early-stage start-up at the pre-seed or seed stage
- Have an existing product or service and have started earning revenue
- Be legally established in Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Middle East
- Demonstrate a clear path to financial returns and impact
To apply for this programme, visit: Submit Application