Five grant opportunities and programmes for entrepreneurs across Africa in April 2021.
1. Rwanda is inviting African startups for Smart Cities Innovation Programme
The Rwandan Government is calling on African tech startups operating in the mobility, housing, or fintech sector to apply to the Smart Cities Innovation Accelerator Programme (SCIP).
Requirements
The following requirements apply to interested applicants for the programme;
- Startups must have already launched their tech-enabled product or service in the African market
- The startup must have existing customers
- The startup must be within the following sectors; mobility, housing, or fintech
- High growth potential
- Job creation potential
- Positive social or environmental impact.
“They should also have a high growth and job creation potential, as well as a positive social and/or environmental impact. Finally, start-ups from Rwanda and/or with female members in management are preferred at equal qualification,” SCIP said in the statement.
Applications must be submitted online and applications close on May 9 2021.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit additional information about their startup and participate in an interview.
2. Smart Cities Innovation Accelerator Programme
Thirty startups will be selected to take part in the prestigious programme and will be divided into three different sectors; Smart Mobility, Smart Housing, and Fintech for Affordability.
During the six-month remotely held programme, participating startups will be provided one-on-one mentorship, training, exposure to network, and connecting with international business partners and potential investors such as Volkswagen, Siemens, and the African Business Angels Network (ABAN).
Participating startups will be able to utilise Green City Kigali, Rwanda’s flagship smart city project as a sandbox to test their innovative solutions and enter the Rwandan market.
The SCIP Accelerator will take place virtually over six months, from June until December 2021, and includes demo days held in Kigali during September
Applications close on 9 May 2021
3. Catapult: Inclusion Africa 2021
African fintech startups have up until 30 April to apply for the Catapult: Inclusion Africa 2021 fintech Bootcamp that will take place digitally from 19 – 28 May this year.
Only 15 applicants will be selected to take part in the intensive Bootcamp. The Bootcamp will take place over one week and applicants can be completed online.
The Bootcamp will provide training in investment readiness, one-on-one mentorship along with venture development and growth tools.
Following the first programme, a three-day Catapult: Inclusion Africa programme will take place in December 2021 at the Luxembourg Pavilion of the World Expo in Dubai, with the winner of the May 2021 edition.
Applications open until April 30th
For application and more details, visit; https://catapult.lu/Africa/
4. USAID’s $3m Grants to supprt agricultural value chains in Nigeria
The grant will provide assistance to youth-led and mid-stage companies working in food value chains in Nigeria.
Application Opens April 12 to May 9, to youth-led and mid-stage companies
The Challenge will award 15 to 25 youth-led companies up to $75,000 each and award 10 to15 mid-stage companies up to $150,000 each. Winners will receive funding and technical assistance to rapidly expand their activities to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on Nigeria’s food value chain and improve the resilience of vulnerable households to the negative impacts of the pandemic.
To learn more about the Challenge and how to apply, visit the USAID/Nigeria COVID-19 Food Security Challenge’s website and apply by May 9, 2021 at 5:00 PM WAT (GMT+1).
5. 1 Million Naira grant in Quickteller’s Contest
1 Million Nairagrant is up for grabs in the Boost my Business with Quickteller Contest, and any business can win it, including yours.
All you have to do is register and activate your business on the Quickteller Business platform.
Quickteller Business is an intuitive and robust platform, providing seamless payment solutions to businesses and their customers, irrespective of their sizes. From the platform, businesses and individuals can receive payments from anyone, anywhere and everywhere.
Quickteller Business boasts of tons of amazing features such as easy payment collections with or without a website via multiple channels to invoicing, managing multiple businesses, tracking and reports, logistics support, customized business integration, etc.
Click here for specific instructions on the pitch and how to participate.
EXTRA: 2021 Africa Career Accelerator Program
Free Career Development Program with Remote Internship with Global SME and Corporate Brands
About the Program:
A one-month digital career accelerator program to improve the digital literacy skills of young professionals. Learn the fundamentals of digital communication, business email writing, research and data management reporting, blogging and more.
This is a free sponsored program that will provide access to free digital skills training from partner companies such as Grow with Google, Linkedin and IBM Cloud.
Applications for the program are now open.
Who should apply?
Unemployed citizens, recent graduates, limited work experience individuals who are currently looking for new opportunities.
Eligibility:
PLEASE NOTE THIS OPPORTUNITY IS FOR AFRICAN CITIZENS ONLY. You must be a resident and citizen in one of the 54 countries located on the continent.
AGE: 18-35
Deadline June 1, 2021
Apply HERE
