Call for Applications: Inclusive Enterprise Accelerator for Women, Youth & PwD-Led SMEs in Africa (Up to $100,000 Grant)

Are you an entrepreneur in Africa with a business that champions inclusion, innovation, and impact? Here’s an exciting opportunity you don’t want to miss! Applications are now open for the Inclusive Enterprise Accelerator — a high-potential programme designed to support women-owned, youth-led, and persons with disability (PwD)-focused SMEs across Africa with capacity-building, investment readiness training, and access to grants of up to $100,000. 

🎯 What Is the Inclusive Enterprise Accelerator?

The Inclusive Enterprise Accelerator is a structured growth programme for early-stage and growth-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises led by women, youth, and PwD entrepreneurs in Africa. The accelerator aims to bridge the funding and support gap these inclusive businesses often face — by equipping them with the tools, networks, and investor-readiness they need to accelerate growth and scale impact. 

Unlike many generic startup initiatives, this programme is tailored to advance Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) as practical principles within business strategy and governance — not just concepts. 

📈 Why This Opportunity Matters

Across Africa, women-owned and inclusive businesses play a vital role in creating jobs, serving communities, and driving economic opportunity — yet they are significantly underrepresented in formal investment ecosystems. This accelerator tackles that challenge head-on by preparing eligible SMEs to become investment-ready and sustainable.

For context, similar platforms and opportunities (such as those regularly shared by Womentopia Global Opportunities on Instagram) list multiple grants and accelerator programmes aimed at supporting African women innovators and leaders — from small grant schemes to larger funding rounds and capacity-building initiatives.

📌 What the Accelerator Offers

The programme is structured around three core phases:

- Diagnostics & Business Clinics

Assessing enterprise readiness, identifying gaps, and tailoring growth support plans. 

- Technical Support & Mentorship

Customized coaching to strengthen governance, documentation, business processes, scalability frameworks, and inclusive leadership approaches. 

- Investor Matchmaking & Capital Access

Facilitating connections with impact investors and capital providers — helping founders pitch, secure follow-on funding, and unlock sustainable financing. 

Selected enterprises stand to benefit from:

- Comprehensive business strengthening and coaching

- Enhanced investment readiness

- Meaningful investor engagement and matchmaking support

- Access to potential grants of up to $100,000 for scaling operations and impact �

👥 Who Should Apply?

This accelerator is ideal for small and medium enterprises that are:

- Women-owned or women-led

- Youth-led (typically under 35 years old)

- Focused on inclusion or led by persons with disabilities (PwD)

- Based in African countries

- Ready to scale and integrate inclusive practices into core business frameworks 

- If your business is solving real problems, creating jobs, and driving inclusive economic growth — this programme could be a game-changer.

Apply using the link below 👇🏼 

https://forms.gle/SJuTEZSLzfvF4tCF8