Are you a young entrepreneur with an innovative green solution? Apply for the 2025 Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme before 14 September 2025.
Are you a young entrepreneur with an innovative green solution? Apply for the 2025 Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme before 14 September 2025.
The International Trade Center, in partnership with the G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD, WIPO, Sidley Austin LLP and Global Startup for Sustainable Development, invites applications for the Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme, a global accelerator programme. This programme is designed for youth entrepreneurs under the age of 35 who are founders, co-founders, or CEOs. The programme seeks passionate innovators with a clear understanding of the environmental challenges they address and scalable solutions ready for acceleration. Successful participants will access capacity-building, mentorship, and funding to scale their ventures and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.
The Programme seeks applicants whose businesses align with the categories below:
- Land Restoration: Startups restoring degraded land and ecosystems through innovative, sustainable practices.
- Green Business Solutions: Enterprises providing products or services that contribute to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Successful participants will receive the following benefits:
- Seed funding of USD 100,000 for the land restoration cohort (equity-free)
- Capacity-building support for scaling your venture
- Networking with global experts, investors, and peers
- Mentorship and coaching from industry leaders
- Legal and IP guidance, including pro-bono services from Sidley Austin
- Preferential access to the Google StartUp for Sustainable Development Programme
- All-expenses-paid trip to an international conference for award finalists
- USD 10,000 prize for Youth Ecopreneur Award winners (1 award per category)
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Be under the age of 35 (by the application deadline)
- Be the Founder, Co-Founder, or CEO
- Operate a legally registered business majority-run by a young person
- Be focused on land restoration or green business solutions
- Meet location requirements (bootcamp is open globally; accelerator is for eligible countries – see the list)
For more information and application details, visit: Ye! Youth Ecopreneurs Programme.
Are you a startup with a product or service in the Sports or Creative industry? Apply for funding from the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator Programme before 29 August 2025.
Are you a startup with a product or service in the Sports or Creative industry? Apply for funding from the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator Programme before 29 August 2025.
In partnership with ALX Ventures, NBA Africa invites applicants for the Triple-Double Accelerator Programme. The program aims to support African startups, tech ecosystems, and entrepreneurs by promoting growth in the sports and creative industries. Successful participants will access AI-first capacity building, mentorship, world-class coaching, and direct access to investors, partners, and fans to scale their ventures and contribute to African economic growth.
The Programme seeks applicants whose products or services align with the categories below:
- Sports & Innovation – Startups re-shaping the sports industry through fan engagement, athlete performance, digital innovation, community-based fitness, or other impactful approaches.
- Creative Startups – Startups pushing the boundaries of Africa’s creative industries, from fashion, music, and film to gaming, digital media, storytelling, and more.
Successful participants will receive the following benefits:
- Cash prizes of up to USD 50,000 accompanied by value-in-kind benefits
- A 10-week mentorship program with NBA Africa, ServiceNow, ALX leadership, and other corporate stakeholders focused on product development, business growth, and go-to-market strategy
- Business coaching and masterclasses on AI, product, sales, fundraising, and more
- Brand visibility across the NBA and ALX ecosystem
- Networking with prominent business leaders, investors, and clients
- Spotlight and PR at Demo Day in a major African city
Interested applicants must fulfil the following:
- Be headquartered in Africa
- Be less than 2 years old
- Have a tech-enabled solution with clear market value
- Have a proof-of-concept prototype with potential for profit, inclusivity, and scale
- Have two co-founders committed full-time (40+ hrs/week)
For more information and application details, visit: Application.
Are you building digital solutions to solve Africa’s biggest challenges? Apply now for the 2025 MTN Cloud Accelerator Program before 15 August 2025
Are you building digital solutions to solve Africa’s biggest challenges? Apply now for the 2025 MTN Cloud Accelerator Program before 15 August 2025
MTN is now accepting applications for the 2025 MTN Cloud Accelerator Program, a 12-week innovation sprint designed to help African startups scale faster by tapping into MTN’s products, platforms, and strategic partnerships.
The program is designed to support startups reshaping digital payments, transforming access to healthcare, and driving innovation in agriculture and education.
Now in its latest edition, the program supports growth-stage startups with access to capital, technical infrastructure, mentorship, and go-to-market expertise. Participating ventures will benefit from deep engagement with MTN’s ecosystem and the opportunity to fast-track their growth and visibility across the continent.
The MTN Cloud Accelerator is ideal for startups that are:
- Operating at the growth stage with a minimum viable product (MVP) or a live product
- Led by teams with strong traction and deep customer insight
- Addressing real African challenges in sectors such as: Fintech & Payments, HealthTech, EdTech, AgriTech, AI & Data Infrastructure, Cybersecurity & Digital ID, Retail & E-commerce
- Serving rural or underserved communities
Participants in the program will gain:
- Up to ₦100,000,000 in grants per cohort
- One-on-one mentorship with industry experts
- Sales and go-to-market support from MTN teams
- Technical integration with MTN Cloud, MoMo, Chenosis APIs, and more
- Cloud credits and infrastructure advisory
- Investor pitch coaching and curated VC introductions
- Exposure at the MTN Demo Day with investors, media, and ecosystem partners
- Ongoing post-program support, including partnership opportunities, pilots, and M&A readiness
The program is fully funded and free of charge. Startups should be ready to actively engage with MTN’s technical and commercial teams and commit to the full program duration.
Apply now and take your startup to the next level with MTN Cloud Accelerator 2025
Are you an agripreneur ready to build climate resilience into your business? Apply now for the AFC BRACE Program before 27 July 2025.
Are you an agripreneur ready to build climate resilience into your business? Apply now for the AFC BRACE Program before 27 July 2025.
The Africa Food Changemakers(AFC) is now accepting applications for the Building Resilience Against Climate and Environmental Shocks (BRACE) Program, a targeted capacity-building initiative designed to help agripreneurs across Africa understand how climate change impacts their businesses and develop practical strategies for adaptation, mitigation, and access to climate finance.
Through a hybrid learning model, BRACE combines expert-led training, peer learning, and hands-on assignments to equip agripreneurs with the tools, resources, and networks needed to integrate climate-smart practices into their operations.
The BRACE Program is designed for:
- Agripreneurs aged 18 to 40 years
- Citizens of African countries
- Owners, representatives, or decision-makers of registered agribusinesses operating in Africa
- SMEs working in Crop Production and/or Animal Production sectors as producers, processors, marketers, aggregators, etc.
Successful participants will benefit from the following:
- A diagnostic assessment tool to evaluate their awareness and readiness to address climate risks within their agribusiness.
- A self-paced 6-week online learning journey featuring practical, climate-relevant content tailored for African agribusinesses.
- Hands-on assignments designed to help participants “green” their businesses and strengthen their positioning for climate financing opportunities.
- Opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, networking, and experience sharing through group discussions and co-created solutions.
- Access to industry experts and mentors through live interactive sessions.
- Practical resources, tools, and guidance to support investment decisions aligned with sustainable, climate-resilient agribusiness strategies.
- Membership in the AFC Hub Community offers ongoing access to resources, market linkages, funding opportunities, and visibility to support business growth and long-term success.
Participants should be prepared to dedicate approximately four hours per week to completing self-paced modules, assignments, and attending weekly live sessions, which will be scheduled on Thursday or Friday evenings across African time zones. Full engagement over the six weeks is expected, including timely submission of all course assignments and active participation in interactive sessions.
Apply now here!
Time on Your Side: Mastering the Workday as a Rwandan Entrepreneur
Time on Your Side: Mastering the Workday as a Rwandan Entrepreneur
Author: Oleksandra Prysyazhnenko, Expert at ConsumerCentriX
Every entrepreneur has the same number of hours in a day. But not everyone uses those hours with clarity and intention. In Rwanda’s fast-moving business landscape, where many juggle multiple roles, shifting priorities, and community demands, how you manage time can be the difference between progress and burnout.
The most common time struggles aren’t caused by a lack of tools. They often stem from what’s happening internally: the hesitation to delegate, the endless tweaking of a proposal, or the quiet dread of an overflowing inbox. These patterns don’t show up on your calendar, but they shape everything.
One powerful way to regain control is to start spotting these invisible traps. The Superpowers e-book, which inspired this guide, offers a self-reflection quiz that helps you uncover hidden habits. You might find out that procrastination shows up as overplanning, or that perfectionism hides behind “just one more edit.” Identifying these patterns is a practical first step in creating a workflow that aligns with how you think and operate.
Next comes emotion. When you stare at a simple task and feel stuck, the issue is rarely the task itself. Often it’s fear, stress, or mental fatigue. These emotional blockers confuse your priorities and delay action. Recognising this link changes how you approach time, not as a technical problem, but as a mindset issue.
To move from insight to action, use practical tools. The Eisenhower Matrix is one of them. It sorts your tasks into four boxes: do now, plan for later, delegate, or delete. Many entrepreneurs feel everything is urgent. This tool forces clearer thinking and helps you decide what truly deserves your focus.
Another essential principle is the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle. It reminds you that a small number of activities drive the majority of your results. Instead of doing everything, double down on the few things that matter most. For example, one sales meeting that brings in a key client may be worth more than a full day of scattered admin work.
Time mastery isn’t about squeezing in more. It’s about designing a rhythm that works with your energy and supports your goals. One small shift, like leaving buffer time between meetings or starting each day by tackling your most important task, can transform your workweek.
There is no universal system. The best approach is the one that fits your current season, your strengths, and your responsibilities. So ask yourself: what can I shift today to lead time, not chase it?
Are you a young agripreneur in Rwanda driving food systems transformation? Apply now for the 2025 FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme by 27 June 2025.
Are you a young agripreneur in Rwanda driving food systems transformation? Apply now for the 2025 FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme by 27 June 2025.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is now accepting applications for the 2025 FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme — a unique opportunity for youth-led enterprises in Lesotho, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone committed to building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.
This initiative is part of HASTEN—Harnessing SDG-based Agrifood System Transformation through the Empowerment of the Next Generation of Agrifood Leadership in Africa—a project funded under FAO’s Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) and operating in Lesotho, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.
HASTEN aims to:
- Promote capacity development in transdisciplinary systems thinking for SDG interlinkages
- Foster multistakeholder collaboration through strengthened public-private-academic partnerships
- Support agripreneurship and youth empowerment by scaling eco-inclusive business models that generate employment and contribute to the SDGs
Up to 8–10 enterprises per country will be selected to join a five-day, in-person incubation workshop focused on:
- Strengthening sustainable and inclusive business practices
- Developing tailored business plans and financial strategies
- Engaging in hands-on sessions led by international and national coaches
- Leveraging interactive tools and workbooks to build viable growth models
The final day of the workshop includes an ecosystem networking event, where participants will pitch their business models to a broad audience of public and private sector stakeholders, academia, and development partners.
In addition, three enterprises per country will be selected for tailored follow-up support aimed at scaling their operations and building strategic partnerships.
Interested applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Legally registered in Lesotho, Rwanda, or Sierra Leone
- Operational for 1–3 years
- Led by entrepreneurs aged 18–35
- Demonstrate a clear contribution to sustainable agrifood systems transformation
- Comply fully with FAO integrity standards and must not be engaged in any UN-prohibited or unethical practices
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to present their business virtually before final selection. Review full eligibility, exclusion, and selection details on the HASTEN webpage.
Tips for Managing your Cash Flow
Tips for Managing your Cash Flow
Good cash flow management is a critical skill for every small business owner, and it is important for cash flow to remain positive for your business to thrive. Positive cash flow occurs when the money entering your business from sales and accounts receivable is higher than the amount of the cash leaving your businesses through expenses like rent, employee salaries, and other costs. Positive cash flow ensures your business can manage unforeseen circumstances. Negative cash flow happens when the cash you are spending from your business is more significant than your incoming cash into the business. This indicates trouble for the company. Without adequate cash flow, your business may underperform – canceling orders and ultimately needing to lay off employees. In Rwanda, 42. 5% of entrepreneurs are still operating, partially or fulltime, but only 35.8% are selling, while 57.5% of entrepreneurs are not operating at all at the moment as a result of negative cash flows.
Luckily, there are several steps your business can take to fix the harmful cash flow problems and get into a positive zone.
Here are some tips on effectively managing cash flow in your business.
Get invoicing right.
Invoicing is one of the essential pieces of the puzzle regarding cash flow management. Speed up your cash inflows by delivering your invoices quickly so that you receive faster payment from your clients. Consider investing in automated invoicing such as point of sale machines so that you can improve your turnaround times and minimize delays in sending invoices.
Keep your financial records up to date.
Update your financial records as often as possible. This can help you gain a clear insight into your business’s financial health, which will give you a more precise foundation from which you can forecast your future cash flow, make important decisions, and plan for high and low seasons.
Build a cash reserve you can rely on in tough times.
Building a cash reserve is very important, and it can be done once you hit the break-even point. Businesses face highs and lows – having enough cash to fund your working capital needs can be critical for its continued survival during a low season business.
Liquidate cash that may be tied up in outdated assets or overstocked inventory.
Businesses sometimes have unused equipment, outdated assets, or too much inventory, all of which can be put to better use as income. Equipment and inventory can lose value as new equipment is produced or as customer preferences change. Regardless of whether you sell below initial value, liquidating assets that will not be utilized can contribute to a healthy cash flow.
Consider implementing these strategies to improve cash flow management in your business.
Want to Start a Business? Here’s a Quick Guide to Taxes in Rwanda!
Want to Start a Business? Here’s a Quick Guide to Taxes in Rwanda!
All businesses in Rwanda are required to comply with the tax laws, including payment of taxes within a given period of time. As someone starting a business or who already runs one, understanding your tax obligations is crucial for compliance and smooth operations. The Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) provides essential guidance on taxation for new businesses. Here’s a simple breakdown of the taxes you need to know to keep your business legal and running smoothly in Rwanda.
Registering Your Business
- Business Registration: Must be completed within 7 days of starting operations through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): Assigned upon registration, required for all tax-related transactions.
- Electronic Invoicing System (EBM): Mandatory for issuing invoices.
Types of Taxes
- Income Tax:
- Personal Income Tax (PIT) for individuals.
- Corporate Income Tax (CIT) at a standard rate of 28%, with incentives for publicly listed companies.
- Micro-enterprises (≤ RWF 12M annual turnover) pay a flat tax based on revenue.
- Withholding Taxes:
- 5% on imports for commercial use.
- 3% on public tenders.
- 15% on gaming winnings.
- Value Added Tax (VAT):
- Standard rate: 18%.
- Registration required for businesses with annual sales > RWF 20M or quarterly sales > RWF 5M.
- Excise Duty: Levied on select products such as alcohol, tobacco, fuel, and luxury goods.
- Local Taxes & Fees: Includes property tax, trading license tax, and rental income tax.
Tax Compliance & Penalties
- Filing Deadlines:
- Annual income tax due by March 31.
- VAT filing: Monthly for businesses earning > RWF 200M annually, quarterly otherwise.
- Trading license tax due by January 31.
- Penalties:
- Late tax payment: Interest of up to 1.5% per month.
- Non-compliance with EBM: Fines up to 10 times the evaded VAT.
- Tax evasion: Punishable by fines and imprisonment.
Taxpayer Rights
- Right to fair assessment and appeal.
- Option to seek amicable settlement in disputes.
- Representation by a qualified tax professional.
For more details, visit the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).
Common Mistakes You May Be Making as a Businessowner & How to Avoid Them
Common Mistakes You May Be Making as a Businessowner & How to Avoid Them
Small business owners have great ideas and solutions – after all, that’s probably what led you to launch a business; but sometimes, these ideas lack the proper execution that lead to success. While there may be several reasons a small business is underperforming, here are some common and avoidable mistakes small business owners make, along with tips for overcoming them.
- Not Taking the Time to Plan: Lack of planning leads to the production of lower-quality work. Here, you are trying to do everything at the last minute without clear targets or a path to those targets. Take some time to prepare a detailed business plan, and ensure it brings out what your products or services are, how will you earn income, how you will finance business costs, and many other details critical to its success. Having a business plan will provide you with a road map for your business, identify potential challenges, and outline what resources you will need to run your business. Learn more about how to prepare a business plan by clicking here.
- Trying to Do It All by Yourself: It is helpful to include people in your thought process as you are bringing your idea to life and choosing solutions to challenges that might arise. One mind provides the same range of answers and can keep an entrepreneur from gaining more knowledge that would better support the business. Rely on a team of diverse individuals, depending on the needs of your business for human resources, and delegate tasks according to their expertise.
- Overspending or Underspending: Overspending often leads to the accumulation of debt, and underspending overlooks essential factors that would need to be carried out for business success. These two factors hinder the idea’s viability and can lead to closing a business or never seeing it fully off the ground. Create a budget to project your business expenses and income for a given period, for example, the upcoming year or quarter. Review that budget against actual expenses to understand where you might have overspent or underspent on your business, giving you a solution to the problem.
- Forgetting About Financing: No matter how good an idea is, we need to think about where funds will come from to get that idea up and running and what will be required from us as business owners to access them. A business plan should outline how much start-up capital or financing you’ll need to launch or grow your business. Before approaching funders, make sure your business plan is clear and well-structured and that you have a short pitch prepared addressing why your business is a great investment to make. Seek formal financing wherever possible, such as loans from reputable institutions, government funds, or donor funds, to avoid high or unclear costs, unfair collection practices, and potential safety risks.
- Not Marketing or Advertising: The world learns about what we are doing through marketing and advertising. When your business is not advertised or marketed well, it loses out on potential clients. Depending on your target market, use a marketing channel that guarantees a wider reach and engagement from your target market. With increased digitalization around the globe, consider using online platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, which are popular in East Africa, to put your business products or services out there. Create a content plan for the week or month to ensure your target market is always informed of new products or services your business is providing. If you have enough capital, consider paid advertising for platforms that are most popular to your target marketing such as Facebook. Ensure you include your business contact information and address in your marketing materials to make it easy for your potential clients to find you.
- Losing Focus: Losing focus is the same as losing the heart of the idea. Most small business owners lose focus when they do not have a proper schedule for their daily, weekly, or monthly tasks for their business. Create a calendar with scheduled tasks, each with a start and end date. Having a calendar with scheduled tasks will help you to balance high-effort and high-priority tasks while tracking your progress against set deadlines for tasks.
For an idea or solution to excel, it needs proper planning and greater emphasis on all the points mentioned above. Putting all of them into practice will add more life to the idea and open more significant opportunities for the solution and its viability.
Are you a Startup leveraging AI to innovate responsibly in the Cybersecurity market? Apply for the Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Cybersecurity Program before December 3 2024.
Are you a Startup leveraging AI and Machine Learning to develop tech solutions? Apply for the Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Cybersecurity Program before December 3 2024.
Google for Startups invites applicants for the AI for Cybersecurity, a three-month equity-free hybrid program that supports growth-stage startups in solving problems using advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, to grow and innovate responsibly in cybersecurity. The program is designed to provide startups with the essential growth skills, internationalization strategies and Google tools and products to help them scale.
Participating startups will receive the following benefits:
- Mentorship from Google teams
- Access to Google’s network of industry experts
- Strategic support in shaping the startup’s company product and strategy
- Equity free support
Interested startups must meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrate traction, ideally between Seed to Series A stage
- Have a scalable product or service with a significant total addressable market and defensible growth model
- Focused on leveraging AI to address cybersecurity challenges such as prevention, protection, research, and/or threat analysis and sharing.
To apply for the program, visit Applications.