The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)—Africa’s leading philanthropy focused on empowering African entrepreneurs—is looking for the most innovative business ideas across the African continent.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is open to entrepreneurs from across Africa, either with new startup ideas or existing businesses of less than 3 years of existence, operating in any sector. Successful applicants will join the over 9,000 current beneficiaries, from 54 African countries, and receive business training, mentoring, a non-refundable $5,000 of seed capital, and global networking opportunities.
The Programme is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor, and fund 10,000 young African entrepreneurs. The goal is to create millions of jobs and the revenue required for the sustainable development of the continent, implementing the philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector as the growth engine for Africa and emphasizes the importance of creating social and economic wealth.
You are eligible to apply if you have a business idea or a startup under 3 years of existence in any sector and in any country across Africa.
Benefits
Selected entrepreneurs will receive:
World-class business management training
Mentorship
$5,000 non-refundable seed capital
Access to key networks and markets
Global Networking Opportunities
Eligibility
Open to all citizens and legal residents of any one of the 54 African countries. The proposed business must be registered and operate in Africa.
Applicants must be 18 years old and must not be considered a minors in their country of residence. There is no upper-limit age restriction.
Applicants can be outstanding African entrepreneurs running existing start-ups with high growth potential and aspiring business owners with transformative ideas.
All businesses must be business ideas or early-stage companies, in the range of 0 to 3 years old.
Your application must focus on ONE business only.
They are particularly looking to grow representation from French, Arabic, and Portuguese speakers, as well as female entrepreneurs.
The program is not open to research institutions, faith-based organizations, value-adding trading companies, government contractors and businesses not located in Africa. Businesses must not adversely affect the environment, lives, and property. Business ideas must be for-profit and must be the original work of those making the submission.
I’m a fashion designer who’s struggling with starting up. I just pray and believe this grant would work for me as have tried before and I really do need it. My business is registered already. I just pray this works out for me
I’m a fashion designer who’s struggling with starting up. I just pray and believe this grant would work for me as have tried before and I really do need it. My business is registered already. I just pray this works out for me