Africa's largest business incubator takes applications

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Since the Foundation began accepting applications for the programme's third cycle on January 1, 2017, 235 South Africans have applied; 164 Botswanans, 351 Cameroonians, 429 Ghanaians, 613 Kenyans, and 16,096 Nigerians, among others.

Until midnight, 1 March 2017, more entrepreneurs with innovative ideas that can transform Africa, alongside like-minded industry peers from all 54 countries of the continent, can still apply by completing the online application form at www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/programme.

Over a 10-year period, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has committed $100 million to identify, train and invest in 10,000 African entrepreneurs. The aim is to the create a million jobs, and $10 billion (revenue) in Africa’s economy - helping to build sustainable, home grown African companies; and create a Pan-African entrepreneurial ecosystem for intra-Africa connectivity, and trade through partnerships.

Notable 2015 and 2016 Milestones:

• Provided training, mentoring and funding to 2,000 start-ups in 53 African countries, selected from over 65,000 applications.
• Invested over $13 million, $10 million of which is seed capital.
• Gathered thousands of African entrepreneurs in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Travelled across Africa, introducing the TEF entrepreneurs to political leaders at the highest levels of government.
• Signed strategic partners including: the Nigerian Ministry for Information and Culture; ECOWAS; International Trade Centre; Microsoft; to name but a few.
• Produced a documentary film about the groundbreaking first year of the Programme which has since been viewed by more than 1 million people worldwide.

The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is a flagship of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu.