ShEquity Launches the Fourth Edition of Investment Firm’s Accelerator Program. Apply below.
Table of Contents
When is Application Deadline?
21st April 2023
Tell Me About Award:
ShEquity Partners (“ShEquity”), an investment firm providing smart investments for impactful, innovative, and scalable female-led and owned businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, today announced the launch of the fourth edition of its accelerator program, ShEquity Business Accelerator (SHEBA). The 17-week SHEBA program provides venture-building and technical support to African female entrepreneurs across the ECOWAS region who are looking to successfully grow their businesses and become investment ready.
Today’s call for applications is only for Anglophone applicants with businesses duly registered in West Africa. A separate call for Francophone applicants with businesses registered in West Africa will be issued separately.
Established in March 2021 by ShEquity in collaboration with its implementation partner, MBC Africa, SHEBA addresses the existing gender funding gap by de-risking African female-led businesses, getting them to become investment ready, and equipping the founders with the skill set needed to grow and scale their businesses. The SHEBA program has executed three (3) cohorts of 30 participants each, with participants from the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Speaking about SHEBA’s unique value creation, Karima Grant, SHEBA Alumni (Cohort 2), co-founder and CEO of Ker Imagination Education Services, says, “Successful accelerators focus on entrepreneur needs and not a one-size-fits-all approach. SHEBA focuses on the women behind the businesses as much as the businesses. From very early on in the program, SHEBA provided as close to a tailor-made approach as possible.”
What about Eligible Field(s)?
SHEBA focuses on impactful, innovative, and scalable businesses in agribusiness (agric tech, production, processing, wholesale, retail, all agribusiness value chain aspects), climate-smart businesses, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), healthcare, mobility/logistics, and tech-enabled businesses (fintech, clean tech, ed tech, etc.). The applicants’ businesses should be duly registered in ECOWAS countries, female-owned and managed with a minimum of 51% female ownership, and in operation for at least 24 months.
Type:
Entrepreneurship
What Countries are Eligible?
The SHEBA program has executed three (3) cohorts of 30 participants each, with participants from the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Who is Eligible?
Applications is only for Anglophone applicants with businesses duly registered in West Africa.
How many Awards?
Not specified
What is Value of Award?
In addition to the robust program development focus, SHEBA offers the opportunity to receive funding from ShEquity and other investors within the ShEquity network. After the acceleration program, qualifying businesses are recommended to the ShEquity team for investment consideration. The typical ShEquity seed investment ranges between US$50K and $250K, with an additional opportunity for post-investment support.
How to Apply?
To apply for the fourth cohort of the 17-week program. Apply here. The deadline for submissions is 21 April 2022.
GOODLUCK!