Application Deadline: 1st of March 2025
Applications are now open for the 2025 Tony Elumelu Foundation Aguka Ideation Entrepreneurship Programme. The AGUKA IDEATION ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME Is a partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNDP Rwanda and the Rwandan Ministry of Youths and Arts to support 100 Rwandan entrepreneurs between 18 -30 with business ideas with a seed capital of $3000 each.
Eligibility
- The Programme is open to all Rwandans (as defined) who are between the ages of 18 – 30 years. The submitted age of all Applicants must be supported with government approved means of identification.
- All Applications must be for a Business Idea or a Business that must be for profit, focused on one business area only, and must be the original idea of the Applicant.
- The Business or Business Idea must not be for an illegal or unethical purpose.
Programme Cycle
The Programme is made up of the following stages all of which form the Programme cycle:
Verification & Onboarding
Applicants will be verified and onboarded by the Promoter. Verification will involve the submission of required documents by the Applicant in order to enable the Promoter to ascertain the state of the Business or Business idea as well as the identity of the applicant.
Successful Applicants who do not meet the verification requirements will be removed from the Programme and notified of removal via email.
Successful applicants who meet the verification requirements will be enrolled in the TEF Business Management Training Programme.
Unsuccessful Applicants will be directed to take the TEF General Business Training on TEFConnect and will be eligible to reapply for other TEF Programmes.
During the TEF Business Management Training Programme™ Participants’ progress will be tracked and assessed. The training shall be made available in English.
Programme Participants who do not complete this stage or do not proceed beyond this stage of the Programme will be removed from the Programme and be notified via email.
Business Plan Preparation & Submission
Programme Participants who have completed the TEF Business Management Training Programme will receive a business plan template to develop a business plan document for review and assessment. This review and assessment will be based on relevant metrics including feasibility and sustainability. Programme Participants must submit their Business Plans by the required deadline to be eligible for consideration for the next stage of the programme.
The top scoring Programme Participants from this stage will be notified via email and will proceed to the Pitching Competition stage.
Any Programme Participant who does not complete this stage of the Programme within the prescribed timeline or is not successful at this stage will be removed from the Programme and notified of removal via email.
Pitching Competition
Top scoring Programme Participants shortlisted from the business plan stage will participate in the Pitching Competition where they will pitch their business plans physically to a panel of judges or submit their pitch videos to the Promoter.
Top scoring Programme Participants from the Pitching Competition will be selected based on predetermined selection criteria and will be eligible to receive the Seed Capital.
Programme Participants who are not selected from the Pitching Competition to receive the Seed Capital will be notified via email and will be categorised as TEF Trainees.
Any Programme Participant who does not complete this stage of the Programme will be removed from the Programme and notified of removal via email.
Seed Capital
The Selected Entrepreneurs from the Pitching Competition will be notified via email.
Disbursement of the Seed Capital will be made via electronic transfer into the Selected Entrepreneurs’ Business Bank Account. Banking and other charges may apply and shall not be borne by the Foundation. The total amount received may therefore be less than US$3,000 equivalent. TEF Partner funded entrepreneurs will receive seed capital in line with the partner commitments and this will be communicated in due course to Programme Participants who will be funded by partners.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Aguka Ideation Entrepreneurship Programme