Financing

EIT Climate-KIC Adaptation and Resilience ClimAccelerator in Africa (€2,500)

EIT Climate-KIC is seeking applications from solutions that are addressing the impacts of climate change and building the resilience of communities. Start-ups may be providing solutions against climate risks such as: extreme temperatures (heatwaves), extreme precipitation, drought, unpredictable rains, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons or storms, floods, and sea level rise, among others. Start-ups that are not focusing on these specific areas will not be accepted. Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland (‘Irish Aid’), the EIT Climate-KIC Adaptation and Resilience ClimAccelerator will support 16 teams from across the African continent with solutions that address physical climate risks or build the resilience of communities. The selected start-ups will receive tailored business coaching, professional guidance on finance, support defining the climate impact potential of their solution, and preparation for future investment opportunities. Criteria Benefits 1. Mentorship: The start-ups will receive one-to-one support to refine their business strategy, solve challenges and identify opportunities for sustainable growth. 2. Access to Finance: The start-ups will receive a results-based grant of €2,500 to support streamlining operations, increasing efficiencies and creating businesses with a positive climate impact. 3. Business Development Services: Tackling all aspects of the business from incorporation, management structure, governance structures, staffing, operations, business plan development and implementation, market plan development and implementation, financial management and accountability. 4. Climate Change Mainstreaming: Coaching and training on climate risk assessment and opportunity identification. Additionally, the start-ups will be supported in mainstreaming sustainability (environmental and social), as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation approaches into their operations. Deadline: 26 November 2022. Visit Climate-KIC for application details.

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2023 Anzisha Grant for Young African Entrepreneurs ($200,000 Prize)

Applications for the 2023 Anzisha Prize are officially open! Deadline: 27 November, 2022 The Anzisha Prize is Africa’s biggest award for her youngest entrepreneurs aged 15 – 22 years, and hands out over USD $200,000 every year in business support and prize money to very young entrepreneurs from all over the continent. The Anzisha Prize has championed and supported over 200 Very Young Entrepreneurs throughout the African continent. If you are a young African entrepreneur trying to grow a small business or you’ve created something that provides you and your friends with an income – then Anzisha looks forward to receiving your application in the 2023 cycle. By applying to the Anzisha Prize, you stand a chance to win a share of grand cash prizes valued over $50, 000 and business support for your business.  About the Anzisha Prize The Anzisha Prize is a venture building fellowship program that has successfully supported and championed very young entrepreneurs for over 10 years. The fellowship is a three year program that celebrates and rewards business growth. During the course of the three years, the programme will track the performance of the business and the entrepreneur. Businesses that show exemplary growth and initiative are rewarded with benefits and services such as short courses, cloud services and cash stipends. At the end of the second year, entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses and successes for a chance to win their share of grand cash prizes valued over $50 000. The Grand Prizes are split into four categories: The Job Creation Prize Revenue Growth Prize Storytelling Prize Integrating Systems and Processes Prize At the end of the three year fellowship, the fellows will graduate and join the Anzisha Prize alumni network. Eligibility Requirements 1. You must be between 15 and 22 years old with an ID document or Passport to present as evidence. Anyone born before September 1, 2000 or after August 31, 2007, will not be considered. 2. You must be a national of an African country with a business based in Africa for African customers/beneficiaries. 3. The Anzisha Prize isn’t awarded for great ideas or business plans – you must have already started, and be able to prove it! 4. Your business, invention or social project can be in any field or industry (science and technology, civil society, arts and culture, sports, etc.). Any kind of venture is welcome to apply. 5. Individuals who apply must be one of the founding members of a business (for example, 2 or 3 co-founders who started up the project together). Judging Criteria To be selected as one of our Anzisha ventures, your business or project will be judged on the following criteria: Is your venture established with customers and beneficiaries and are you offering value to them? Are you, the founder, leading and managing your venture? Is your venture demonstrating some impact already? Whether your venture is a for-profit business or cause-based, does it already earn revenues or already reach beneficiaries? Is there potential to increase revenues or beneficiary reach with support from Anzisha? Has your venture created jobs and is there potential to create more high quality jobs? To be selected as one of our Anzisha Fellows, you must demonstrate two important qualities: You are the leader of your venture and you drive both venture strategy and operations. You spend at least 20 hours a week (or more) on your business and plan to continue to do so after selection. Prizes 1. Bi-annual cash stipends to eligible fellows in Year 1 and Year 3 of the fellowship. 2. Short term educational opportunities, internships and specialised technical expert consultations for eligible fellows in Year 2 and Year 3. 3. Job Creation Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has created the most job opportunities since joining the fellowship. 4. Revenue Growth Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 with the highest business revenue growth since joining the fellowship. 5. Storytelling Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has creatively communicated and distributed their entrepreneurship story through written, oral and visual storytelling. 6. Integration systems and processes Prize – awarded to the entrepreneur in Year 2 who has effectively used systems and processes to advance their business model. Go to www.anzishaprize.org for more information on the application process.

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How Start-ups can Conduct Business Pitching for Solid Closing

What does Business Pitching Entail? Business pitching means presenting a company’s concepts to another person. As an illustration, you might introduce your fledgling company to possible investors or your items to prospective clients. To get buy-in, a business pitch must clearly explain your strategy or objectives to the audience. Your goods and business are the subjects of your pitch. It is important to note that sharing your concept is never too early. You must always be prepared to make a pitch that’ll make potential stakeholders (investors or customers) interested your company. A pitch is a speech intended to persuade an audience to take a certain action. Your idea dictates its purpose and likely outcomes to anticipate. So the following reasons for a pitch are: To attract early adopters that will use your service To attract investors and/or partners who can help grow your company To request funding Types of Pitches Today, it is not uncommon that investors lack the patience and time to listen to traditional pitches where you reel off all the benefits of your product and then make a “great deal” to close. Here are the various types of business pitches: One-word Pitch: It is important that a word reflects your brand. It is a keyword that summarises the concept of your product or business. It can also give clarity to a first-time hearer about your products/services. This keyword is often coined from the mission, vision, goals, unique point or even the solution offered. Elevator Pitch: This is your go-to pitch for networking events, social media, and elevator rides with potential clients. Every salesperson is expected to have an elevator pitch, allowing you to discuss your product and company’s fundamentals within 30 to 60 seconds. In your speech, you should focus more on the why of your solution. This presents the concept of your product and company more persuasively. Investor Pitch: Here is a speech that describes the issues you hope to address as part of your investor pitch. You should not use industry jargon when presenting; it is exclusively for your pitch deck. In an investor pitch, you describe what you do, the level of business maturity, the size of the market, and your partners. If you can create a large company, investors will be interested. Customer Pitch: In contrast to investors, customers are looking for the problems that your product and business can help them solve. Get them to talk more about the issue than you do, and only then can you determine the appropriate remedy. Presentations can contain industry terminologies because it is considered that the audience is aware of the market. Follow-up Pitch: Here’s a reminder of a concept you’ve already pitched to a listener who hasn’t yet lived up to your expectations. This needs to be handled respectfully and with courtesy. A postal pitch or a cold phone pitch can be used to follow up with an investor or a client. Presenting a Pitch Firstly, when giving a pitch, begin with a short, friendly introduction and a memorable slogan to pique the audience’s interest. Note that you should keep your opening slide above to capture the investors’ attention. In an investor pitch, you should discuss a problem your business or idea addresses, whereas in a customer pitch, you should allow the customer explain their issue. Tell a story to raise thoughts, and then use pertinent data and facts to convince them of your plan (s) to resolve the issue. Furthermore, explain your approach to the audience, outlining the functions of your concept and testing processes. Use visuals to depict your product/service. These could be videos, images, or screenshots. Remember that businesses are not without rivals, but your unique selling point offers you an advantage in convincing your listener that your solution is the best one. Moreover, when making a pitch to an investor, describe your business model to demonstrate that you have a sound strategy for generating income. Your traction is a crucial component of your pitch because it details your past successes. Telling your investor how you intend to expand goes a step further. This demonstrates your maturity and where you see your firm going in terms of attracting customers. Conclusion You definitely do not want to waste your opportunity to close by being unprepared. Before pitching your business to prospective stakeholders, it is critical that you assess your level of readiness. Here’s what you should do below: ➢ Examine your pitch pattern to make sure it’s standard ➢ Improve your confidence level ➢ Memorise and practice your pitch ➢ Learn to focus on keywords to manage your time ➢ Have short versions of your pitch. ➢ Pair your story with a visual document called a pitch deck In your pitch session, sell your solution evidently to potential customers, investors and/or partners.

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Redesigning Fashion: 2023 Hult Prize Challenge ($1Million Seed Funding)

Redesigning fashion: Launch an innovative social venture in the clothing and fashion industry to make it more sustainable. Today’s fashion industry is huge. It’s the world’s third-largest manufacturing sector, contributing $2.4 trillion to the global economy. Over 150 billion articles of clothing are produced each year. Fashion employs 300 million people across its value chain—a sixth of the world’s workforce. Unfortunately, all this comes at a terrible environmental and social cost. So, the industry must change. If not, the United Nations has little hope of meeting its Sustainable Development Goals by the 2030 deadline. Innovation is the answer. What to do? Create a for-profit social venture in the fashion/clothing industry. Your idea must be geared towards redesigning the fashion industry, and creating measurable, positive impact on people and the planet, thereby supporting the United Nations in meeting its Sustainable Development Goals by the 2030 deadline. Below are the steps to follow: Step 1: Align with one or more of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals Step 2: Choose an area of impact in the fashion industry’s value chain that you feel passionate about. The fashion value chains are: consumption, disposal, circularity, sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and marketing. Step 3: Build your team. Step 4: Explore your idea with Design Thinking. Step 5: Develop your business plan. Step 6: Create your pitch. Step 7: Compete: You’ll need to make it through three qualifying rounds to compete at the Finals in Paris for the $1million prize. Bonus Tip: Ensure that your idea is relevant, practical, focused, profitable and measurable. The Hult Prize judges specifically look out for these. Download this Hult Prize resource to learn more about this challenge or visit the Hult’s Prize official website here.

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Funding Opportunities for African Entrepreneurs

African Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) face many challenges, including access to funding opportunities. This, in turn, makes growing and scaling businesses difficult for entrepreneurs. While MSMEs are often drivers of growth, especially in developing countries, 51% of these businesses need more capital than they can access (Center for Strategic & International Studies, 2021). To support the capacities of MSMEs to create numerous jobs and sporadically improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of African countries, below are some available funding opportunities: 2022 Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition Win up to $300,000 in grant funds from Africa’s Business Heroes Prize (ABH) Competition. ABH is open to African entrepreneurs making a difference in their local communities. Your business must be providing a solution to the most important problems in the world. It must also be sustainable and inclusive. Formally registered African businesses from all sectors, with a three-year track record, are eligible to apply.  The application deadline is June 20, 2022. D-Prize Seed Capital Do you have a new, proven idea capable of solving poverty? If yes, you’re the entrepreneur D-prize is looking for. You stand a chance to get up to $20,000 to fund an intervention that is capable of eradicating poverty.  Your idea can fall into any of these categories- health access, water, education, agriculture, livelihoods, energy and public services. Similarly, you can propose a custom intervention. Every entrepreneur is eligible to apply as there are no geographical, age or background restrictions. The extended application deadline is June 26, 2022. Copernicus Masters Challenge A total of EUR 531,000 is available for individuals using Earth observation data to tackle global challenges. Innovators above 18 years are eligible to apply. More so, Applications are welcome from start-ups, SMEs, universities and corporations, as long as you’re utilizing Earth Observation (EO) data to solve a problem. If you decide to apply, make sure you do so on or before 11 July 2022. Cartier Women’s Initiative Annually, the Cartier Women’s Initiative empowers impact entrepreneurs, especially women with funding and networking opportunities. Women with solid, sustainable, social or environmental impact from any country or sector can apply. Funding from the Cartier Women’s Initiative is divided into three categories: The Regional Award Science and Technology Pioneer Award- for women entrepreneurs innovating scientific and technological solutions to problems. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award- for any entrepreneur (male or female) designing solutions that seek to provide opportunities for communities that have been underserved. The deadline for all categories is Thursday, June 30, 2022, at 2 p.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST). Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Is your business mission-driven? Have you been addressing critical social or environmental issues for about three years? The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation might be the right opportunity for you. The foundation accepts applications for social impact ideas all year, so you never have to worry about a deadline. Impact-focused, data-driven businesses at post-pilot stages, with the willingness to expand, are eligible to apply. Know an entrepreneur that needs this? Share and prompt them to check out these opportunities to start, grow or scale their businesses.  

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Africa Business Heroes Competition 2022 for African Entrepreneurs

Applications for the 2022 Africa Business Heroes Competition are now open, and competitors from all African countries are welcome.  You may win equipment to help you in your entrepreneurial path.  Apply in English or French today! ABH aims to identify, support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their local communities, working to solve the most pressing problems, and building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. The initiative aims to be as inclusive as possible. Applications are open in English and French to entrepreneurs from all African countries, all sectors, and all ages who operate businesses formally registered and headquartered in an African country, and that have a 3 year-track record. Every year, ten finalists will be selected to compete in the ABH finale pitch competition and participate in a TV Show that will be broadcast online and across the continent. The finalists will compete for a share of US $1.5 million in grant money. Eligible Countries: African countries Type: Entrepreneurship Eligibility for Africa Business Heroes: Applicant should be the Founder or a Co-Founder of the company. Applicant has traceable/provable African nationality. In other words, you have/had African citizenship and/or a Parent or Grandparent has African citizenship. Company is Africa-Based. The business is registered and headquartered in an African country, and primarily operates in Africa. Company is post-Idea stage. Business is 3 years old or more and has at least 3 years of revenue history Application Deadline: 6th June 2022 Apply Here

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WIA 54 (Women in Africa) 2022 Programme for African Women Entrepreneurs

WIA has pledged to help 10,000 African women entrepreneurs by 2030 through its WIA 54 program, which includes training, mentorship, communication, and access to capital. By 2030, the objective is to contribute to the creation of 100,000 employment and the development of $10 billion in income for Africa’s economy. WIA54 identifies remarkable African women entrepreneurs who run businesses with high growth potential.   The call for applications will run from February 22, 2022, to May 31, 2022. Applicants must complete the application form, which has several sections: – personal information; –  information about the company.  The application will be done in 2 steps – the WIA team will get back to the pre-selected candidates after step 1.  The eligibility criteria: A business created or led by an African woman First traction on the market (sales, number of users, funds raised) Be part of one of the 8 categories (primary business category) The selection criteria for the projects: Innovative product, service or technology Proven business model scalability Strong growth potential Ambitious team with strong execution ability Market traction (revenue, number of users, funds raised) Potential impact in Africa For more information on how to apply visit the Official Webpage of the Women in Africa (WIA) 54 Programme 2022

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The Young Social Entrepreneurs (YSE) Global Funding

The Young Social Entrepreneurs (YSE) Global program is an eight-month program that inspires, equips, and empowers youngsters from all over the world to establish or build up social companies in Singapore and beyond. YSE Global has been nurturing a network of young people with creative company ideas since 2010. Centered on social good In collaboration with seasoned social entrepreneurs, We harness the power of ideas as business consultants and investors. know-how and resources to make a good difference in the world Do you want to grow your social enterprise? Submit your application today if you are between the ages of 18 and 35 and have a viable and creative commercial solution to a social issue. Gain access to a global ecosystem of investors, industry experts, seasoned mentors, and a growing network of over 1,300 young changemakers from 42 countries. Leading social innovation ideas and industry insights from the region will inspire you. Shortlisted teams will be given the opportunity to grow up their social enterprises with funding of up to S$20,000. With YSE Global 2022, you can make a bigger difference! Applications will be accepted from February 14 through April 24, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. (GMT +8). APPLY HERE

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Investor (as well as Startups) Beware

The bright red flags most people miss Here are red flags investors should be aware of when investing in a startup and red flags startups should be aware of when accepting investors’ funding. For Investors beware of  Startups that have many members on the founding team. This implies that there are a lot of people who already have equity in the startup and too many voices Startups that have high overhead and low-profit margins because it is an indication of a lack of sustainability and scalability Founders that have full-time jobs outside of the Startup because the startup might be a hobby or an entity not receiving attention. At the same time, beware of founders who have no other source of income apart from the Startup because your investment could be used to bankroll their lifestyle Startups whose early investors have not or are not participating in additional investment rounds because it implies the Startup did not deliver on its promises or the early investors do not see a future for the Startup For Startups beware of  Investors who offer smaller ticket sizes but want larger equity. In addition to you receiving less funding, these investors devalue your Startup which will affect you in all your other funding rounds Investors who have over 1x liquidation multiplier in their term sheets. When a Startup’s exit is lower than the valuation, the investor gets their full initial investment back if you have a 1x liquidation multiplier, above 1x implies the investor wants more than their full investment back which leaves the Startup at a greater loss Investors who want Participating Preferred Stocks. When a Startup’s exit is higher than their valuation, shareholders will receive additional cash (in addition to their initial investment) which is based on the equity they have in the Startup. This means for example if the investor invests 5Million for 50% equity, and the Startup’s exit was 25Million, the investor will their 5Million back in addition to 10Million (50% of the balance from exit fund) leaving the Startup with 10Million only Investors who are non-responsive; who go AWOL during the process and come back with heightened interest. Sounds too good to be true! This ends our Investor and Investment series, you can go to our profile for more related articles www.msmehub.org/author/busola-boyle-komolafe/.    Contact Versa Research your trusted data, research & consulting partner! References https://carta.com/blog/how-to-choose-investors-for-your-startup/ https://carta.com/blog/watch-out-for-these-terms/ https://techpoint.africa/2019/11/05/red-flag-nigerian-investor/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgedeeb/2017/01/03/16-red-flags-for-startup-investors/?sh=2606c1e1390a

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