Growth4Her is an AFAWA-AFDB funded project created by Creative Space Startups in partnership with Sociocapital Impact Group, The Learning Gate and WETECH. The Growth4Her Accelerator provides women entrepreneurs with the capacity and tools which enables them to transition from small to high potential fundable growth stage businesses.
Growth4Her is a 6-month Investor Readiness Accelerator Program, open to women in West and Central Africa. Growth4Her Accelerator are currently running cohorts in Cameroon and Nigeria. While its application portal is always open, selected candidates will only be contacted when they have been selected for a new cohort. Each Cohort is open to at least 15 and at most 25 women.
Over the next five (5) years, this program aims to empower 1500 women entrepreneurs across 10 African cities with a particular interest in Women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (WSMEs).
The program offers beneficiaries investment readiness skills, links them directly to funders, and fosters an ecosystem that supports WSMEs.
Benefits of participation
The Growth4Her program will provide beneficiaries with:
- Access to Market
- Access to funding
- Psychosocial and Policy Support
- Media Exposure
- Mentorship
Eligibility
- The organization should be at least 51% owned by a woman or, at minimum 20% owned by a woman and have at least a woman as CEO/COO (President/Vice President); and have at minimum 30% of its board of directors composed of women, provided there is a board.
- Loan size between US$5,000 and US$1 million (Loans must not be from traditional financial institutions, however, loans from other sources such as associations, cooperatives e.g. “tontine/njangi” “esusu”, family loans may be considered).
- The organization should have between 5 and 300 employees.
- Sales between US$35,000 and US$15 million.
- Assets between US$100,000 and US$15 million annually.
- Can dedicate 1 week to an intense virtual/ physical Bootcamp.
- Can dedicate 3 hours for mentorship engagement for a period of 8 weeks.
- Must be a C-Level executive in the organization.
Application Deadline – October 7, 2022
