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Unclaimed
Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.
Grants

Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme

Status

Open continuously

No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.

Always open
Amount
$5,000

Non-returnable seed capital of USD 5,000 per selected entrepreneur, plus business management training and mentoring. Over 27,000 entrepreneurs funded, totalling up to USD 135 million paid directly as seed capital.

Funder

Tony Elumelu Foundation

private · supranational

Deadline: One call a year — Runs an annual application cycle, historically opening on 1 January and closing in March, with selection announced later in the year.

Your odds
Not published

This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.

Effort
moderate

Moderate — a form and supporting documents.

Who can apply

Open to entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries with businesses under three years old. The Foundation selects entrepreneurs with the most innovative, high-potential business ideas.

How to apply

  1. Register on the TEFConnect platform
  2. Complete the annual application form during the open window
  3. Selected entrepreneurs complete the business management training
  4. Seed capital is disbursed to those who complete the programme requirements

Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/

"funded more than 27,000 young Africans with non-returnable seed capital of $5,000 each"

Verified on 14 August 2026

Source: funder's homepage — the programme page was not found

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