The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading champion of entrepreneurship, is now accepting applications for its 2025 TEF Entrepreneurship Prog
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading champion of entrepreneurship, is now accepting applications for its 2025 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
African entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas or existing businesses (not older than five years) can apply for a chance to receive: $5,000 in seed funding, world-class business training, expert mentorship and access to valuable networks
Scope of TEF programme
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is open to all African entrepreneurs. Special focus is on businesses leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and green enterprises. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, with businesses not older than five years.
The IYBA-WE4A Entrepreneurship Programme is exclusively for women entrepreneurs in Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Togo. Focus will be on green business ideas or existing green businesses. It will be a partnership with the EU and GIZ.
The Aguka Ideation Programme will be for young Rwandan entrepreneurs aged 18–30 with innovative business ideas. Seed capital of $3,000 will be slated to develop ideas into viable enterprises. It will a partnership with UNDP Rwanda and the Rwandan Ministry of Youths and Arts.
Applications must be submitted via TEFConnect, the Foundation’s digital hub. Application period is between January 1, 2025 – March 1, 2025 and is open to African entrepreneurs aged 18 or older with businesses not exceeding five years in operation.
Since 2015, TEF has empowered over 21,000 African entrepreneurs, creating over 800,000 jobs and generating $4.2 billion in revenue. The Foundation’s mission, rooted in Africapitalism, positions African entrepreneurs as the key to the continent’s socio-economic transformation. To apply visit TEFConnect.