Applications open for the Baobab Network Accelerator Program for African Startups
Baobab Network Accelerator Program for African Startups is Africa’s leading accelerator. We provide founders with early-stage capital and the hands-on support they need to unlock growth and build world-class startups. We invest $100k into Africa’s most exciting early-stage startups
Our Activities – Baobab Network Accelerator Program for African Startups
- SECURE CAPITAL – We provide founders with $100k in funding and support them to unlock growth and further investment
- GAIN EXPERTISE – Learn how to problem solve, go to market and scale through our accelerator and global network of experts, investors and entrepreneurs
- 100% AFRICAN – Build a world class startup with support from a team with global experience that lives and breaths African entrepreneurship
A TRANSFORMATIVE ACCELERATOR & HANDS ON VENTURE SUPPORT
- Founders join an intensive 12-week accelerator, working with our expert team to problem solve, build, and get investment ready.
- Each startup also receives ongoing, tailored venture support, and our dedicated team provides remote, hands-on assistance to continue your business growth.
SUPPORT BEYOND THE FIRST CHEQUE – Baobab Network Accelerator Program for African Startups
- Our commitment extends far beyond our initial investment into companies.
- Our investor network helps to unlock growth for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
Sectors we focus – Baobab Network Accelerator Program for African Startups
- Data and analytics infrastructure in the health and health services space
- CleanTech/Sustainability infrastructure plays as well as enabling technologies
- Mobile payments and remittance solutions, particularly in the Northern African region
- Platforms and marketplace solutions helping to drive pan-African and international trade
- Financial technology infrastructure solutions particularly in open banking and credit/lending
- Precision agriculture technologies which enable smallholder farmers to improve yield and returns on agricultural activities
- Supply chain optimization technologies to enhance the seamless transition and storage of goods
- Cross-border payment and float management solutions to help drive seamless trade and enhance financing availability
- AI and ML technology solutions as an enablers to reduce inefficiencies, enhance distribution, and drive customer engagement
- Financial services solutions targeting middle to low-income and informal workers in Africa, particularly around microinsurance and micro pensions
Eligibility – Baobab Network Accelerator Program for African Startups
- Must have presence in or be based in Africa
- We prefer to see tech-oriented startups that have built a minimum viable product (MVP) and have some early traction. If you are at the idea stage, you should at least have validated market demand for the product or service. The validation can be in the form of sign-ups from users, a client waiting list that can be verified, offline purchases and other types of evidence confirming that customers are willing to pay for your product.
- non-incorporate and incorporated companies can apply
- We understand that it may take time to figure out your product and/or market, what we’d want to see is a business model that has the potential to scale rapidly and achieve strong returns. We also typically prefer being the first investor after family and friends.
- we will consider any startup that uses technology to solve crucial problems around them. We are open to other tech-enabled solutions such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well as using other existing technology tools to create efficiencies.
- We are mostly sector agnostic with a preference for sectors that have the potential to create impact i.e. we would unlikely invest in sectors such as gambling, alcohol etc.
- Non profits are not eligible
- Yes, we generally prefer teams to solo founders but are still open to applications from those who don’t have co-founders.
- It’s important to have the ability to build your product in-house and we would want to see this. Having a technical founder is not mandatory but we like to work with a founding team that has the relevant experience and knowledge in their respective field/sector.
- At the moment, we can only back tech-creating or tech-enabled businesses with the potential to scale. This would usually not include agencies that provide custom website/app development or digital marketing services.
Baobab Network Accelerator Program for African Startups – Application –
- For details and to apply for the visit the official website
- deadline is October 2, 2024
