The Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) for up and coming African entrepreneurs is now open. The initiative was launched in December 2014 and the first cohort of 1,000 entrepreneurs from 51 African countries went through the program last year.
The 2015 cohort included 168 Kenyans and among them were Pad Heaven’s Florence Kamaitha and Amanda Gicharu of Amanda’s Kitchen.
(Read: The Tony Elumelu Foundation $100m Entrepreneurship Programme Launched)
(Read: 168 Kenyans selected for the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme)
Application period
January 1st 2016 to March 1st 2016.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be aged 18 years and above and operating Startup businesses operating in Africa.
- Applicants must have the legal right to work in the African country where the business is located.
- Applicants must be legal residents of any one of the 54 African countries.
- All businesses must be Business Ideas or an early stage company that is no more than 3 years old.
- Applicants can only submit one business and their business ideas must be for profit.
Selection Criteria
- Feasibility: content of the business idea. A good business model that has clear and compelling mission to grow a sustainable, commercially viable business and is effectively communicated (25 points);
- Market Potential: knowledge and understanding of the market, customers and competitors for their idea/business (20 points);
- Financial Model: understanding of the basic financial requirements of running a business, costs and revenues. (20 points);
- Scalability: Demonstrates potential for replication and growth of their product or service to create jobs and wealth (10 points);
- Leadership Potential and Entrepreneurial Skills: Applicant has demonstrated leadership potential, capable of attracting people, customers and resources. Also exhibits strong passion and commitment for the business (25 points).
Selection Committee
- Ory Okolloh, Director of Investments, Omidyar Network’s Government Transparency Initiative in Africa
- Amadou Hott, CEO, Senegal’s Sovereign Wealth Fund
- Ayodeji Adewunmi, CEO and Co-Founder, Jobberman
- Dr Vera Songwe, Country Director, World Bank Group for Senegal, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
- Opunimi Akinkugbe, CEO, Bestman Games Ltd
- Dr Ndubuisi Ekekwe, Founder, First Atlantic Semi-Conductors & Microelectronics
- Sam Nwanze, Chief Investment Officer, Heirs Holdings
- Monica Musonda, CEO, Java Food in Zambia
- Angelle Kwemo, Managing Director & CEO, Rimsom Strategies
- Mariéme Jamme, CEO, Spotone Global Solutions
- Dr Wiebe Boer, CEO, The Tony Elumelu Foundation
The Entrepreneurship Programme
1. The Programme cycle will be from April to December and participants will be required to complete the Startup Enterprise Toolkit which includes:
- Submission of regular narrative progress reports
- Participation in a Boot Camp and the Elumelu Entrepreneurship Forum in Lagos, Nigeria
- Development of a comprehensive business plan.
2. Participants who have completed all the tasks will receive Naira 850,000 seed capital funding
3. Participants will also qualify for a returnable capital investment of Naira 850,000 if their business plans will have progressed sufficiently.
Apply to the Entrepreneurship Programme HERE. Read the full terms and conditions HERE.