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
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 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.
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
Do you have a business that operates in agriculture, food processing, distribution or related sectors? Apply for funding from the Support for Early-Stage Businesses program.
Do you have a business that operates in agriculture, food processing, distribution or related sectors? Apply for funding from the Support for Early-Stage Businesses program.
The Africa Agriculture Development Company (AADC), a United Kingdom investment company that has invested in over 50 companies, invites applicants for the Support for Early-Stage Businesses program.
The aim of the program is to foster entrepreneurship and innovation that can drive agricultural transformation across Africa. It targets startups and growing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in food production, processing, distribution and related sectors.
Successful applicants will benefit from the following:
- Seed capital investments ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 that do not need to be repaid if milestones are met
- Technical assistance to help businesses professionalize operations, strengthen management and access new markets
Interested applicants should meet the following criteria to apply:
- Be registered and operating legally in a sub-Saharan African country
- Be operational for less than five years
- Have a proven business model
- Demonstrate potential for long-term growth
- Demonstrate potential to positively impact people, economies and the environment
- Have annual revenues below USD 1,000,000
Priority will be given to women-led, youth-led and businesses in underserved regions/value chains
Interested applicants should contact investment@agdevco.com.
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 a solution that creates a positive social, economic, and environmental impact in your country? Apply for funding from the Global Innovation Fund.
Do you have a solution that creates a positive social, economic, and environmental impact in your country? Apply for funding from the Global Innovation Fund.
The Global Innovation Fund (GIF), an initiative aiming to support and scale innovative solutions to global development challenges, invites applicants for the 2023 edition. Launched in 2014, GIF provides funding, expertise, and networks to help innovators turn their ideas into impactful solutions. The primary aim of the Global Innovation Fund is to identify and support innovative ideas that have the potential to create positive social, economic, and environmental impact in developing countries.
The GIF program is designed to benefit individuals and organizations, including entrepreneurs, researchers, social enterprises, non-profit organizations, and government entities. The program mainly focuses on supporting innovations that address the needs of vulnerable populations, such as women, children, refugees, and those living in poverty.
Successful applicants to the program will receive the following:
- Funding at various stages of innovation, including seed, scale-up, and performance-based funding
- Access to a network of experts, mentors, and advisors who guide and support innovators. This includes technical expertise, business development support, and connections to potential partners and investors
- Learning and knowledge sharing among innovators through workshops, webinars, and peer-to-peer exchanges
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to be eligible for the GIF program:
- Be innovative, offering a new approach or significantly improving upon existing solutions
- Demonstrate the potential to create positive social, economic, or environmental impact, particularly in developing countries
- Have the potential to scale up and reach a large number of beneficiaries
- Have a clear plan for the financial sustainability of their innovation beyond the GIF funding
- Have a solution aligned with at least one of GIF’s focus areas: agriculture, energy, health, education, and governance
To apply for the GIF program, visit Applications.
Are you a social entrepreneur that addresses pressing needs in your community? Apply for funding from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Are you a social entrepreneur that addresses pressing needs in your community? Apply for funding from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK), a global venture philanthropy supporting early-stage, high-impact social enterprises, invites social entrepreneurs to apply for funding. The foundation seeks to support outsized impact through entrepreneurs and enterprises that address pressing societal problems affecting people.
The foundation seeks to find social enterprises that fulfil the following:
- Address a critical social or environmental issue as the focus of their work
- Have founders who intend to expand their impact significantly over time
- Be operating in Africa, Europe, India, Latin America, and the United States
- Be an independent non-profit or impact-first, mission-driven for-profit entity
- Have one or more founders who are full-time or intend to be
- Demonstrate diversity of people proximate to the problem at hand and a commitment to foster justice, equity, inclusion, and belonging practices
- Have a program, product or service already in the market with an early indication for impact
Applicants admitted for interviews will be taken through three phases of interviews to assess their eligibility for funding. Successful applicants will be accepted through a final due diligence phase to work towards clear goals for the new venture, including metrics and milestones to help the social enterprise achieve its mission.
Applicants that have successfully passed through all the interviews will receive funding twice a year over a three-year term, totalling USD 300,000.
To apply for the opportunity, visit: Application form
Are you an entrepreneur launching a product or looking to improve an existing one? Apply for funding and business development support from the Because Accelerator program.
Are you an entrepreneur launching a product or looking to improve an existing one? Apply for the Because Accelerator program.
Because International, a international organisation, invites applicants for the Because Accelerator program, an initiative designed to foster the growth and development of early-stage startups globally in various industries. The primary aim of this program is to provide entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and mentorship needed to transform their innovative ideas into thriving businesses.
Program participants will receive the following benefits:
- Financial support in the form of seed capital, key for product development, hiring talent, and scaling operations
- Mentorship and guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts
- Access to a network of investors, potential partners, customers, and fellow entrepreneurs
- Education and training through workshops and educational sessions to help founders gain a deeper understanding of various aspects of running a successful business, from financial management to marketing and sales strategies
- Workspace and resources such as software, hardware, and legal support further reduce operational costs
Interested participants must fulfill the following to apply:
- Early-Stage: The program typically targets early-stage startups, often at the pre-seed or seed stage. However, some programs may consider startups at slightly more advanced stages as well.
- Innovative Idea: Startups must have a unique and innovative business idea or product that has the potential for scalability and growth.
- Dedication and Commitment: Founders and teams should demonstrate a high level of dedication, commitment, and passion for their venture.
- Coachability: Accelerator programs look for founders who are open to feedback, willing to learn, and adaptable. Coachability is often a crucial factor in the selection process.
- Market Potential: The startup’s target market should have significant potential for growth and expansion.
- Scalability: The business should have the potential to scale rapidly, and the accelerator program should be able to provide the necessary resources and support to facilitate this growth.
To apply for the program, visit Application form.