The Tony Elumelu Basis (TEF) has opened purposes for its 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme, a flagship initiative that empowers African entrepreneurs with enterprise coaching, knowledgeable mentoring, and non-refundable seed funding. This programme helps visionary founders with scalable enterprise concepts or early-stage ventures throughout the continent.
👉 Apply by way of TEFConnect: https://www.tefconnect.com/
The Tony Elumelu Basis is considered one of Africa’s largest entrepreneurial philanthropy programmes, rooted within the philosophy of Africapitalism the place personal sector success fuels broad financial growth. Since 2015, TEF has invested over $100 million throughout greater than 20,000 entrepreneurs, producing jobs and enterprise progress all through all 54 African nations.
The 2026 programme equips founders not simply with funding however with sensible expertise, networks, and confidence to develop sustainable enterprises and contribute to native financial resilience.
What You Achieve (Advantages)
đź’° Non-Refundable Seed Capital
Chosen entrepreneurs obtain $5,000 to speculate instantly into their enterprise operations, product growth, or market enlargement.
📚 World-Class Enterprise Coaching
Contributors full an entrepreneurship curriculum delivered on-line by way of TEFConnect — overlaying enterprise fundamentals, technique, operations, finance, and progress planning.
👥 Skilled Mentorship
One-on-one steering from seasoned enterprise mentors helps you refine your mannequin, navigate challenges, and plan long-term progress.
🌍 Networking & Market Entry
TEF connects founders with friends, traders, companions, and international markets — increasing alternatives past their dwelling nations.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
The 2026 programme is open to African entrepreneurs who meet the next normal standards:
- Citizenship/Residency: Residents or authorized residents of any African nation.
- Age: Candidates have to be 18 years or older.
- Enterprise Stage: Companies ought to be early-stage (0–5 years previous) on the time of utility.
- Working in Africa: The enterprise thought or enterprise have to be registered and function primarily in an African nation.
- Focus: Open to all enterprise sectors, together with tech, companies, manufacturing, agriculture, well being, and extra.
The programme sometimes encourages various illustration, together with feminine founders and Francophone, Lusophone, and Arabic-speaking entrepreneurs.
Deadline & Timeline
📅 Software Deadline: 1 March 2026 (23:59 GMT) — be certain that to submit earlier than this date.
Shortlisted candidates will transfer via a range course of based mostly on their enterprise thought’s viability, scalability, and potential impression.
How one can Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Create a TEFConnect account: Go to https://www.tefconnect.com/ and register as an entrepreneur.
- Confirm your e-mail: Affirm your account to unlock the applying dashboard.
- Full your profile: Add private particulars, enterprise data, and supporting paperwork (e.g., ID, enterprise registration).
- Choose the 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme: Select the principle TEF Entrepreneurship Grant from the accessible alternatives.
- Fill out the applying kind: Present a transparent description of your enterprise thought, mannequin, goal market, and progress technique.
- Submit earlier than the deadline: Guarantee all sections are full to keep away from disqualification.
Notice: TEF does not cost charges at any stage of the applying or participation course of.
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