Deadline: December 15, 2025
Applications are open for the ELISA Business Scholars Program 2026. The 3-day business experience brings together a cohort of high potential entrepreneurs or founders of startups with bold business ideas for various industry sectors across Africa.
Each scholar is assigned a business leader as their coach for the one-year ELISA Business Scholars Program. With their coaches, scholars attend an immersive training session led by business experts and industry leaders to advance their ideas, refine their business strategy, and create jobs.
ELISA Scholars are trained to manage business financials, develop an investor presentation and elevator pitch. After the training session, ELISA Scholars continue to meet virtually with their coaches once a month for a year to ensure continued refinement and implementation of a business plan. They stay connected using the online ELISA portal.
Benefits
Successful applicants receive:
- 2-day training session and conference materials
- One year of mentoring from a business coach
- Conference accommodations and meals
- Flights booked for you or travel costs reimbursed
- Access to business leaders & the ELISA Business Summit
- Lifetime membership to the ELISA business network and virtual events
- Unlimited access to entrepreneurial content
Eligibility
- They welcome applicants of any age, sector or gender who are founders of their ventures.
- You must Create a Profile and login to the ELISA Portal to create your Project Page.
- Your business, project or idea should primarily operate in Africa and benefit an African economy.
- You must live in an African country and have the ability to meet with your coach once per month using Whatsapp, Google Meet or Zoom.
- Alumni of the ELISA Scholars Program cannot reapply.
Application
Your Executive Summary should include (max 2 pages):
- vision and mission of your company or project
- business goals (short and long-term)
- number of jobs you will create
- number of people who will be impacted by your business and in what ways
- current/projected annual sales (specify your currency)
- usefulness of the ELISA Business Scholars program to you and/or your business or project
Your Curriculum Vitae should include:
- summary statement
- list of work experience
- list of technical skills
- education information
For more information, visit ELISA Business Scholars Program.
