The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has opened applications for its 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme, a flagship initiative that empowers African entrepreneurs with business training, expert mentoring, and non-refundable seed funding. This programme supports visionary founders with scalable business ideas or early-stage ventures across the continent.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is one of Africa’s largest entrepreneurial philanthropy programmes, rooted in the philosophy of Africapitalism where private sector success fuels broad economic development. Since 2015, TEF has invested over $100 million across more than 20,000 entrepreneurs, generating jobs and business growth throughout all 54 African countries.
The 2026 programme equips founders not just with funding but with practical skills, networks, and confidence to grow sustainable enterprises and contribute to local economic resilience.
What You Gain (Benefits)
đź’° Non-Refundable Seed Capital
Selected entrepreneurs receive $5,000 to invest directly into their business operations, product development, or market expansion.
đź“š World-Class Business Training
Participants complete an entrepreneurship curriculum delivered online via TEFConnect — covering business fundamentals, strategy, operations, finance, and growth planning.
đź‘Ą Expert Mentorship
One-on-one guidance from seasoned business mentors helps you refine your model, navigate challenges, and plan long-term growth.
🌍 Networking & Market Access
TEF connects founders with peers, investors, partners, and global markets — expanding opportunities beyond their home countries.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
The 2026 programme is open to African entrepreneurs who meet the following general criteria:
Citizenship/Residency: Citizens or legal residents of any African country.
Age: Applicants must be 18 years or older.
Business Stage: Businesses should be early-stage (0–5 years old) at the time of application.
Operating in Africa: The business idea or venture must be registered and operate primarily in an African country.
Focus: Open to all business sectors, including tech, services, manufacturing, agriculture, health, and more.
The programme typically encourages diverse representation, including female founders and Francophone, Lusophone, and Arabic-speaking entrepreneurs.
Deadline & Timeline
📅 Application Deadline:1 March 2026 (23:59 GMT) — make sure to submit before this date.
Shortlisted candidates will move through a selection process based on their business idea’s viability, scalability, and potential impact.
