$100m Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme is calling for applications

Applications for the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme have opened in a grand mission to forge over 10 000 entrepreneurs within the next decade.

Founded by Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu, the pan-African programme is open to young compelling businesses with strong market feasibility, clear financial models and run by capable teams.

The programme includes a 12-week training programme, mentorship, access to crucial networks and resources as well as possible funding. The qualifying startups that have progressed their business plans sufficiently will each receive second stage seed capital investment of US$5 000 that will be provided as returnable capital.

Read more: $100m pan-African initiative to support 10k entrepreneurs across the continent

“Whether you’re in Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg, Nairobi or Dakar, Africa is buzzing with entrepreneurs who need a platform that enables them to take their business or idea to the next level. The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme has been designed to provide that mechanism,” said Parminder Vir, Director of Entrepreneurship at The Tony Elumelu Foundation said in the announcement last month.

“I believe that the private sector in Africa and the entrepreneurs in particular has an important role to play in the growth and the transformation of our continent,” Elumelu says in the video statement below. “2015 is in fact the year of the African entrepreneur.”

Applications should be in by 28 February so get to it!.