Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deadline: August 4, 2025
The Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility (AECF) is now open for applications from early-stage African startups with high-growth potential and social impact. Backed by a USD $4 million investment pool, AECF supports innovative entrepreneurs addressing critical challenges across agriculture, renewable energy, climate resilience, and gender-inclusive development.
This facility is a flagship initiative by the AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) aimed at strengthening Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystems. It provides non-repayable grants and tailored technical assistance to help startups scale sustainably, particularly those operating in underserved and rural communities.
Benefits
- Access to a share of the $4 million investment facility
- Non-repayable catalytic funding for business growth
- Technical assistance, mentorship, and market access support
- Networking with investors, corporates, and ecosystem players
- Visibility and credibility through AECF’s continental platform
SEE ALSO: South African National Space Agency (SANSA) 2026 Postgraduate Bursaries for STEM students
Eligibility Criteria
- Locally-led and have raised less than USD 2M to date
- Healthy unit economics with a path to financial sustainability
- Post-MVP with early revenue
- Currently raising between USD 75K and USD 500K
- Developing context-specific solutions that advance economic mobility and climate resilience
- Driving innovation through process improvements, business model innovation, or disruptive products
Application Process and Documents Required
Apply through Entrepreneur Support Organizations :
- Reach for Change (Ghana): July 21st, 2025
- Africa Fintech Foundry
- Fate Foundation (Nigeria): August 4th, 2025
- Anza Entrepreneurs
- Ennovate Ventures (Tanzania)
