Are you a tech startup looking to partner with tech companies in Europe? Apply for the Virtual Partnership Programme before 29 January 2023

On behalf of the AEDIB|NET consortium, the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN) invites applicants to participate in one of the AEDIB|NET Virtual Partnership Programmes managed by two innovation centres (1 in Africa and 1 in Europe).

The program seeks 100 participants (50 from Africa and 50 from Europe) to engage in learning and knowledge exchange exercises. The program is designed with core shared elements for the startups and tailor-made components meeting the specific needs of participating companies.

Through the program, participants will gain skills and knowledge in several areas including business development, strategic planning, startup management fundraising, networking, and sustainability. The program is designed around the following pillars:

• Capacity-building
• Peer-learning
• Problem-solving
• Learning-by-doing

Thirty successful participants will have the opportunity to participate in a physical boot camp (15 for Africa and 15 for Europe). Each boot camp will be organized in conjunction with a major event during which participants will receive investment readiness training and an opportunity to pitch in front of a jury and investors.

Interested participants should have a company legally registered within their country’s current legislation. They must also be related to one of the groups of specialisation of the project or in the process of developing a product or service applicable to any of the following sectors:

• Climate Smart Agriculture
• Smart Cities
• Digital Trade
• Clean Tech

To apply, visit: Applications

The 4-month program offered by AMI sought to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary tools and knowledge needed to build a resilient business that thrives in adversity. The intensive program featured online courses complemented by in-person training sessions where entrepreneurs learned several business concepts, such as customer and market dynamics, and overcoming challenges like reduced revenue and profitability.

“We cannot under-emphasize the importance of this program in everything we are doing for our businesses. The training covered various areas that are key to our operations and sustainability. It is invaluable to say the least”

Humphrey Eric Munambo

MD, Hospital Systems

From the program, graduates have access to an extensive library of tools and materials that enables them to address their business challenges while ensuring efficiency. Additionally, the graduates have access to AMI’s Growth Network, an exclusive community of ambitious entrepreneurs from different sectors, backgrounds, and countries.

Through this program, BPR Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting clients in their resilience journey and helped to strengthen their capacity to grow and thrive. The bank is planning more programs and training opportunities for its clients and members of its Business “Biashara Club” in the upcoming year, so stay tuned for more information.

Are you a startup with a solution that drives safe, secure, and simple digital experiences for small and medium enterprises? Apply for the Mastercard Start Path Small Business program

Mastercard, a global payment processing corporation, invites applicants for the Mastercard Start Path Small Business Program. The 4-month program offers startups an opportunity to collaborate with Mastercard to scale solutions that drive simple and secure digital experiences for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Through the program, successful participants can leverage Mastercard’s network and expertise to gain access to product partnerships, grow their businesses, and develop solutions. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be expected to demonstrate strong synergies with Mastercard’s approach to supporting entrepreneurs globally and thriving by empowering them with digital payment solutions.

Interested participants should fulfill the following to apply:

• Have an innovative solution(s) and be able to demonstrate how the solution(s) relate(s) to the program theme
• Have an experienced, diverse, and passionate founding team
• Be committed to democratizing financial services
• Have existing funding from investment raised with a six to the twelve-month runway.

To apply for the program, visit: Applications

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Apply for the 2024 cohort of the year-long MEST Africa entrepreneurial training program to build your skills!

The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology offers 12-month graduate-level training to aspiring African entrepreneurs. The 2024 class, also known as Entrepreneurs-in-Training (EITs), will complete a graduate-level course in software development, business, and communication with a specific focus on practical implementation. MEST is an African-wide tech entrepreneur training program, seed fund, and network of hubs offering incubation for tech startups in Africa. The MEST program is a fully sponsored opportunity.

Through the program, EITs will receive intensive entrepreneurial training and extensive hands-on project work to master industry-proven methodologies for developing world-class tech businesses from industry experts and business executives.

Interested applicants must fulfil the following to be eligible to enroll:

• Have a degree from a university or technical college or equivalent experience with at least two years of corporate and startup experience
• Have excellent skills in either communications, business, or software development, enthusiasm for tech entrepreneurship, and knowledge of how to use tech to achieve business results
• Demonstrate a willingness to commit to a complete residential program for a whole year
• Be a disciplined self-starter that can work and deliver assignments and projects
• Have the ability to work well in teams with proven academic or professional excellence
• Demonstrate leadership abilities

Interested applicants should apply before 26 February 2023.

To apply, visit MEST Application

Are you a tech start-up with an innovative solution? Apply for the Westerwelle Entrepreneurship Program before 15 December 2022

The Westerwelle Start-up Haus invites applicants for the Westerwelle Entrepreneurship Program, a 6-month program for innovative tech startups in Rwanda and Tanzania. Through the program, 30 selected startups will be offered the infrastructure, skills, and networks to advance their tech solutions.

Successful applicants will receive the following benefits:

• Free 6-month access to workspace at the Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali/Westerwelle Startup Haus Arusha
• Access to Makerspace / digital fabrication lab and product development support
• Business and leadership skills training with specialized experts
• Technical advisory support in legal and financial issues and digital marketing
• Individual mentoring with investors, business leaders, and industry experts
• Virtual and in-person meetups with peers and entrepreneurial communities around the world
• Linkages with East African corporations, investors, and other key players

Interested applicants should fulfil the following to apply:

• Be passionate about building an innovative high-growth venture addressing a need in a market
• Have a product built on technology: Internet of Things (IoT)/ Sensoring, Data Analytics/ Intelligence/ AI/ Machine Learning, Virtual Reality, Robotics, Drones/Aerial Imagery, Digital Platforms, Blockchain, etc.
• Have team members that are domain experts with complimentary skills and a track record working as a team
• Have a solution with a clear business model and scalability of its operations in East Africa
• Have a product/service that contributes to the achievement of the SDGs (i.e. safe and fair job creation, potential to help underserved or low-income communities, climate mitigation and adaptation)
• Have women in your management team (executive or non-executive)
• Have operations based in Rwanda or Tanzania

To apply for the program, visit: Application form