Deadline April 24, 2020
Applications are invited for the Caravan Africa Entrepreneurship Program 2020. The program provides a comprehensive framework to accelerate industrialisation and create mass employment for young people on the African continent by interlinking local value chains to create cross-border ecosystems of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) capacities and micro-entrepreneurial skills which through synergies can create jobs, drive trade and boost integration for global opportunities.
The Caravan Entrepreneurship Program (CEP) is being pioneered by AfroChampions Initiative with funding from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). CEP will create the necessary capacity building support for micro-entrepreneurs to develop STEM-focused value chains to address challenges and opportunities in strategic industries – agriculture, textiles and manufacturing – within Mauritius.
Focus Value Chain: Cosmetic Oils.
How the Program Works
- Source: They launch call for applications for market-oriented entrepreneurs and innovators from Mauritius with market relevant solutions to apply to join the program.
- Training: The selected applicants will receive tailored training and comprehensive support to further boost their STEM related businesses to develop scalable local value chain products through entrepreneurship.
- Selection: With the support of a network of expert advisors, they select high-performing team of entrepreneurs, via pitching and product demos, with innovative value chain products to move into their incubator program.
- Incubator: The incubator program offers entrepreneurship capacity support for fellows to boost their growth. Fellows will receive world-class training, networking and mentorship. Entrepreneurs will be trained in product development, marketing strategy, business model development, Market Value Proposition, etc. to boost their businesses. Successful teams will enter the Accelerator program from this stage.
- Accelerator program: Successful teams will receive funding with support to develop and expand their client base while tapping into markets beyond Mauritius. They will receive intense training which includes, but not limited to; growth, product iteration and investor readiness, corporate structuring and governance, intellectual property assessment and strategy.
- Post-Accelerator: Successful teams will receive support for market expansion of products and client acquisition with strong relationship with the network of entrepreneurs throughout the cycle.
Benefits
- Get the Field Accelerator to grow your business.
- Selected applicants will work with research institutes and other experts to refine their products and business models.
- Selected applicants will obtain market access and branding support.
- Selected applicants will ride on the “Caravan” meta-brand to tap positive consumer sentiment.
- Selected applicants will have access to high-level support network in private & public sectors.
- Selected applicants will have access to funding and mentoring support to scale value chain products.
- All costs related to this program will be covered by Afrochampions Initiative and its partners.
Eligibility
- The program is open to the entrepreneurs with:
- Fully-fledged teams with STEM affiliates,
- Marketing partners already in place but
- Looking for further boost and to sell beyond Mauritius.
- Applicants must be Mauritian and be older than 18 years of age.
- Applicants must have knowledge and understanding of the value chain within which the business operates.
- Applicants must demonstrate potential for replication and growth of their value chain product or service to create jobs and wealth.
- Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential, capable of attracting people, customers and resources.
- Ability to allocate time and resources to participate in the Project, including attending periodic meetings, and implementation of field testing/pilot project in East Africa.
Application
For more information, visit Caravan Africa Entrepreneurship Program.
