APPLY: 2023 Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme for Young Africans

Selection Process

• THE APPLICATION PHASE:This will take place from the January 1 to March 31.  Once applications are closed, eligible applicants will be placed in the appropriate training path as follows: 

(a) REPARATORY: This means you do not have the skillset needed to start a business. You will go through the general training on TEFConnect. You will, however, not be eligible for mentorship or seed capital. 

(b)START-UP/ BEGINNER:This means you are a starter according to the business start-up profiling. You will go through the beginner training modules and you will have access to world class mentors during the programme.  

• INNOVATIOR/ INTERMEDIATE:This means that you have been profiled to be an intermediate entrepreneur. You have a good potential to be a successful entrepreneur. You will go through the Intermediate training modules and you will have access to world class mentors during the programme.  
• DISRUPTOR/ ADVANCED:This means that you are or identified to be natural or a seasoned entrepreneur. You will go through the Advanced training modules and you will have access to world class mentors during the programme.  
• THE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PHASE: Once shortlisted and placed in the appropriate training path, you will be eligible to take part in our rigorous business training and mentoring sessions. There will be multiple choice questions to track your performance. You will attend a virtual orientation program to learn more about the process and we will share timelines and resources available for you to succeed. The shortlisted entrepreneurs will be given access to join the peer-to-peer support groups. 
• Shortlisted entrepreneurs will be expected to complete the business training, answer the quiz at each end of each module. 
• The shortlisted applicants after the training will be given the opportunity to develop a BUSINESS PLAN  
• THE BUSINESS PLAN AND FINANCIALS SUBMISSION PHASE: At the end of the TEEP 2023 training, you will be required to combine all the learnings from the training into a single cohesive document. You will be given a business & financial plan template; this will be in the online resource library. This template will help you create a first draft of your business plan. write a business plan. After the BUSINESS TRAINING & BUSINESS PLAN SUBMISSION, only?successful candidates (who complete the MCQs and score above cut off mark and submit a business plan) would be eligible to move on to the next stage: the PITCHING COMPETITION. 
• THE PITCHING PHASE:This is an opportunity to demonstrate your business knowledge and convince the judge about the feasibility of your business. At the pitching stage, entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas before a panel of judges. Only the successful candidates from the pitching competition will receive seed capital funding and access to the Alumni network to support their business ambitions. If you successfully completed all required training requirements and submitted a business plan, but was unsuccessful after the pitching competition, you will receive a training completion certificate and can reapply next year.  

Please note that this phase is another key outcome of this training programme and all shortlisted entrepreneurs must go through this phase to be eligible for SEED CAPITAL. 

• THE SEED CAPITAL PHASE: All entrepreneurs who have successfully completed all the above steps will be required to open business accounts and seed capital will flow into these accounts created. An entrepreneur who is eligible to receive seed funding will be given a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND ACHIEVEMENT from the Foundation.