ACD Opportunities for Leaders

Posted by Fana Khumalo on 24 June 2025, 14:40 SAST

☀️ 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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African Cooperative Desk Facilitator Development Program

Posted by Fana Khumalo on 20 June 2025, 16:55 SAST

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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