Applications are Now Open
About the Africa YES Program
The Africa Young Entrepreneur Support (YES) Program is a 6-month funded intensive entrepreneurship, leadership and business training that provides early stage social entrepreneurs of under the age of 30 years, with the resources they need to discover opportunities, unlock their potential and create impact in their local communities.
The program seeks to identify, inspire and empower 25 young social entrepreneurs to recognize opportunities, explore innovative approaches, mobilize resources, manage risks, and build viable social enterprises. The program will also invest a minimum total of $15000 in grant funding to top fellows during the program.
Who WE Look For
The Africa Young Entrepreneur Support (YES) Program is looking for self-starters, leaders, change makers who are building viable businesses and creating impact in their local communities and beyond. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- The venture must be solving a clear problem in the community
- There must be a viable and tested solution already in place (not just an idea)
- The social venture should have a viable business model
- The venture should have at least some paying customers or making a revenue in the past 6 months.
- There should be ambition by the founder of the venture to grow to achieve large scale impact
- The applicant can commit to attend weekly sessions (every Saturday) in Nairobi from January 17th, 2020 to June 2020
- The applicant can commit to do weekly tasks in relation to their venture
- The applicant must be working either full time or at least 30 hrs per week in their venture
- The applicant must be below 30 years of age when applying
- The venture is legally registered in Kenya or in the process of registration
Why Join the Africa YES 2020 Program
Leadership and Business Acumen Skills
Our hands-on training sessions delivered by experienced facilitators are tailored to help you become a great entrepreneurial leader equipped with skills that are vital in helping your venture grow
Build & Grow your Venture
Our practical and real-world sessions by entrepreneurs and facilitators mean you get to apply what you are learning each week to your venture while getting feedback to help you grow and your venture grow
Access Funding up to 15000 USD
At the end of the 6-months program, 3 fellows will be selected to immediately receive up to 15,000 USD in grants, which is a zero-equity funding. You will also be connected to other funding opportunities available.
Access Networks, Mentors & Opportunities
As part of the program, you will connect deeper with other social entrepreneurs, mentors and other entrepreneurship ecosystem players, including exclusive opportunities and workshops
Access 3 months Co-working space
Participants for the program will receive a 3-month membership that will give them full access to work from a co-working space so as to grow their ventures. Teams can enjoy this during the program
Bespoke Startup Services
Entrepreneurs will have access to startup services such as accounting, legal, sales, talent at a subsidized rate as being part of the program. Teams to also receive follow up investment.
Sessions
Leadership & Founder's Mindset
Social Entrepreneurship
Design Thinking & Opportunity Scoping
Business Model Innovation
Launching & Growing Startups
Building Great Teams
Funding, Growth & Scale
The Art of Communicating
Applications for cohort 2 are now closed. Pre-apply for the July-December 2020 Cohort 3.
Program Timelines
Applications for the Africa YES 2020 program are closed for now. You can pre-apply for cohort 3.
Shortlisted applicants will participate in-person interviews in Nairobi and site visits. Final selected participants to be notified by 29th November, 2019.
We will Kick off the program with a three-day immersive in-person Bootcamp in January 2020 for the selected 25 Young Social Entrepreneurs in Nairobi
Workshop sessions will be happening each and every Saturday, 9.00 am – 4.00 pm in Nairobi with business project work during the week. Sessions will be run by expert facilitators
On Demo Day, social entrepreneurs will pitch their ventures to a pool of judges comprising investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts for funding and support
Post program, top entrepreneurs will receive up a minimum of 5,000 USD in grant funding, get access to co-working space membership, and other entrepreneurs getting access to opportunities and support
Partners
