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 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
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 an innovative solution that contributes to sustainable development? Apply for funding from the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards before 15 October 2023
Do you have an innovative solution that contributes to sustainable development? Apply for funding from the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards before 15 October 2023
The Commonwealth Secretariat, an intergovernmental organisation that supports member countries and coordinates Commonwealth activities invites applicants for the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards. The aim of the Awards is to recognize and reward outstanding innovations that contribute to sustainable development within the Commonwealth member countries. These awards serve as a platform to showcase innovative ideas, technologies, and initiatives that have the potential to create positive social, economic, and environmental impacts.
Winning the Awards offers several benefits, including:
- Global recognition and visibility for the awarded innovation
- Increased opportunities for investment, partnerships, and collaborations
- Platform for knowledge sharing and learning among innovators and stakeholders
- Amplified reach and impact of the innovation
- Potential for further scaling up and replication in different contexts
Interested applicants should have innovative solutions that meet the following criteria:
- Implementation within a Commonwealth member country (Rwanda included)
- Contribution to the sustainable development goals of the specific nation
- Demonstrated clear and measurable impact on sustainable development
- Addressing social, economic, or environmental challenges
- Scalable, replicable, and potential for long-term sustainability
- Showcasing creativity, originality, and effectiveness in problem-solving
- Open to individuals, organizations, and partnerships across sectors
For more information and application details, visit the Awards Platform
Do you have a health tech solution to improve the lives of children? Apply for the UNICEF Innovation Fund before 20 October 2023
Do you have a health tech solution to improve the lives of children? Apply for the UNICEF Innovation Fund before 20 October 2023
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a new funding opportunity for health tech startups that use cutting-edge technologies to improve the lives of children. The UNICEF Innovation Fund is offering up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding to early-stage startups that are registered in one of UNICEF’s program countries.
The Fund is particularly interested in startups that are using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data science, blockchain, and extended reality (XR) to address challenges in child health, nutrition, and mental health. Specific areas of interest include:
- Developing new diagnostic tools and treatments for childhood diseases
- Improving access to healthcare in remote and underserved communities
- Using technology to prevent child abuse and neglect
- Promoting mental health and well-being among children
Startups eligible for funding must have a working prototype and a commitment to open-source licensing. Female and youth-led/founded startups are encouraged to apply.
Successful participants will receive the following benefits:
- Up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding
- Access to UNICEF’s network of experts and partners
- Support for developing and scaling your solution
- Increased visibility for your startup
To apply for the Fund, visit Application
Are you a woman entrepreneur struggling with access to finance, markets and networks? Apply for the IFC She Wins Africa program before 15 September 2023
Are you a woman entrepreneur struggling with access to finance, markets and networks? Apply for the IFC She Wins Africa program before 15 September 2023.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) invites applicants for the She Wins Africa program, launched to support women entrepreneurs across sub-Saharan Africa. The She Wins Africa program addresses the challenges women entrepreneurs face in accessing finance, markets, and networks. The program provides participants with training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help them build skills and knowledge to build and grow their businesses.
The program includes the following components:
- Investment readiness training: Participants will receive training on how to pitch their businesses to investors, develop financial projections, and build robust business plans.
- Mentorship: Participants will be matched with experienced mentors who can provide guidance and support.
- Networking opportunities: Participants will have the opportunity to connect with other women entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders.
Interested participants must meet the following criteria:
- Be for-profit businesses.
- Have a female founder or co-founder.
- Be based in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Have been operating for at least one year.
- Have a clear business model and financial projections.
Successful applicants will receive the following benefits:
- Increased access to finance: The program provides participants with training on how to pitch their businesses to investors. This can help them secure the funding they need to grow their businesses.
- Improved business skills: The program provides participants with training on various business topics, such as marketing, sales, and financial management. This can help them improve the performance of their businesses.
- Increased networking opportunities: The program allows participants to connect with other women entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. This can help them build relationships and collaborate on new projects.
- Increased visibility: The program allows participants to be featured on the IFC’s website and in its marketing materials. This can help them raise awareness of their businesses.
To apply for the program, visit Applications.
Do you want to expand your tech business into global markets? Apply for the Eastern Africa Startup Awards before 31 January 2023
Do you want to expand your tech business into global markets? Apply for the Eastern Africa Startup Awards before 31 January 2023
The Global Startup Awards, an independent startup ecosystem competition, invites applicants for the Eastern Africa Startup Awards competition. The Startup Awards connects East African tech startups across the region to a global network of leading innovators and investors. The competition will award and support entrepreneurs and innovation ecosystem leaders making an impact in the following areas:
- Environmental sustainability
- Inclusive economic growth
- Emerging technologies and innovation
- Cross-border collaboration
Successful applicants in the competition will benefit from the following:
- Access to new markets
- Access to funding opportunities
- Access to a global network of leaders
- Exposure on a global stage
The competition process also brings together local ambassadors, country partners, national and international jury members, and key advisors to identify innovative startups in all aspects of the ecosystem.
To apply for the competition, visit: Applications