☀️ This week’s opportunities for African founders span equity funding, global fellowships, and market access.
Baobab Network Accelerator
$100K equity investment + lifetime support.
💡 Eligibility: Africa-based, African-led tech startups with validated MVPs
📅: Rolling (Next cohort: October 2024)
🔗: https://lnkd.in/dvuzi9Pi
University City Science Center US Market Access Program
For startups looking to enter the US healthcare market.
💡 Eligibility: Growth-ready medtech, diagnostics, or digital health startups
📅: June 30, 2025 (Expression of Interest)
🔗: https://lnkd.in/dyRqY_CU
The Global Good Fund Fellowship
12-month hybrid leadership program offering $10K for leadership development, executive coaching & mentorship.
💡 Eligibility: Social entrepreneurs leading enterprises operating for 3–5 years with global impact potential
📅: June 30, 2025
🔗: https://lnkd.in/dHZn_K5f
develoPPP Ventures
Catalytic funding of €100,000 for innovative, scalable solutions contributing to the SDGs
💡 Eligibility: Impact-driven startups in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda & South Africa with proof of concept and initial revenues
📅 : June 30, 2025
🔗: https://lnkd.in/dDuhKkPU
Entrepreneurship World Cup 2025
Annual global pitch competition awarding over $1M in cash prizes across Idea, Early, Growth, and SpaceTech stages. Top prize: $250K for Early Stage Champion
💡 Eligibility: Startups <10 years old, from any country, registered or planning to register
📅: June 30, 2025
🔗: https://lnkd.in/d_QHs2nP
Zayed Sustainability Prize
$150K for impactful solutions in Health, Food, Energy, Water, or Climate Action.
💡 Eligibility: SMEs solving key global challenges through innovation
📅: June 30, 2025
🔗: https://lnkd.in/dYpPS3Rs
Enterprise Singapore Foodtech Frontier Challenge
Global call for foodtech startups and SMEs to co-develop solutions around taste, texture, nutrition, and sustainability. Winners receive paid pilots and grants (including PoC funding for Singapore-based projects).
💡 Eligibility: Foodtech startups/SMEs developing solutions around taste, texture, nutrition, and sustainability
📅: June 30, 2025
🔗: https://lnkd.in/d3tCh_Gg
Imperial Enterprise Lab Commonwealth Startup Fellowship
6-month hybrid fellowship for high-potential startups. Includes a fully funded bootcamp in Ghana and the chance to pitch in London
💡 Eligibility: Startup founders from eligible Commonwealth LMICs with an MVP and early traction
📅: June 30, 2025
🔗: https://lnkd.in/duCFunkK
Western Union Global Fellowship
Fully-funded fellowship for entrepreneurs. Includes mentorship, skill-building, and visibility
💡 Eligibility: Founders from/serving marginalized or displaced communities in Nigeria & Uganda
📅: July 1, 2025 (priority deadline)
🔗: https://lnkd.in/dFgK3tRK
Tag a founder who needs the full list of 20+ resources here: https://lnkd.in/d-v2ney3
I share new opportunities for African founders every Tuesday. Follow me or Tafiya Capital to stay updated!
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Dear Leaders
We are pleased to announce that the next cohort of the African Cooperative Desk Wadhwani Ignite Facilitator Development Program (FDP) will commence (launch meeting) on Wednesday, 25th June. This "Train the Trainer" program is designed to equip facilitators with the knowledge and tools required to deliver the African Cooperative Desk and Wadhwani Ignite Entrepreneurship Program to university students and idea-stage entrepreneurs.
We invite all our who plan to be part of the Ignite Program to Kindly submit the following details
Full Name
Email Address (to be used for the training)
Mobile Number
Name of the Institution they will facilitate for
Note:
Existing facilitators will only be required to complete a refresher, to ensure they are familiar with the new and updated Ignite Program content and platform features. NOTE! Facilitators who have completed the Ignite training in 2025 (and have active co-horts) do not need to enrol again.
Facilitators who previously enrolled in the FDP but did not start or were unable to complete their training are also invited to join this cohort to complete their training and gain full access to deliver the program.
FDP Structure and Timeline
📘 Phase 1: Self-Learning + Coaching (Weeks 1–4)
Facilitators will:
Complete a self-paced online course
Participate in weekly live coaching sessions, facilitated by myself
Receive practical “How-to” videos to guide them step-by-step through to Milestone 1
In Week 4, each facilitator will host a short Demo Class Session (maximum 10 minutes)
Upon completion of Phase 1, facilitators will gain full access to the Ignite Facilitator Platform, including all content and resources required to begin delivering the program independently to their own students and entrepreneurs. Ongoing support will be available to ensure successful rollout.
If any institution or facilitator wishes to begin delivering sessions before completing Phase 1, this can be arranged upon request.
🚀 Phase 2: Independent Delivery + Continued Learning
Facilitators will:
Begin creating and running their own Ignite classes
Complete the remainder of the FDP, including Milestones 2 and 3, along with all course content, activities, and milestone quizzes, as part of their self-learning journey
Ideally, stay ahead of their students in content completion
🎓 Phase 3: Certification
Facilitators who successfully complete all program requirements will be certified as Wadhwani Ignite Facilitators
We look forward and working closely to our leadership to support and scale entrepreneurship training through ACD
Should you have any questions or require clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Warm regards,
Fana Khumalo
Director
African Cooperative Desk
Creating Jobs. Changing Lives
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African Cooperative Desk/MoAfriKa and NEMISA are calling 25 Entrepreneurs for their Digital Marketing Entrepreneurship training for 1 Day
Requirements to attend 2 ID copies and 2 CIPC Registered copies for database registration and continuous business development
Venue: SWGC George Tarbo Dube Campus Time: 8am till 1:30pm please be punctual
Date: 30 May 2025
Refreshments and lunch will be served
For more information whatApp Fana 0736269736 your name and surname and company name
Register in form below
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_KqI_P-rUysmNBcR2uEJ0_JbcCjPPmIYibdwKnHhmjs/edit?usp=sharing_eip_se_dm&ts=68121c8a
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CALLING TOWNSHIP LEADERSHIP TALENT
The African Cooperative Desk has established 20 Sectors focused groups with a vision of sustainable development for the local entrepreneurs and the continuous growth of partnerships. The following Leadership roles need to be filled, while these roles are on a voluntary basis. The opportunity for the financial reward is defined through the business investment legacy that the ACD continues building the following positions needs to be filled
Resource Management, Skills Development Management, Business Development Management, Database Management, Policy Management and Information management we need 10 or 20 people per sector to make sure that the sector leaders manage their sectors properly for more information please email fana@africancoopdesk.co.za or call 0736269736
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🚀 Ignite Your Entrepreneurial Journey – May 2025 Cohort Now Open! 🚀
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur with an idea or early-stage startup? Do you want world-class coaching, mentorship, and training to help turn your vision into reality? This is your chance!
The Wadhwani Foundation in Africa, in partnership with the African Cooperative Desk (ACD), is excited to announce the May 2025 Cohort of the Africa Ignite Entrepreneurship Program – a live-online experience designed for ambitious entrepreneurs across the continent.
🔥 Program Highlights:
✅ Live & interactive sessions – 2x per week (1x Class + 1x Coaching Session)
✅ Expert mentorship by Charles Bolton (Wadhwani Foundation Director for Africa) & Xolela Sohuma (Senior Program Manager)
✅ 12-week intensive training covering idea validation, business models, market strategies, and funding
✅ Networking with like-minded entrepreneurs
✅ Completely FREE to join!
📅 Application Deadline: 24 March 2025
📅 Program Start Date: 26 May 2025 (Welcome Session via MS Teams)
🕒 Schedule: Every Tuesday & Thursday | Live-Online
💡 Key Requirements:
📌 Participants must be fully committed to completing the entire 12-week program.
📌 Reliable internet connectivity & bandwidth are required to attend live online sessions.
📩 Apply Now: https://forms.gle/XZZrjrs1eMGuEaZR9
Take the first step toward building your dream business in 2025. Spots are limited—apply today! 🚀
#Entrepreneurship #StartupSuccess #WadhwaniFoundation #AfricaIgnite #TheInnovationHub #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #Mentorship #ESD #Incubation #EnterpriseDevelopment #Accelerators #Idea #Africa #Entrepreneur #EntrepreneurshipEducation
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African Cooperative Desk is seeking
Host companies: These companies will provide 12-month workplace experience opportunities for In-Service students from an engineering and business management background.
In-Service students (10) : These students are pursuing engineering or business management qualifications and require 12-month placements to complete their diplomas. The stipend for these positions is R5,000 per month.
Additionally, we have an opening for:
One disabled graduate: This graduate should possess a Business Management or Administration qualification and will be placed in an Administrator role in Kempton Park. The stipend for this position is R6,000 per month for a duration of 24 months.
For your reference, we have attached the host site agreement and program application forms.
WhatsApp Fana at 0736269736
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African Cooperative Desk in partnership with Rivoni Training is inviting Youth, SMMEs and Coops in Chemical Manufacturing
Programme Description:
1. Three months chemical manufacturing skill program in cleaning detergent 20 youth invited with interest to be part of the Seta accredited program.
2. Learnership for company employees, SMME owners and Coop members who are already operating in chemical manufacturing.
Duration:
Skills Program 3 months
Learnership 12 months
Transport allowance will be given to attend training
Targeted Sector:
Chemical Manufacturing
REQUIREMENTS
18 - 40 years for unemployed Skill programme, and 20 - 45 for employed learnership
Interested candidate should WhatsApp Fana@0736269736
Closing date to be Saturday the 08 June.
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Dear entrepreneurs
The City of Johannesburg (Department of Economic Development) in partnership with PETCO and other stakeholders cordially invites Waste pickers, Cooperatives, SMMEs and individuals interested in recycling to a Waste Management Workshop.
The workshop aims to capacitate the participants with recycling value chain and will be connected with Buyback Centre’s. Some of the topics that will be covered includes:
Starting or expanding a recycling venture
Types of recyclable materials
Recycling opportunities (e.g. equipment support)
Importance of recycling
Record-keeping
Marketing strategies
Date: Tuesday 11 June 2024
Time: 10h00-13h00
Venue: Roodepoort City Hall
Kindly RSVP by Thursday 06 June 2024.
Economic Development, COJ
WhatsApp Fana Khumalo 0736269736
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