All female-owned engineering companies are encouraged to apply for our Africa Innovation Fellowship Programme!
Creating female entrepreneurs is the key to changing the African continent. Are you an innovative woman from Africa who is passionate about the subjects of science, technology, engineering, manufacturing, or mining? Are you addressing a need for growth in your nation? Are you prepared to build a successful startup that has the potential to alter the world? If so, we encourage you to apply for our fellowship programme for African innovation.
Since 2019, Africa Innovation Fellowship (AIF), in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, has been developing women-owned STEM innovations across sub-Saharan Africa. For African women innovators with early-stage engineering innovations or start-ups seeking to grow, scale, and get ready for investor readiness, AIF 2023 is an eight-month leadership and business development opportunity. A number of AIF alums have gone on to submit successful applications for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
A specialised pan-African incubator for female entrepreneurs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing), WomHub was founded in 2015. A specialised incubator and advising company called WomHub supports innovation along the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing) value chain by providing a full range of services specifically designed for female founders. By offering hackathons, venture creation, virtual and physical incubator and accelerator support, the Incubator and Accelerator promotes STEM innovation. Although WomHub specialises in collaborating with female founders and female led innovation, it has also successfully ran projects that are gender agnostic. The fit-for-purpose WomHub Hubs in Johannesburg and Cape Town offer business assistance, event space, and co-working to female-led innovators.
AIF begins in October 2023 and concludes in May 2024 with a virtual masterclass series on concept and business incubation, leadership development, fundraising, and pitch readiness. The program’s goal is to give founders the fully financed, on-site entrepreneurship bootcamp, professional engineering council, venture clinic, mentoring, and financial counselling they need to turn their ground-breaking ideas into profitable enterprises.
Important Dates:
- Interview Dates: 19th – 31st October 2023
- Program Start Date: 23rd November 2023
- Programme Support: November 2023 – June 2024
Benefits
- The programme is designed to provide founders with a fully funded in person entrepreneurship bootcamp, expert engineering council, venture clinic, mentorship and financial coaching needed to turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses.
- Mentorship: Access to a network of experienced mentors and industry experts.
- Workshops and Training: Comprehensive training in business development, including; market access, product strategy, external factors, commercial models.
- Co-working Space: Access to a dedicated workspace equipped with essential resources.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and potential collaborators.
- Pitch Opportunities: Present your startup to potential investors and partners.
- Exposure: Showcase your innovation to a global audience.
Eligibilities
- Applicants must have a registered new or innovative STEM-based business idea or startup based in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Applicants should have developed, and be in the early stages of commercialising, an engineering innovation that will bring social and/or environmental benefits to a country/countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Individual applicants must be citizens of a country within sub-Saharan Africa*. For teams of two or more, the main applicant must be a citizen of a country within Sub-Saharan Africa.
- No alumni – or co-founders of alumni – on the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation will be eligible for the AIF programme.
- Strong commitment to pursuing entrepreneurship.
- Applicants must be able to commit for the eight month-long programme commencing in October 2023 to May 2024.
- Applicants must have a valid passport and be available to travel between October 2023 to May 2024.
- Demonstrated passion and knowledge in their chosen STEM field.
- Willingness to actively participate in the program.
- Applicants must identify as women.
- Applicants must be over the age of 18. There is no upper age limit.
Application Process
- Visit the apply link.
- Complete all the necessary cells as instructed (Sections include Founder Information, Business Information & Declaration).
- Upload any supporting documents in the application form.
Application Deadline: October 5, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
