Three strong windows are open this week. The Lagos Angel Network Investment Programme is accepting applications for ₦4–20 million cheques until 22 October; check their eligibility criteria now because they require a registered business operating for at least eighteen months. AFAWA, run by the African Development Bank, supports women founders across Nigeria with grants and concessional loans, and the portal is live—you’ll need your CAC registration, financial statements for the past two years, and a one-page business summary. SMEDAN’s Conditional Grant Scheme closes on 19 October and caps awards at ₦50,000, but the paperwork is light and turnaround is fast if you’re manufacturing or trading. Spend today or tomorrow confirming your eligibility on each scheme’s website, then gather your documents. Apply before the deadlines close.
New this week
- Lagos Angel Network (LAN) Investment Programme
Lagos Angel Network · Angel Network · Nigeria · $25,000 – $150,000
Lagos Angel Network connects early-stage Nigerian startups with a network of high-net-worth angel investors based primarily in Lagos. Startups pitch for equity investment typically ranging from $25,000 to… - AFAWA – Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (Nigeria)
African Development Bank / African Guarantee Fund · Loan · Nigeria, All Africa
AFAWA is an AfDB initiative that makes it easier for women-led SMEs to borrow. It shares lending risk with banks, offers guarantees and gives technical help to lenders.… - SMEDAN Conditional Grant Scheme (N50,000) 2026
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) · Grant · Nigeria · Up to ₦50,000
A one-off N50,000 grant from SMEDAN for nano and micro businesses at local government level. You don't repay it, but you must take on one employee. Registering interest… - NIRSAL Microfinance Bank MSME and Agribusiness Loans
NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB) · Loan · Nigeria · ₦50,000 – ₦10,000,000
A national microfinance bank, owned by the Bankers' Committee, NIRSAL and NIPOST, with 100+ branches. It offers small-business, women's group (Amazon) and non-interest loans, and has handled federal… - Development Bank of Nigeria MSME Loans (via PFIs)
Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) · Loan · Nigeria
DBN doesn't lend to businesses directly. It provides long-term funding to commercial banks, microfinance banks and other Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), which then lend to MSMEs on longer… - LSETF MSME Loans Programme 2026
Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) · Loan · Nigeria · ₦50,000 – ₦5,000,000
Low-interest loans from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund for businesses that operate in Lagos. There are tracks for existing micro businesses, micro start-ups with vocational training, and… - NIRSAL Agricultural Value Chain Financing
NIRSAL Plc · Loan · Nigeria · ₦100,000 – ₦500,000,000
NIRSAL (Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending) de-risks agricultural lending by providing partial credit guarantees and technical assistance to enable commercial banks to lend to farmers,… - Pearl Capital Partners – Agri-SME Investment Fund
Pearl Capital Partners · VC / Investor · Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda · $300,000 – $1,500,000
Pearl Capital Partners is a Kampala-headquartered fund specialising in equity and quasi-equity investment into agricultural SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa. The fund targets commercially viable agribusinesses along the agricultural… - Uganda Development Bank (UDB) SME Loan Facility
Uganda Development Bank · Loan · Uganda · UGX 10,000,000 – UGX 5,000,000,000
UDB provides medium to long-term financing to Ugandan SMEs and startups across priority sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and technology. Loans support capital investment, working capital, and business… - Teranga Capital Investment Programme
Teranga Capital · VC / Investor · Senegal · XOF 10,000,000 – XOF 100,000,000
Teranga Capital is a Senegalese impact investment fund providing equity and quasi-equity financing to early-stage SMEs in Senegal and francophone West Africa. It targets businesses with social and… - SIDO Small Industry Loan Scheme
Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) · Loan · Tanzania · TZS 500,000 – TZS 50,000,000
The Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) offers subsidised loans and business development support to small and micro enterprises across Tanzania. The scheme targets manufacturing, services, and artisan businesses… - Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) SME Loan Facility
Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) · Loan · Tanzania · TZS 5,000,000 – TZS 500,000,000
TADB provides affordable credit facilities to smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, and agricultural SMEs in Tanzania. Loans cover working capital, equipment, and value-chain investments in the agricultural sector. Applicants receive… - Renew Capital – African Angel Investment Network
Renew Capital · VC / Investor · Ethiopia · $250,000 – $2,000,000
Renew Capital is a US-headquartered impact investment firm with a dedicated focus on Ethiopia and East Africa, offering equity investments to growth-stage businesses. It connects Ethiopian entrepreneurs with… - Knife Capital Growth Equity Fund
Knife Capital · VC / Investor · South Africa · ZAR 10,000,000 – ZAR 100,000,000
Knife Capital is a South African venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology-enabled businesses at Series A and beyond. They provide growth equity typically between R10 million and… - National Empowerment Fund (NEF) Entrepreneurship Programme
National Empowerment Fund (NEF) · Loan · South Africa · ZAR 250,000 – ZAR 75,000,000
The NEF funds black-owned and black-empowered businesses in South Africa through equity, loans, and quasi-equity instruments. Products include the uMnotho Fund (business acquisition and expansion), iMbewu Fund (startup… - Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) Business Development Support
Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) · Grant · South Africa · Up to ZAR 500,000
SEDA provides non-financial support including grants for business development services, mentorship, training, and incubation to SMMEs across South Africa. The agency runs sector-specific incubation programmes and technology transfer… - Villgro Africa Incubation & Investment
Villgro Africa · Accelerator / Incubator · Kenya · $10,000 – $50,000
Villgro Africa supports early-stage social enterprises in Kenya and East Africa with a combination of grant funding, equity investment, and intensive incubation support. Investees receive up to USD… - Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) Loans
Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) · Loan · South Africa · ZAR 10,000 – ZAR 15,000,000
SEFA provides loan financing to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) across all sectors in South Africa. Funding is available via direct lending and wholesale lending through intermediaries.… - Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) Loans for SMEs
Kenya Industrial Estates (State Corporation – Ministry of Industrialization) · Loan · Kenya · KES 500,000 – KES 50,000,000
Kenya Industrial Estates provides development finance and business support services to Kenyan micro, small and medium enterprises in the manufacturing and agro-processing sectors. Loans are offered at competitive… - Ghana Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) SME Financing
Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) Ghana · VC / Investor · Ghana · GHS 50,000 – GHS 500,000
The Venture Capital Trust Fund is a government-backed fund that provides equity and quasi-equity financing to SMEs in Ghana through licensed venture capital firms. It targets businesses in…
Opening soon
Not accepting applications yet. Use the time to get your documents and plan ready.
- Anambra State MSME Support Fund
Anambra State Government / ANSIPPA · Grant · Nigeria · ₦200,000 – ₦2,000,000 · opens 1 Jun 2026
The Anambra State Government, through its Ministry of Trade and Commerce and the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), offers grant and low-interest loan support to… - Hult Prize
Hult Prize Foundation · Competition / Prize · All Africa · Up to $1,000,000 · opens 1 Sep 2026
Annual global social entrepreneurship competition challenging student teams to solve the world's most pressing problems. African student founders can compete through campus rounds, regional summits, and a global… - Africa Startup Initiative Programme (ASIP) – Ethiopia Cohort
African Development Bank (AfDB) / ASIP · Accelerator / Incubator · Ethiopia · opens 1 Jan 2027
ASIP is a pan-African accelerator co-implemented by the African Development Bank and partner institutions, supporting tech and innovation startups across African countries including Ethiopia. Selected startups receive training,… - UNDP Rwanda Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Hub Grant
UNDP Rwanda / Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Hub · Grant · Rwanda · $10,000 – $50,000 · opens 1 Nov 2026
Operated in partnership with UNDP Rwanda, the Timbuktoo initiative offers grants and acceleration support to early-stage startups addressing local development challenges across Rwanda. Startups receive seed funding, capacity… - Jobs Fund Grant (National Treasury)
National Treasury – Jobs Fund · Grant · South Africa · ZAR 1,000,000 – ZAR 100,000,000 · opens 1 Jan 2027
The Jobs Fund, managed by South Africa's National Treasury, provides matching grants to public and private sector organisations that implement projects creating sustainable employment at scale. Eligible applicants… - UN Women Africa Fund for Gender Equality
UN Women · Grant · All Africa · $100,000 – $500,000 · opens 15 Jan 2027
UN Women's Fund for Gender Equality provides grants to women's organisations and NGOs in Africa to advance women's economic empowerment and political participation. The fund supports civil society-led… - UNDP Africa Facility for Inclusive Markets (AFIM) – Challenge Fund
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) · Competition / Prize · All Africa · $50,000 – $500,000 · opens 1 Nov 2026
The UNDP Africa Facility for Inclusive Markets challenge fund supports African businesses and NGOs developing market-based solutions that integrate low-income populations into value chains. Funded activities include business… - UN Women Africa – Generation Equality Fund for Gender-Responsive Businesses
UN Women · Grant · All Africa · $50,000 – $1,000,000 · opens 1 Feb 2027
UN Women's Generation Equality Fund supports African organisations, social enterprises, and NGOs that advance gender equality through economic empowerment, ending gender-based violence, and expanding women's leadership. Grants are… - Echoing Green Fellowship
Echoing Green · Fellowship / Training · All Africa · $60,000 – $90,000 · opens 1 Jan 2027
The Echoing Green Fellowship provides seed funding and strategic support to emerging social entrepreneurs and organisations working to address systemic global challenges including poverty, inequality, and climate. Selected… - MIT Solve Global Challenges
MIT Solve · Competition / Prize · All Africa · $10,000 – $150,000 · opens 1 Nov 2026
MIT Solve is an open innovation marketplace that sources, selects, and supports tech-based social entrepreneurs tackling global challenges. African founders can apply to one of four annual challenge… - Anzisha Prize
Anzisha Prize (African Leadership Academy) · Competition / Prize · All Africa · $25,000 – $100,000 · opens 1 Feb 2027
Premier African award recognising very young entrepreneurs aged 15–22 who are building innovative ventures that create jobs and solve African challenges. Winners share a prize pool of up…
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