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Tony Elumelu Foundation

Verified

$5,000 grant for African entrepreneurs

Visit WebsiteWorks in AfricaAfrica-built

The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme provides $5,000 seed capital, mentoring, and a global network to 1,000 African entrepreneurs annually. No equity taken. Open to all African countries.

Pan-African

·Grants & Accelerators·Free tier·1+ week

Best for

Early-stageSolo founder

Use when

You are an early-stage African founder looking for non-dilutive seed funding and mentorship.

Skip when

Your startup is already beyond the idea/early stage — TEF targets very early ventures and requires a business plan.

Applications open once per year, usually January–March. Highly competitive — 1,000 winners from hundreds of thousands of applicants. Apply early and make your business plan specific.

Alternatives

Google for Startups Africa, MasterCard Foundation, She Leads Africa

Verified Apr 1, 2026