Pan-African Program for Entrepreneurs innovating in financial technology to increase financial health
Village Capital Launches Pan-African Program for Entrepreneurs innovating in financial technology to increase financial health and improve livelihoods for low-income populations.
Recruiting is now open; two businesses will be selected to win $100,000 in funding
Nairobi, Kenya– Today Village Capital, in partnership with The Mastercard Foundation and The Doen Foundation announced its three-month program to support early-stage entrepreneurs innovating in financial technology to increase financial health and improve livelihoods for low-income populations. Village Capital is recruiting entrepreneurs across Sub Saharan Africa for the business development program, which will take place in Nairobi, Lagos and Accra.
At the end of the program, two early-stage businesses will be selected by the other entrepreneurs in their cohort to win $100,000 total in funding.
Village Capital, The MasterCard Foundation, and the DOEN Foundation are seeking to identify and support the next generation of FinTech entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa. These entrepreneurs are innovating in financial technology to increase financial health and improve livelihoods for low-income populations. Examples of this type of initiative include:
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Increasing the access, relevance, and affordability of savings, credit, payments, and insurance products through leveraging data analytics, blockchain technology, and digital identity verification;
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Increasing efficiency in supply chains and distribution channels across sectors through better market access, increased price transparency, increased connections to new suppliers, and access to other decision-driving market information; and/or
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Enhancing livelihoods of low-income small business owners through tools for value-chain tracking, smart logistics, business insurance, working-capital loans, and financial management tools to better handle risk and volatility.
Village Capital puts entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and stakeholders side-by-side, so they can solve problems together. The Village Capital Fintech Africa 2016 program will support entrepreneurs addressing these issues through technology, and will provide the entrepreneurs with business development training to develop their financials, pitch, sales pipeline, and other aspects. Entrepreneurs will also have one-on-one time with mentors, industry experts, investors, top local business leaders, and potential customers.
The program consists of three intensive, four-day workshops over three months. The workshops locations are TBA but will take place on:
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Workshop 1: December 6-9
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Workshop 2: January 24-27
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Workshop 3: February 21-24
The application for ventures to apply closes on September 20th 2016 For more information, contact michael.kamande[@]vilcap.com.
Link to the application: http://vilcap.com
ABOUT VILLAGE CAPITAL
Village Capital sources, trains and invests in seed-stage entrepreneurs with business solutions to major global problems. Village Capital recruits entrepreneurs solving specific problems in agriculture, energy, education, financial inclusion, and health, and then puts the power of investment in the hands of the entrepreneurs, who award the prize investments to the two ventures ranked highest by their peers at the end of every program. The organization supports early-stage ventures through a 501c3 nonprofit operating training programs for founders, investors, and communities, as well as through an affiliated, for-profit investment fund providing early-stage capital to top-ranked ventures of each program. To learn more, visit http://www.vilcap.com.
ABOUT THE MASTERCARD FOUNDATION
The MasterCard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. All people, no matter their starting point in life, should have an equal chance to succeed. We believe that with access to education, financial services, and skills training, people can have that chance. Our focus is helping economically disadvantaged young people in Africa find opportunities to move themselves, their families and their communities out of poverty to a better life. To learn more, visit http://www.vilcap.com.
ABOUT THE DOEN FOUNDATION
The DOEN Foundation believes that a green, socially inclusive and creative society is achievable. The world is full of committed entrepreneurs eager to develop sustainable, cultural and socially-engaged initiatives. People who are not afraid to take risks while putting their pioneering ideas into practice. People who inspire others. The DOEN Foundation offers them financial support and brings them together to connect them. DOEN receives its revenues from three Dutch charity lotteries.
Contact:
Michael Kamande, Village Capital
+254722508355
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