Ayomide Ogunleye

Ayomide is the Editorial Associate at The FATE School of FATE Foundation. She has 5+ years of experience researching, creating learning and development content, implementing search engine optimization strategies and managing content systems.

Visa Accelerator Program for Fintechs

Unlock your startup’s potential and fast-track your success in the dynamic world of fintech with the Visa Accelerator program. This groundbreaking initiative connects Africa’s brightest minds with experienced mentors, cutting-edge technology, and unparalleled investment opportunities.  Are you ready to disrupt the industry, revolutionize finance, and make an impact in the ecosystem? Join this exciting 3-months journey to propel your startup towards unprecedented growth and recognition. It’s time to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit and forge a path to success in the vibrant fintech landscape.  Benefits of the Visa Accelerator Program Application Requirements for the Visa Accelerator Program If your team has already designed a minimum viable product related to the proposed areas or has a market-ready solution, you are the right fit for the program. Opportunity Areas We are looking for the best and brightest companies to address the following themes. If you believe your company is building solutions in one or more of these areas, you are welcome to apply for the Visa Accelerator program. Click here for more information about the accelerator program. Apply here on or before August 25th, 2023.

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AYuTe Nigeria Challenge

Compete for a chance to win a share of $20,000 in the AYuTe Nigeria Challenge. The AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria is an enterprise development program initiated by Heifer International and implemented by Wennovation Hub to identify, nurture, and support innovative, relevant and technology-driven agric-centric enterprises to grow, scale and thrive. Candidates should be early-stage or growth-stage youth-led agritech businesses/companies with innovative solutions impacting smallholder farmers at scale. Eligibility Criteria for the AYuTe Nigeria Challenge The company must have: Application deadline: 31st July, 2023, by 5pm WAT. For more information about the application process, click here. Apply for the AYuTe Nigeria Challenge here.

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CcHub Uni:nnovators Startups-in-Residence Program

Co-Creation Hub in partnership with GIZ Make-IT in Africa rolls out the Uni:nnovators Startups-in-Residence program to support 30 student-led innovations in Nigeria, Namibia, and Kenya in an effort to strengthen and accelerate the participation of academic institutions in the emerging innovation ecosystem across Africa. The selected startup teams will benefit from capacity-building sessions to improve on their research-based innovations and build prototypes focused on Greentech and smart city solutions in specific sectors – Agriculture, Energy, Circular Economy, Water, and Healthcare. Eighteen of these student-led teams who emerge after the pitch demonstration will participate in a knowledge exchange with leading researchers in their fields and get the opportunity to travel to Germany for physical sessions to help to strengthen their prototypes. They will then receive funding and advisory services towards building and deploying their MVPs in the marketplace and in partnership with the industry where applicable. The program will culminate in a two-day summit in Nairobi, Kenya where startups will pitch to an international audience of investors and stakeholders as we try to showcase the critical role that Higher Education Institutions play in the broader innovation ecosystem on the continent.   Co-Creation Hub will work with six Higher Education institutions in the three chosen countries. The institutions are the: Eligibility Criteria for the Uni:nnovators Startups-in-Residence Program Calendar of Activities for the Uni:nnovators Startups-in-Residence Program For more information on the application process, click here. Apply here: https://bit.ly/UninnovatorsApply  Deadline: 4th of August (2023)  Click the link to register for the information session on how to apply for this opportunity. The info session will be held on the 21st of July (2023).

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White Paper on Supporting Female-Led Businesses in Nigeria

Female-led businesses in Nigeria encounter various challenges such as inadequate access to capital, poor access to information, cultural norms and many more. However, despite these, they continue to show resilience and high levels of optimism in the face of these impossible odds for the future of their businesses. While the entrepreneurial drive of Nigerian women is not in question, the high-level of participation of female entrepreneurs is often driven by necessity, with many often remaining at the micro level. Considering the impact women-led businesses continue to make despite the challenges they face, it is imperative that the government and ecosystem players take a more intentional approach to supporting this demographic segment for greater impact particularly since investing in these businesses produce ripple benefits. This White Paper by the FATE Institute of FATE Foundation takes a look at how to effectively support women-led businesses to grow sustainably in Nigeria by seeking to understand the challenges they face while proffering relevant recommendations and/or interventions. Using extended depth interviews to get a sense of the challenges female-led businesses face and proposed solutions, the FATE Institute engaged with representatives in three (3) of the states recording high numbers of women-led businesses and some key entrepreneurship ecosystem players across entrepreneurship segments in Nigeria. Entrepreneurship segments include capacity building, access to finance, access to markets, business support, access to resources, policy & regulation and research & development. The white-paper provides findings on the: Click here to download.

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Access Bank Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton Season 5

Launched in 2019, the Access Bank Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton program hosts the 5th season of the program and seeks to provide mini-MBA certification to 120 women entrepreneurs in Nigeria as well as grants worth over N17Million Naira to WSMEs. Participants of the Access Bank Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton Season 5 will benefit from an exclusive and certified Mini-MBA and grant prizes. The programme is designed for a 3-month period comprising 8 weeks of mini-MBA training in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and pitching sessions to a Pan-African Jury panel where the top finalists will pitch their businesses, infusing learnings from the mini-MBA and will stand an opportunity to win financial grants and other consolation prizes Eligibility Criteria Screening Process All online applications will be reviewed and screened by independent business experts for all five hundred (500) candidates who will be required to send in a sixty-second video pitch for the opportunity to be selected as part of the final top 120 candidates. For more information on the application process, click here. Click here to apply on or before August 11, 2023.

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GEC+ Africa Entrepreneurship Pitching Competitions 

The GEC+ Africa 2024 entrepreneurship regional pitching competitions aim to bring in startups and SMMEs from across the continent to showcase their businesses. This will be an opportunity to highlight Africa’s innovative startups / SMMEs and a platform to strengthen each country’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Applications are open to: Successful applicants will be invited to participate in a bootcamp which will be in preparation ahead of the pitching competitions taking place in their respective countries. The final pitch of the GEC+ Africa 2024 Entrepreneurship Pitching Competitions will have an audience consisting of investors and Entrepreneur Support Organisations from all over the continent. The top 3 winners will share a prize of $50 000 and will have an opportunity to join an accelerator programme post the congress. Assessment Criteria for GEC+ Africa 2024 Entrepreneurship Pitching Competitions Applicants whose pitch decks are deemed suitable will be invited to pitch to judges during the lead up activity. The below criteria will serve as a broad guideline in assessing the applicants when they present their businesses to the adjudicators: 1. The Problem Statement: has the entrepreneur(s) clearly identified the problem they are looking to solve and who this problem affects? Is the problem big enough i.e., does it point to a sizeable growing target market? 2. Value Proposition: Is the proposed solution distinct from the current solutions in the market? Does it have a clear competitive advantage? 3.The Business Case: Is the business model viable in how it intends to make money alongside its value proposition? Is this business model sustainable? Does the business have a clear strategy? 4. Team Composition: Is the team skilled and capable enough of executing on the product/service delivery and its business model? 5. The Minimum Viable Product: How effectively does the MVP showcase the value proposition? Does the MVP provide a robust foundation for further development and scaling? 6. Overall Quality of the Pitch: Was a pitch deck submitted? Was the entrepreneur prepared in their presentation and in answering questions? For more information, click here. Click here to apply.

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2023 Kickstart Program (N3 Million Grant)

The 2023 Kickstart Program is powered by the International Breweries Foundation, The International Breweries Foundation is an arm of International Breweries Plc, (a proud part of the AB InBev Group) with the objective of delivering impactful, developmental, and sustainable projects. Kickstart is an initiative of the Foundation and focuses on enterprise growth and development for young entrepreneurs. The programme supports youth-owned businesses through the provision of training, access to capital (grants) of up to N3 million and mentoring. In Nigeria, the program started in 2016 and has run three editions in the South West and South East region. With effect from 2019, Kickstart has become a national intervention in Nigeria, now open to youths in the six geo-political zones of the country. How to apply for the 2023 Kickstart program To be considered for shortlisting, applicants are required to meet the following requirements: Deadline for application submission is Monday, July 24th, 2023. Find more information about the program here. Click here to apply.

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ScaleUp Lab Education Accelerator

Are you an ambitious entrepreneur in the Nigerian education industry, eager to unlock the full potential of your business? Look no further! ScaleUp Lab Education Accelerator, brought to you by FATE Foundation, is a game-changing program designed to empower high-potential growth-stage education businesses. You can apply for the program here. Benefits of the ScaleUp Lab Education Accelerator 1. Tailored Curriculum for Strategic Growth: ScaleUp Lab Education Accelerator provides a carefully curated curriculum designed to address the unique needs of education entrepreneurs like you. From financial management to operations, marketing, and technology, the program dives deep into the essential pillars of running a successful education business. By participating in expert-led workshops, mentorship programs, and coaching sessions, you’ll gain invaluable insights, practical strategies, and the tools needed to optimize your operations and position your venture for sustainable growth. 2. Access to Industry Experts and Mentors: At ScaleUp Lab, you’ll have access to a stellar lineup of experienced mentors and industry experts. These seasoned professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and guidance to the program, providing tailored support to each participant. Their expertise covers diverse areas such as scaling your business, refining product offerings, navigating funding opportunities, and more. With their guidance, you’ll make informed decisions and drive your business toward success. 3. Networking and Collaboration Opportunities: Join a vibrant community of like-minded education entrepreneurs through ScaleUp Lab. By participating in networking events, peer-to-peer collaborations, and industry connections, you’ll build valuable relationships that can open doors to new partnerships and opportunities. The power of collaboration and shared experiences cannot be underestimated when it comes to accelerating your business growth. The ScaleUp Lab Education Accelerator provides a fertile ground for fostering meaningful connections that will propel your business forward. 4. Funding and Investment Readiness: Financing plays a crucial role in fuelling your business’s growth. ScaleUp Lab understands this and equips participants with access to funding opportunities and investment readiness support. Whether you’re seeking capital to expand operations, develop innovative solutions, or scale customer acquisition efforts, ScaleUp Lab connects you with potential investors and empowers you with the skills to make a compelling case for funding. ScaleUp Lab will help you navigate the funding landscape and position your business for investment success. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this transformative program! Click here to apply to the ScaleUp Lab Education Accelerator today. The application window is open, but remember, applications close on Monday, July 31, 2023. This program is your gateway to success, providing a unique platform to learn, grow, and make a lasting impact in the education industry. Join a community of passionate education entrepreneurs, unlock your business’s full potential, and shape the future of education in Nigeria. ScaleUp Lab Education Accelerator is waiting for visionaries like you. Take the leap and embark on a transformative journey toward sustainable growth and innovation.

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Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2023

The Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2023 will give cash awards of up $10,000 to entrepreneurs and innovators with the best ideas, and a FREE digital incubator program will be available to all eligible applicants worldwide! Social Shifters are next generation leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs with fresh solutions to today’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. The challenge is looking for creative ideas, projects, and business solutions to the problems that matter most to you and your community. Ideas at any stage and from anywhere in the world will be accepted. Benefits of the Challenge To enter the Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge, your idea must contribute towards at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. You can submit your idea into one (or more) SDG categories, plus one of its special challenge awards! More information about the challenge can be read here. Click here to apply.

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Ecobank Fintech Challenge (Win $50,000)

The Ecobank Fintech Challenge identifies and partners Fintechs that are ready to scale and provides them with support and access to opportunities in Ecobank’s 35 African markets. The goal? To contribute to their growth as potential Pan African Fintech success stories. The challenge is open to all Fintechs on the African continent. Interested Fintechs can apply by sending details of their product as well as a demo here. These products must address one or more of a specific set of pain points which are: The selected finalists will participate in the Ecobank Fintech Challenge Grand Finale. The ultimate winner for 2023 will be awarded a cash prize of $50,000. All finalists are inducted into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship, which affords them the opportunity to explore deals, integration and commercial partnership with the Ecobank Group. Benefits and Opportunities Further information about the challenge can be found here. Apply here on or before 21st July 2023.

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