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
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 a digital-enabled mobile solution for critical humanitarian needs? Apply for the GSMA Innovation Fund Challenge before 12 February 2024
Do you have a digital-enabled mobile solution for critical humanitarian needs? Apply for the GSMA Innovation Fund Challenge before 12 February 2024
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), a global non-profit industry organization that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, invites applicants for the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Challenges. The Fund aims to support innovative mobile solutions for development (M4D) that address critical humanitarian needs.
The specific objective of this new Fund is to test innovative use cases, partnerships, and business models that can improve access to sustainable digital-enabled solutions for those affected by – or vulnerable to – humanitarian challenges.
Successful participants will be offered the following benefits:
- Funding of up to £250,000 to support developing, testing and scaling innovative M4D solutions.
- Technical support and mentorship to strengthen grant recipients’ projects and business models.
- Connect awardees to GSMA’s network of mobile operators and partners to facilitate the deployment of solutions.
Interested participants must fulfil the following criteria to apply:
- Projects must use mobile technology to deliver services addressing humanitarian challenges such as disaster response, refugee support, or crisis recovery.
- Target beneficiaries must include vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly, disabled, or displaced people.
- Applicants can be technology companies, social enterprises, NGOs or other organizations.
- Proposed solutions should be scalable and have the potential for sustainable impact.
- Projects must coordinate or partner with mobile network operators for deployment.
To apply, visit Applications.
Are you an early-stage startup with a scalable business idea? Apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme by 1 March 2024
Are you an early-stage startup with a scalable business idea? Apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme by 1 March 2024
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), an African private-sector-led philanthropic foundation empowering young African entrepreneurs across 54 African countries, opened applications for the 2022 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is a 10-year flagship initiative with a commitment of USD 100 million to identify, train, mentor and fund entrepreneurs able to change the face of business in Africa. TEF training is designed to be self-paced for each entrepreneur to allow necessary flexibility for participants to learn while managing their businesses and other responsibilities.
Through the programme, successful applicants will be offered the following:
- 12 weeks of business management training
- Seed capital of USD 5,000
- Networking with business leaders from the TEF network
- Access to business advisory services and market linkages via the TEFConnect proprietary platform
Interested applicants are required to fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Have a scalable business idea or early-stage company operating for less than five years
- Be above 18 years of age
- An application must only focus on one business entity or idea
- Business must not adversely affect the environment, lives, and property
- Business ideas must be the original work of those making the submissions
To apply for the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, visit: TEF Entrepreneurship Programme Application
Are you a women-led social enterprise empowering women economically via platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram? Apply for funding and mentorship from the Chat for Women’s Livelihoods Accelerator Program before 31 January 2023.
Are you a women-led social enterprise empowering women economically via platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram? Apply for funding and mentorship from the Chat for Women’s Livelihoods Accelerator Program before 31 January 2023.
The Chat for Women’s Livelihoods Accelerator Program, a six-month accelerator program invites social enterprises working to empower women in low-income countries economically. The program is aimed at supporting women-led social enterprises that are using chat platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram to empower women economically.
Successful applicants will benefit from the following:
- Access to up to $15,000 in seed funding upon completion of the program
- One-on-one mentorship from experienced social entrepreneurs and industry experts
- Customized training and capacity-building workshops on business strategy, fundraising, growth hacking, and more
- Networking opportunities with potential investors, partners, and fellow social entrepreneurs
- Global visibility and promotion through the program partners’ communications channels
Interested applicants should fulfil the following criteria to apply:
- The enterprise must use chat platforms as a primary channel to deliver their products/services
- It should address challenges faced by women such as financial inclusion, skills development, healthcare access, etc.
- The legal entity should have been registered and operating for at least 6 months
- The founding team must have at least one female founder
- Annual revenue should be less than $100,000
- The enterprise should demonstrate strong growth potential and social impact
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