Four Funding Opportunities For Africans
Jun. 10, 2022
In today's article, we will learn of some funding opportunities for entrepreneurs at all levels – from idea stage to scale-up – to help them in their journey. These opportunities will provide these startups with free access to world-class training and resources, enhancing their visibility and working to connect them to mentors and investors.
Last Mile Money Accelerator program
African startups are invited to apply for the Last Mile Money Accelerator program, which offers funding and support to startups serving last-mile communities with digital financial services and cash-in/cash-out innovations.
After a successful first accelerator program in 2021, IDEO Last Mile Money is again seeking promising early-stage ventures connecting underserved communities in emerging markets to digital financial services.
This year's edition looks at solutions that "accelerate financial innovation at the last mile, so it outpaces the first mile," targeting startups working at the intersection of last-mile users and financial empowerment.
Accepted startups will get access to a host of benefits, including design support, between US$30,000 and $50,000, equity-free grant funding, access to IDEO's partner network, and membership in CICO Collective, which gives companies access to salons, webinars, and co-creation opportunities with an online community of 1,200 other founders and experts building for the last mile.
Interested ventures and startups can apply here until July 15.
Entrepreneurship World Cup Pitch Competition
The Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) fourth edition is now accepting applications from entrepreneurs in 200 countries who want to participate in the world's most extensive startup support program and pitch competition. The program allows founders to pitch on a global stage for a chance to win a share of $1M in prizes, as well as additional investment opportunities and in-kind support.
Hosted by the Global Entrepreneurship Network and Monsha'at, all applicants will receive access to EWC Accelerates, a virtual training program that helps entrepreneurs hone their skills and increase their chances of winning their national competitions and advancing to the Global Finals. The EWC online platform also offers all contestants that start an application access to $1,000 worth of perks.
All founders that complete an application will receive access to more than $25,000 in perks. The top EWC100 will receive $100,000 and in-kind services from partners such as AWS, Freshworks, Google Cloud, Hubspot, Stripe, Zoom, and more.
All global finalists will receive additional perks, in-kind support services, and automatic entry into the GEN Starters Club, an invitation-only community of talented founders.
Tap here to apply
CivicTech Fund Africa
Civic participation is a powerful force to fuel social change and strengthen democratic governance. Today, civic technology and digital engagement are central vehicles through which participation can be promoted.
For this reason, CivicTech is looking for innovative initiatives that use civic technology and digital engagement to facilitate inclusive public decision-making and strengthen democratic governance across Africa.
Through a series of funding rounds spanning the African continent, the Fund will provide financial and technical support to bring to life original ideas and scale up existing initiatives to amplify citizen voices.
The organization will fund companies acting within the civic sectors based in African Union Member States. Particular attention will be paid to youth- and women-led initiatives. Additionally, the Fund may also support initiatives led by businesses strongly committed to advancing civic participation.
Financial support will be awarded through multiple rounds focusing on specific geographic and thematic areas. Winners will receive between € 10,000 and € 32,000 each to kickstart or upscale their projects. These grants can be used to develop a new project, upscale, or adapt an ongoing initiative.
The CivicTech Fund is not limited to financial support but offers a capacity support program that will be designed and tailored to the specific needs of the selected initiatives. Support can include assistance from experienced technologists and data scientists, operational guidance, mentorship, and workshop sessions.
Click here to know more
The UN World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards
The WFF Startup Innovation Awards invites applications from anywhere in the world whose work impacts any element of agrifood systems. Entrants will also be pulled from contestants who have already entered the 2022 Extreme Tech Challenge competition. The WFF Startup Awards will then elevate and accelerate the growth of startups with the greatest potential for a positive impact in transforming agrifood systems, aligned to one of four categories: Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and Better Life. The competition will also have a special award around how the innovation in each of the categories will contribute to the interconnected issues of "Healthy Diets. Healthy Planet." Finalists will pitch their companies on a global stage to an esteemed panel of international agrifood systems experts, innovators, and entrepreneurs during the WFF Flagship event from 17-21 October 2022, where the winners will be selected and announced.
Both finalists and award winners will receive global visibility, the ability to raise capital, network with international entities (governments, United Nations agencies, corporations, VCs, partners), and gain the mentorship opportunities they need to pioneer technological breakthroughs and help power a sustainable future for our food.
Click here to apply
End date: Jul 15, 2022