The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and Google have announced an inaugural Google.org Fellowship to provide one million additional Africans with access to the TEFConnect platform, which offers entrepreneurs access to tailored tools, market partnerships, coaches and investors.
The announcement was made during an event held at the TEF headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, which was attended by several African political and business leaders. This partnership is the first Google.org Fellowship in Africa, and will see nine full-time Google employees, including software engineers, UI/UX researchers, and policy experts, work with the foundation to design and build an upgraded version of the TEFConnect platform.
Tony Elumelu, founder, Tony Elumelu foundation
TEFConnect is already home to over one million African entrepreneurs and offers tailored tools, market partnerships, and access to coaches and investors to small businesses.
“We are pleased to continue to share our unique ability and platform to identify, train, mentors and fund young entrepreneurs across Africa with like-minded institutions like Google.org who share in our commitment to empower young African entrepreneurs. It will be exciting to see the ways in which the refreshed TEFConnect platform will continue to provide a space for growth, personal development, and meaningful exchange for African entrepreneurs,” said the co-founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr Awele V Elumelu.
Jen Carter, global head of technology at Google.org, said she was delighted to kick off its first Google.org Fellowship in Africa.
“The Tony Elumelu Foundation does so much to empower African entrepreneurs, and we are thrilled to be able to lend the expertise of Googlers to expand the reach of the TEFConnect platform,” she said.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
Since 2015, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme — Africa’s only African-funded entrepreneurship catalyst — has provided non-returnable seed capital of $5,000, 12 weeks of business management training, access to experienced mentors, and membership in Africa’s largest entrepreneurial ecosystem to 15,847 African entrepreneurs.
For its 2021 Entrepreneurship Programme, the Tony Elumelu Foundation distributed $24.75 million to 5,000 African businesses across Africa in 2021.
CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu
“We are constantly blown away by the quality of businesses that come from Africa every year. This motivates us to scale our efforts to empower even more entrepreneurs on the continent. The innovation, knowledge and resilience of African entrepreneurs are central to charting Africa’s socio-economic transformation and meeting the continent’s development objectives. We are also proud of the increase in female participation on our programme, especially with the 2021 cohort where we witnessed a record 68 per cent selection of women entrepreneurs,” CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, said commenting on the launch of the 2022 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
Given the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa, the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Program remains one of the largest private sector solutions to supporting the economic recovery of African youth, women, and SMEs.
Beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program are founding and growing groundbreaking enterprises that have produced over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs across Africa.
“Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, we seek to democratise luck. Hard work plays an important and undeniable part in success, but one must not discount the role of luck — someone being willing to take a chance on you or business idea by empowering you through training, mentorship or funding. Our hope is that, through the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, we would help the next business leader or captain of industry be whom they are meant to be,” Founding Trustee of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr A V. Elumelu, stated.
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions. He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance. He is also an award-winning writer
The Tony Elumelu Foundation has partnered with the European Union to identify, train, mentor and fund 2,500 young African women entrepreneurs in 2021. The partnership will disburse €20 million in the financial and extend technical support for women-owned businesses, across all 54 African countries including Uganda, in addition to providing increased access to market linkages, supply chains and venture capital investments.
UBA Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu
The joint initiative will significantly strengthen and deepen the EU-Africa partnership, build on the platform and experience of the US$100m TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, and form part of the EU External Investment Plan to support women economic empowerment within the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP III). Commenting on the landmark partnership, Tony Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation said “this joint effort will prioritise and provide economic opportunities for African women, whom for too long have endured systemic obstacles to starting, growing and sustaining their businesses.”
“Our partnership will alleviate the funding, knowledge and market constraints threatening the livelihoods of women entrepreneurs on the continent, to create more income, jobs, growth and scale for women-owned businesses,” he added.
The EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, said “This partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation will help women participants in economic development, realise their full potential and accelerate economic inclusion.”
Empowering women entrepreneurs is a key driver for sustainable jobs and growth, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with the objectives of our African strategy. Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and they deserve equal opportunities.”
The Tony Elumelu Foundation, which marks ten years of impact this year, is empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and ensuring job creation across all 54 African countries.
The Foundation has trained, mentored and funded nearly 10,000 young African entrepreneurs from 54 African countries, and continues to provide capacity-building support, advisory and market linkages to over 1 million Africans through its digital networking platform, TEFConnect. TEF’s female success stories include Joyce Awojoodu, from Nigeria, who launched a luxury botanically based product line and spa clinic in Lagos, in 2015. The brand ORÍKÌ, caters to both men and women, and strictly uses raw materials and natural ingredients from Africa.
Mavis Mduchwa, an agribusiness entrepreneur from Botswana, founded Chabana Farms, a poultry farm providing training and work for unemployed young people.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
Africa’s largest entrepreneurship forum, the Tony Elumelu Foundation ‘s Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) is now set for its sixth(6) edition scheduled for the year 2020. Applications for the 6th edition of TEEP began on January 1, 2020.
African Billionaire and Philanthropist Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CON
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is open to entrepreneurs from across Africa, either with new startup ideas or existing businesses of less than 3 years of existence, operating in any sector of the economy.
Since inception in 2015 over 5,000 entrepreneurs across Africa have received support grants worth $5,000 each to scale their businesses.
TEEP has received several global support and partnership from international and development agencies like the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, The French Development Agency, OFDA, amongst others.
The programme was founded by African Billionaire and Philanthropist Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CON who is a firm believer in the empowerment of African entrepreneurs, to solve challenges in the continent, create wealth and address issues like poverty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the programme?
All Applications must be submitted ONLINE through the APPLICATION PORTAL. You must complete an application form by answering a series of mandatory questions and uploading additional documents and identification materials. After submission, you will receive a confirmation email of receipt within 1 working day.
What if my company is a partnership?
Only one nominated person from the business or the partnership is able to join the programme.
Can I apply offline?
No. All Applications must be submitted online through the application portal.
How is the Programme Selection Process?
1- How are selected applicants chosen to join the programme?
Selection of the applicants will take place from the close of the Application on March 1st, by the Tony Elumelu Foundation and an independent Selection Committee appointed by the Foundation, against the specified selection criteria.
2- By what criteria are the applicants to be judged?
All applications will be judged on 5 core criteria, which are:
– Feasibility of the business idea.
– Market Opportunity: Knowledge and understanding of the market, customers and competitors for their idea/business.
– Financial Understanding: Understanding of the basic financial requirements of running a business, costs and revenues.
– Scalability: Demonstrates potential for replication and growth of their product or service to create jobs and wealth.
– Leadership Potential and Entrepreneurial Skills: Demonstrate leadership potential, capable of attracting people, customers and resources.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation itself is located in Nigeria, does this give preference to Nigerian entrepreneurs?
No. The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is a Pan-African programme and open to business ideas from all the 54 African countries from which we will select the best business ideas for the programme.
If my start-up is selected to join the programme, when and how will I be informed?
Successful applicants will be notified on the 22nd of March, via the email address designated in the initial application. The list of selected entrepreneurs will also be posted on the TEF Website.
What additional information must I supply once my business is selected?
If Applicants are offered a place in the Programme, Applicants will be expected to:
–complete a self-declaration form,
-provide proof of valid ID,
-provide a personal bank statement from the past 6 months,
-provide a statement of current personal debts.
-provide a reference from an employer, bank and/or academic institutions;
-Provide business bank account details (For UBA present countries, it must be a UBA account)
Why was my application unsuccessful?
Since inception we have received over 65,000 applications for the limited spaces on the programme, while we can only accept 1000 entrepreneurs each year. Here are a few possible reasons why your application was not successful:
-You did not complete the application
-Your business or idea is more than 3 years old
-Your business or idea is not based in Africa
-Your descriptions in one or more sections of the application was not clearly described
-Your application did not meet other eligibility criteria
-You scored low in one or more of the selection criteria.
How can I improve my chances next year?
Ensure that you review the selection criteria in the next programme cycle and be sure to describe your business plan or idea such that every aspect of the business or idea (i.e. description, market, customer acquisition, financials etc.) is fully covered.
Is there a waiting list for Applicants who could join the programme?
Yes there is a waiting list. If any of the selected 1000 do not claim their places by the set deadline, the next best entrepreneur from the waiting list will be chosen before commencement of the programme cycle.\
If not selected, can I reapply in another programme cycle?
Yes. We will open the platform for applications on January 1 every year. Each applicant will be required to put in a fresh application. We believe the elapsed time should serve to refresh your interest in your entrepreneurial objectives, and there might be new developments to include in the application.
What if English is not my first language?
The application portal will have functionality in English, French and Portuguese.
What information/identification do I need to provide in my application?
You must answer all the mandatory questions in the application form.
How many applicants will be chosen to join the programme?
There are 1,000 places available annually for the applications that are selected by the Selection Committee for a placement in the programme.
Are there application/associated fees?
No. The Tony Elumelu Foundation does not charge any applicants a fee for applying to the programme.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world
The Tony Elumelu Foundation has received a grant of $5 million to enable it scale up its Entrepreneurship Programme to impact 1,000 select youth entrepreneurs across the African continent.
Tony Elumelu, founder, Tony Elumelu foundation
The grant follows the signing of a letter of intent between the Bank and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which took place during the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme launch in March this year. The partnership will bring about future collaboration focused on strengthening small to medium-sized enterprises as well as talent and skills development for Africa’s youth.
The partnership will support 3,050 young entrepreneurs across 54 African countries. The Bank’s participation will enable an additional 1,000 entrepreneurs to benefit from the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program, which provides much needed opportunities to help stem the rising tide of unemployment and inequality facing the continent’s youngest citizens.
The programme aligns with the Bank’s ten-year Jobs for Youth in Africa strategy launched in 2016, to support the creation of 25 million decent jobs across the continent. The strategy is also expected to equip 50 million young African people with employable skills that enable them to access economic opportunities and realize their full economic potential across the continent.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme will deliver business training, mentoring, access to networks, markets and capital for business development to selected youth-led start-ups in order for them to grow and create jobs.
The Entrepreneurship Programme demonstrates a strong alignment with the Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund objectives to build the African youth entrepreneurship ecosystem by scaling innovative youth led start-ups, expanding youth market opportunities and improving youth access to finance.
Other development partners involved in supporting the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme are Agence Française de Développement, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the United Nations Development Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross. They will also work to provide more business opportunities to youth entrepreneurs across the continent.
In 2017, the Bank established the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund, in partnership with the governments of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and the Netherlands. The fund is a grant vehicle managed by the Bank to support the African entrepreneurship ecosystem directly and indirectly by leveraging on the Bank’s instruments. Its interventions will equip Africa’s youth with the right tools to establish start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) — Africa’s leading philanthropy dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs — will begin accepting applications for the 2020 cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, on January 1, 2020 — Visit https://tefconnect.com/ to apply now!
Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CON
Applications are made through TEFConnect, the digital networking hub for the African entrepreneurship ecosystem, created by the Foundation.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is open to entrepreneurs from across Africa, either with new startup ideas or existing businesses of less than 3 years existence, operating in any sector. Successful applicants will join the over 9,000 current beneficiaries, from 54 African countries, and receive business training, mentoring, a non-refundable $5,000 of seed capital and global networking opportunities.
Last year, the Foundation received about 216,000 applications, with 42% coming from women entrepreneurs, from every country on the continent.
The Programme is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 young African entrepreneurs. The goal is to create millions of jobs and the revenue required for the sustainable development of the continent, implementing the philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector as the growth engine for Africa and emphasises the importance of creating social and economic wealth.
According to the Foundation’s 2018 Impact Report, 70% of the total number of businesses in its alumni network were still operational two years after benefitting from the Programme. The report also identified an increase of 189% revenue generated and 197% increase in the number of additional jobs created by beneficiaries post-graduation from the Programme, as well as a 100% commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
TEEP has received several global support and partnership from international and development agencies like the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, The French Development Agency, OFDA, amongst others.
The programme was founded by African Billionaire and Philanthropist Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CON who is a firm believer in the empowerment of African entrepreneurs, to solve challenges in the continent, create wealth and address issues like poverty.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world
