We have collated a list of newly available opportunities for African startup founders and venture builders below.
Happy applications 🎉
Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition
The Africa Business Heroes (ABH) grant is an initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba group. The competition provides avenues for African entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and ideas with potentials to make tremendous impacts on their communities.
The Pan-African competition is primarily inclusive and sector-agnostic. Hence it is open to all African entrepreneurs regardless of the nature of their venture.
Benefit: $1.5 million grant to the top 10 participants, mentoring and networking opportunities through a community of business leaders, industry experts, innovators, investors, and accelerators, International publicity through the ABH television show.
Application Deadline: May 12, 2023,
The Injini/Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program 2023 for South African EdTech Startups
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program is a venture support program aimed at empowering high-growth and high-impact companies developing solutions to challenges in South Africa’s education sector.
The primary eligibility criterion is creating a tech-enabled solution to improve educational outcomes in South Africa.
Benefits: Access to equity-free venture fund of over R1 million, active support from education innovation specialists, market research support by Injini Think Tank team, and Pedagogical certification by Education Alliance Finland and EdTech Impact.
Application Deadline: March 19, 2023
Learn More About The Application Process
The French Agency for Digital Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge 2023 for African Startups
The Digital Energy Challenge is an initiative of the Digital Energy Facility launched to support companies with innovative solutions for increasing energy accessibility in African communities. It focuses on the integration of renewable energy with public utility performance improvement.
The challenge is targeted towards early-stage African startups and public utilities independent system operators.
Benefits: Winners will get grants to purchase equipment, software, capacity building courses and pay for other expenditures. Participants will also get access to bootcamp with industry experts plus technical assistance in project management, and strategic expertise.
Application Deadline: May 15, 2023
Learn More About the Application Process
AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya Program 2023 for Early Stage Kenyan Startups
In its efforts to contribute to food security in Kenya, the AYuTe Africa challenge focuses on promoting agricultural innovations in the country. The challenge is supported by the E4Impact Accelerator and hopes to develop strategic direction for early-stage Kenyan Agrotech startups.
Benefits: Access to cash prices of up to Ksh 2million. 2 months incubation program for top 24 finalists. Boot camp training program for select participants. Coaching, mentoring and technical assistance at various levels of the challenge. Networking opportunities and link to financial aid/ investment interests.
Application Deadline: March 21, 2023
UCT GSB Solution Space e-Track Program 2023 for Entrepreneurs and Early-stage Startups
The e-Track program in partnership with ayoba is a combination of a venture-acceleration initiative amd capacity-building program. It aims to support high-impact South-African entrepreneurs in building scalable businesses with international potentials.
Hence, the program is looking for impact and innovation-driven scale-ups with solutions that are relevant to challenges in the African market.
Benefits: Partnership with Ayoba, access to free mentorship from industry experts, Capacity building workshops and clinics, access to pro-bono partners and consultants for administrative support, networking and community opportunities
Application Deadline: March 29, 2023
