Are you an early-stage startup with a scalable business idea? Apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme by 1 March 2026
Are you an early-stage startup with a scalable business idea? Apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme by 1 March 2026
Applications are now open for the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme 2026. The Tony Elumelu Foundation, a leading African private-sector-led philanthropic organisation empowering young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries, is inviting applications from innovators and early-stage founders with growth-oriented business ideas or existing startups.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is a flagship initiative designed to identify, train, mentor, and fund African entrepreneurs. Successful applicants will benefit from a structured business training curriculum, seed funding, mentorship, and expanded professional networks.
Through the programme, successful applicants will be offered the following:
- World-class business management training delivered over a structured curriculum
- Non-refundable seed capital of up to USD 5,000
- One-on-one mentorship
- Access to key networks and market opportunities across Africa and globally
- Participation in the TEFConnect proprietary digital platform for business support and community engagement
Interested applicants are required to fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Have a scalable business idea or an early-stage company (typically 0–5 years old) operating in any sector
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Applications must focus on one business entity or idea only
- Businesses must be located in and primarily serve African markets
- Business activities must not adversely affect the environment, lives, or property
- Business ideas must be the original work of those making the submission
To apply for the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme 2026, visit the official programme application portal on TEFConnect.
Are you an early-stage startup using frontier technologies for social impact? Apply for the UNICEF Venture Fund StartUp Lab Cohort 6 by 20 February 2026
Are you an early-stage startup using frontier technologies for social impact? Apply for the UNICEF Venture Fund StartUp Lab Cohort 6 by 20 February 2026
Applications are now open for the 2026 UNICEF Venture Fund StartUp Lab Cohort 6. The UNICEF Venture Fund, a programme of the United Nations Children’s Fund, is seeking technology-driven startups that utilise frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, data science, blockchain, and other digital innovations to address real-world social challenges.
The StartUp Lab accelerator aims to identify, mentor, and support startups that demonstrate bold, scalable solutions with measurable social impact, particularly in areas aligned with UNICEF’s mission and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through the programme, successful applicants will be offered the following:
- Direct engagement with UNICEF programme experts across key sectors
- Industry-led training, mentorship, and hands-on technical support
- Access to UNICEF’s global network of country offices and strategic partners
- Opportunities to engage with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Ghana
- Up to USD 6,000 in prototyping funding
- USD 15,000 scale-up funding for the top three performing startups
- Guidance on aligning products with the SDGs and contributing to the digital public goods ecosystem
Interested applicants are required to fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Be an early-stage startup, ideally with a functional prototype
- Be based in and serving low- and middle-income countries
- Demonstrate a commitment to open-source principles
- Develop solutions addressing one or more of the following areas:
- Urban technology
- Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
- Child protection
- Education
- Healthcare
- Climate resilience
- Financial inclusion
To apply for the UNICEF Venture Fund StartUp Lab Cohort 6, visit the official programme application portal.
Accelerate X Fuze Challenge
Are you a tech-startup founder in East Africa with a solution in transport, logistics or mobility? Apply for the Accelerate X Fuze Challenge before 21 November 2025
The Accelerate X Fuzé Challenge is a partnership initiative between Digital Africa, the Yiri (AGL) Group and other ecosystem partners. It targets innovative start-ups from East Africa, including Rwanda, in transport and logistics. Success applicants will have the chance to pitch in Kigali and gain access to a six-month acceleration programme.
Selected participants will have the opportunity to pitch live in Kigali and be part of a top cohort of startups. The Challenge offers access to the Fuzé investment scheme through Digital Africa, which provides pre-seed funding tickets of up to €100,000 tailored for African tech start-ups. Participants will also join a six-month acceleration programme designed to help them scale operations and connect with mentors, investors and other partners.
Eligible applicants include startups founded by at least one African national and operating in or serving East Africa. Businesses should have a technology-oriented model, ideally in the mobility, transport or logistics sectors. Applicants are expected to have a minimum viable product or early traction in the market.
Interested startups can apply by submitting their profile here.
Are you a young entrepreneur or woman-led business in Rwanda looking to grow through training, access to financing and markets? Apply for the Kataza Programme from the African Management Institute.
Are you a young entrepreneur or woman-led business in Rwanda looking to grow through training, access to financing and markets? Apply for the Kataza Programme from the African Management Institute.
Kataza programme is run by a consortium led by African Management Institute (AMI), in partnership with the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), the Mastercard Foundation and other organisations. This initiative targets financially excluded youth-led businesses, especially those led by women, in 15 districts of Rwanda, with a particular focus on the agriculture, tourism and hospitality sectors. It offers access to affordable financing, real-time business advisory services, and supports businesses to scale and create meaningful employment opportunities.
Participants benefit from practical business training, coaching and financial literacy development. The programme also provides support for market expansion, networking, and building business growth strategies. Businesses can access tailored loan products through partner financial institutions designed to overcome typical financial barriers faced by young and women-led MSMEs. Additional digital and in-person support includes linkages to suppliers, markets and institutions.
Eligible applicants include youth-led MSMEs, typically aged 18–35, with a strong focus on women-owned businesses. The programme also targets businesses that are financially excluded or disadvantaged, including those run by persons with disabilities and refugees. MSMEs should be operating in agriculture, tourism, hospitality or adjacent sectors and be located within one of the 15 selected districts in Rwanda.
To participate in Kataza or learn more about how to benefit or partner, contact AMI Rwanda at kataza@africanmanagers.com.
Are you an entrepreneur with an innovative idea that aligns with one of the UN's SDGs? Apply for mentorship from the SDG Innovation Accelerator before 31 January 2026.
Are you an entrepreneur with an innovative idea that aligns with one of the UN’s SDGs? Apply for mentorship from the SDG Innovation Accelerator before 31 January 2026.
The United Nations Global Compact invites applicants to the SDG Innovation Accelerator, a transformative program designed to empower and support young professionals driving sustainable development and innovation. The primary goal of the SDG Innovation Accelerator is to foster innovative solutions that contribute to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Successful applicants will benefit from the following:
Participant benefits:
- Engage in accelerated learning opportunities including online and in-person workshops, case studies, company visits and forum discussions.
- Collaborate with other businesses on innovative projects tailored to your company and industry.
- Build valuable relationships through coaching, mentoring and peer-to-peer networking.
- Gain insights from leading experts in sustainability and innovation from around the world.
- Join a global network of talented young professionals from top companies across every continent.
Company benefits:
- Apply SDG innovation to address real sustainability challenges your company is currently facing.
- Embed the SDGs into your company’s business strategy through collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing.
- Enhance employee engagement and create professional development opportunities.
- Access a network of experts from some of the world’s leading companies.
- Receive global recognition for your company’s participation in the programme.
Interested applicants must meet the following criteria to apply:
- High performing professionals at participating companies of the UN Global Compact
- Must be 35 years or younger
- Have an interest in business model innovation, sustainability and disruptive technologies
- Be willing to dedicate a minimum of 4 hors a month to the Accelerator Learning Plan and attend aleast four 1-day workshop
To apply for the program, visit Applications.
Are you an entrepreneur working to restore degraded forests and farmland in Africa? Apply now for the AFR100 Land Accelerator Africa Project before 30 October 2025.
Are you an entrepreneur working to restore degraded forests and farmland in Africa? Apply now for the AFR100 Land Accelerator Africa Project before 30 October 2025.
The AFR100 Land Accelerator, led by AUDA-NEPAD in partnership with the World Resources Institute and Fledge, supports early- to growth-stage restoration entrepreneurs across Africa. The program is designed to equip entrepreneurs with technical training, mentorship, grants, and investor connections to scale land restoration businesses that benefit people and the planet.
The program combines financial and non-financial support, including a results-based grant, training, and networking opportunities. If your enterprise is committed to sustainable land restoration, the AFR100 Land Accelerator provides a strong platform to grow your impact.
Successful participants will receive the following benefits:
- A USD 5,000 innovation grant to support women and youth restoration entrepreneurs.
- Tailored mentorship and technical training, including weekly sessions and an in-person workshop.
- Access to a network of restoration entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem partners.
- Opportunities to showcase your business at the Impact Day event.
- Participation in a two-phase cohort program combining virtual and in-person learning.
- Increased visibility through AUDA-NEPAD and partner networks.
Interested applicants must fulfil the following criteria:
- Be an entrepreneur or enterprise focused on restoring degraded forests and/or farmland in Africa.
- Operate at early- to growth-stage with a viable, scalable business model.
- Demonstrate potential to benefit women and youth restoration entrepreneurs.
- Be able to commit to both the virtual and in-person phases of the program.
- Prepare and submit a business proposal with supporting documents as outlined in the call for proposals.
Interested entrepreneurs can submit their proposals directly through the AUDA-NEPAD website. Be ready to share details about your business model, traction, financials, and your vision for scaling land restoration solutions. Strong applications will clearly demonstrate both commercial viability and measurable environmental impact.
Apply here.
Are you a growth-stage fintech driving financial inclusion for women affected by migration? Apply now for SHIFT 2025 program before 1 October 2025.
Are you a growth-stage fintech driving financial inclusion for women affected by migration? Apply now for SHIFT 2025 program before 1 October 2025.
SHIFT (Scaling Holistic Inclusion in Fintech Transformation) is a program designed to support growth-stage fintechs and embedded fintech ventures operating in Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, or Asia who are serving or ready to pivot toward serving women affected by migration and other vulnerable groups.
The program combines financial and non-financial support: a results-based grant, tailored mentorship, investor access, and visibility. If your fintech is growing and committed to inclusive financial solutions, SHIFT provides a powerful platform to scale your impact.
Successful participants will receive the following benefits:
- A $10,000 results-based grant to support pilot or expansion of inclusive financial solutions.
- Tailored mentorship and expert support, including migration specialists and peer learning opportunities.
- Investor and partner access through a network of more than 500 ecosystem players.
- Use of the SIGMA platform to test business models, track growth, and measure impact.
- Guidance on gender-inclusive practices such as sex-disaggregated data collection and gender KPIs.
- Opportunities for visibility through media features, podcasts, and case studies.
- Invitations to fintech and ecosystem events across participating regions.
Interested applicants must fulfil the following criteria:
- Operate in fintech or embedded fintech.
- Be a growth-stage company with proven traction and revenue.
- Have raised capital in the last 12 months or be actively fundraising.
- Be a for-profit and revenue-generating entity with clear scalability potential.
- Operate in Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, or Asia.
- Serve, or be ready to pivot toward serving, women affected by migration or other vulnerable groups.
Interested fintechs can submit their proposals directly here. Be prepared to share details about your business model, traction, financials, and your vision for scaling toward women affected by migration. Strong applications will clearly demonstrate both commercial viability and social impact.
Are you an African start-up seeking to become investment-ready? Apply for the GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Programme before 28 September 2025
Are you an African start-up seeking to become investment-ready? Apply for the GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Programme before 28 September 2025
Applications are now open for the 2026 GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Programme (IRP). The IRP is a free, year-long, tailor-made support programme for African start-ups creating impact in the agricultural sector, either directly or through areas such as climate, livestock, energy, biotech, fintech, circular economy, logistics, or other agri-adjacent sectors.
The programme helps start-ups become investor-ready and grow through customised advisory, targeted technical support, and access to a vibrant community of founders, experts, and investors.
Selected start-ups will participate in a one-year, fully funded support programme, including:
- Up to €20,000 in technical assistance budget for consultancies, expert support, legal advice, online marketing, licenses, certifications, ESG governance, product optimisation, market entry strategies, customer acquisition, marketing and PR, graphic design, employee training, and more.
- Access to revolving working capital loans of up to €50,000 with a nine-month maturity at 1.5% interest.
- Up to €10,000 in digital agency advisory from an international IT consultancy firm to strengthen digital capacities, marketing skills, and data analytics.
- Fully sponsored trips to two in-person community events alongside the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi (February of each year), plus one additional sector conference.
- Investment and partnership facilitation through invite-only pitch sessions, bespoke introductions to investors and funds, and guidance on fundraising strategy and due diligence.
- Membership in a community of over 100 portfolio companies.
Interested applicants should fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
Applicant companies will be evaluated against business model, technology, team, impact, and traction. Special consideration is given to companies with local founders and gender-diverse founding teams. To be eligible, companies should demonstrate the following:
- Geography and legal entity: Be for-profit and registered in Africa (all countries except South Africa).
- Team: Have a management team of at least two people.
- Stage: Be at pre-seed through Series A stage.
- Traction: Have a minimum viable product, evidence of revenue, and paying customers.
- Impact alignment: Operate in AgriFoodTech or an agricultural-adjacent sector with direct or indirect impact on agriculture or agricultural stakeholders.
If selected, start-ups should be prepared to:
- Nominate a management team member who dedicates an average of two hours per week to the programme and serves as a focal point for SAIS.
- Nominate and dispatch one employee to attend at least two in-person community events (February 2026 and February 2027, most likely in Nairobi).
- Provide data on company progress and growth during the programme and for one year after including, revenue, number of users, customers, funds raised, and employees (collected in compliance with data protection requirements).
- Facilitate access to customers or clients for an impact evaluation of products, services, or technologies.
- Collaborate with contracted experts and service providers to implement targeted technical support measures.
To apply, visit: GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Programme (IRP)
Are you a digital entrepreneur using technology to expand access to work, training, and better opportunities? Apply for #HackTheDivide before 7 September 2025.
Are you a digital entrepreneur using technology to expand access to work, training, and better opportunities? Apply for #HackTheDivide before 7 September 2025.
Organized by ITCILO in collaboration with the International Labor Organisation (ILO), Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the African Union Commission, the #HackTheDivide innovation challenge empowers young African digital innovators to co-create inclusive tech solutions that address critical issues like youth employment, digital inclusion, and labor mobility. Participants will engage in dynamic hackathon activities, receive expert mentorship, and gain exposure to key global institutions shaping Africa’s digital future.
The Programme seeks applicants who fit the following profile:
- Young digital innovators aged 18 – 35, working in areas such as youth employment, digital inclusion, migration, fintech, or data innovation
- Based in one of the 25 eligible African countries
- Be available to attend the full two-day hackathon in Nairobi (7 – 8 October 2025)
Successful participants will experience:
- A two-day Hackathon in Nairobi (7 – 8 October 2025), collaborating in dynamic teams with mentorship from global experts
- Travel, accommodation, and meals fully covered during the event
- The opportunity to present live during the global broadcast “Skills for Fair Digital Transitions in Africa” in Turin, connecting your solutions with decision-makers and industry leaders
- A chance for the winning team to access a tailored incubation experience with I3P, including a fully funded trip to Italy and entry into Italy’s innovation ecosystem
Interested applicants must fulfill the following:
For more information and application details, visit #HackTheDivide.
Are you a seed-stage founder building sustainable solutions for Africa? Apply now for the 2025 Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator in Nairobi before 19 September 2025.
Are you a seed-stage founder building sustainable solutions for Africa? Apply now for the 2025 Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator in Nairobi before 19 September 2025.
500 Global, in partnership with UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, is now accepting applications for the 2025 Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator. This intensive 8-week hybrid program, hosted at Nairobi’s Greentech Hub, is designed to help African startups scale tech-enabled solutions that advance sustainability in key sectors including agriculture, mobility, energy, and the built environment.
The accelerator is part of a bold effort to strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem by equipping founders with the tools, mentorship, and networks they need to build globally competitive, impact-driven businesses. For Rwandan startups, this program is a gateway to growth, visibility, and partnerships across the continent.
The program is ideal for startups that are:
- At the seed stage with a launched or recently introduced product
- Based in Africa
- Using technology or tech-enabled models to drive measurable impact
- Led by a committed founding team (ideally 2–3 people) able to attend in-person sessions in Nairobi
- Focused on creating sustainable solutions in agriculture, energy, mobility, or the built environment
Participants in the program will benefit from:
- One-on-one mentorship from growth experts and sustainability specialists
- Access to a rich network of investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners
- Workshops, roundtables, and fireside chats covering strategy, product, marketing, and growth
- A three-day in-person retreat focused on leadership, team dynamics, and wellness
- A curated community of peers from across the Global South
- The opportunity to pitch at a high-profile Demo Day in Nairobi
- A tuition-free, non-equity-based program with no participation fee
The accelerator will run from 27 October to 19 December 2025, with the first four weeks held in-person at Nairobi’s Greentech Hub and the following four weeks in a hybrid format. All sessions will be conducted in English, and applicants must be able to commit to the full program duration.
Applications are now open. Early applicants are encouraged to apply before 29 August 2025 for priority consideration, while the final deadline is 19 September 2025.
Apply today and join a cohort of Africa’s boldest innovators working to shape a sustainable future.