INNOVATE | INVEST | AFRICAN
Accelerating African Innovation
Our vision is to accelerate 5000 African-founded startups by the year 2030.
Entrepreneurial Resources
We are committed to empowering African entrepreneurs by providing access to resources, including mentorship, entrepreneurial skill development and access to partner and investor networks that are crucial for startup growth.
Ecosystem Development
We are dedicated to nurturing a robust startup ecosystem that fosters innovation, collaboration, and impact-driven businesses, ensuring that African startups are well-positioned to address local and global market needs.
Funding Opportunities
Our mission is furthered by creating unparalleled access to funding opportunities, enabling African startups to secure the financial support and networks necessary to launch, grow, and thrive in competitive global market.
African Founders = Untapped innovation and investment opportunities
“I watched other people who fit a different ‘profile’ get money thrown at them for their ideas. The only thing I could attribute it to was that I was black.” –Tope Awotona, CEO Calendly
Innovest Ignite Accelerator Program
Innovest Ignite is Innovest Afrika’s Accelerator Program for Early Stage Startups.
Key offerings of the program are:
Entrepreneurial Training
Startups accepted into Innovest Ignite Accelerator undergo a rigorous entrepreneurial skills program that includes intensive training modules, mentorship sessions, and one-on-one coaching. The curriculum addresses the unique challenges faced by African-founded startups.
Tailored Mentorship
Our mentors provides entrepreneurs with critical guidance, industry insights, and support, increasing their chances for success and helping them navigate the complex landscape of starting and growing a business. Our mentors are successful industry experts and leaders.
Global Networking
Networking is vital for entrepreneurs as it opens doors to new opportunities, drives access to resources and facilitates partnerships that can be instrumental in scaling businesses and driving innovation. Join a network of founders, mentors and partners at Innovest Ignite.
Impact Driven
African entrepreneurs will play a pivotal role in shaping the future by integrating positive social and environmental change into the core of their business, driving innovation and progress that benefits not only the market but also the planet at large. Innovest Ignite is a business-for-good program.
Funding Opportunities
To address the financing challenges African entrepreneurs suffer, Innovest Ignite collaborates with a network of partners to provide access to capital and funding opportunities, helping entrepreneurs secure funding needed to scale their ventures and become global startups.
Community Engagement
Innovest Ignite emphasizes fostering a supportive entrepreneurial community. Community engagement is vital for an entrepreneur as it fosters trust, enhances brand visibility, and opens avenues for collaborative growth and feedback directly from the market they serve.
Early Stage Startups
Are you a visionary African entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea in early stages?
Innovest Ignite accelerator program is designed to identify, support, and provide access to fund the most promising African-founded startups.
We accelerate 60 startups annually, investing in the top quartile of each cohort.
Sustainable Development: A Core Focus
Innovest Afrika’s programs align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Our accelerator programs are sector and business model agnostic and we welcome all accept applications. We however require that participating startups in Innovest Ignite programs are working towards solving one of the United Nation’s 17 SDGs.
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