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Small Business
Kenyan startup Sauti Y3tu Wins Top Sustainability Prize with AI Tool for the Visually Impaired
Sauti Y3tu, a Kenyan assistive technology startup, has taken top honours at one of Africa’s leading sustainability innovation platforms, underscoring a growing shift...
New SME Cohort Signals Shift from Startup Hype to Sustainable African Businesses
A new cohort of high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises from across Africa and emerging markets has been unveiled under the SME Track 2026...
Khuwaylid Capital’s First Deals Signal New Era for Islamic Finance in African Entrepreneurship
Senegal’s Khuwaylid Capital has announced its first equity and quasi-equity transactions, structured under Islamic finance principles marking what it describes as a defining...
African Development Bank Funds SME Growth with $15m SPE Capital Investment
The African Development Bank Group (AFDB) has approved a $15 million equity investment into a private equity vehicle targeting growth-stage African businesses, sharpening...
Namibia Targets Youth Unemployment with New TVET-to-Entrepreneurship Pipeline
A new intervention aimed at converting technical skills into scalable businesses has been launched in Namibia, as policymakers and private-sector actors intensify efforts...
AfDB Injects $20 Million to Expand Trade Finance for Mozambican SMEs
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $20 million Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee facility for Mozambique’s leading commercial lender, Banco Comercial...
N800 Million Grant Programme Expands Opportunities for Nigerian Entrepreneurs
A privately funded business grant programme led by Kestin Pondi is helping small businesses across Nigeria grow and create jobs. The initiative recently...
South Africa Opens Funding Window for Cooperatives as SEDFA Launches New Development Support Programme
Entrepreneurs across South Africa’s cooperative sector have been given a fresh opportunity to access growth capital after the Small Enterprise Development and Finance...
Womenovate and Tech Revolution Africa Bring WITESA 5.0 to Lagos, Expanding Opportunities for Women in STEAM
Womenovate and Tech Revolution Africa have announced a strategic partnership to host the 5th edition of the Women in Technology and Engineering Summit...
24 Women-Led Startups Selected for SANAD ElevateHer Sub-Saharan Africa Cohort
In farms, markets, workshops and digital platforms across Sub-Saharan Africa, women entrepreneurs are quietly solving some of the region’s biggest problems. They are...
EU-Backed INCUBOX Targets 3,250 Jobs as Youth Entrepreneurship Scales in Northern Mozambique
In a region better known for insurgency headlines and extractive megaprojects, a quieter economic shift is underway. INCUBOX –From Idea to Business –...
New Accelerator Targets Capital Gap Facing Africa’s Impact-Driven SMEs
African small and medium enterprises remain central to jobs, innovation and local value creation. Yet for many founders, especially women, youth and entrepreneurs...
Limpopo Entrepreneurs Secure R1 Million as Bambelela Awards Back 20 Local Businesses
In a province defined by agriculture, mining and deep cultural heritage, Limpopo’s economic future is increasingly being written by small businesses. From farming...
Kenya Launches Second Phase of the NYOTA Project to Empower Young Entrepreneurs
President William Ruto on Thursday officially launched the second phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, opening a new chapter...
Tony Elumelu Foundation Opens 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s most influential entrepreneurship philanthropy, has opened applications for its 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme, calling on ambitious founders from...
New DEG Impact Facility Targets Flexible Growth Capital for Small Businesses in East Africa
DEG Impact has announced the launch of a new partnership that aims to reshape how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in East Africa...
Uganda Opens New Opportunities for Young Green Entrepreneurs
Uganda’s young innovators working in the green and circular economy now have a programme that is ready to support their growth. The Green...
Powering Nigeria’s SMEs: A Bright Investment for Economic Growth
In a significant move to bolster Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), impact investment firm All On has announced a US$250,000 follow-on investment...
Zambia Deepens Regional Trade Ties as 50 Firms Join Mission to DRC
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has mobilised over 50 Zambian enterprises on a high-level trade mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),...
NSBC South Africa Honours Its 2025 Small Business Champions
South Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit took centre stage this week as the 2025 South African Small Business Awards unveiled the country’s Top 20 entrepreneurs...
Orange Corners Set to Empower Young Entrepreneurs in South Sudan
Applications for Orange Corners South Sudan’s fourth cohort are closing soon. The six-month, in-person incubation program in Juba is designed to equip young...
Shabaka Meisha: A Lifeline of Hope for South Sudan’s Vulnerable Families
Amidst years of economic decline, conflict and repeated climate shocks, South Sudan is taking steps to invest in its most valuable resource, its...
CRDB Bank Foundation Expands Opportunities for Green MSMEs in Tanzania
As Tanzania accelerates its shift toward a green economy, new opportunities are opening up for entrepreneurs committed to sustainability. The Ajira Ye2 Project,...
New Financing and Support Program Launched for Women Entrepreneurs in Kenya
In Kenya, women-led businesses often face persistent barriers when trying to secure financing, a challenge that limits their ability to grow and compete....
New Financing Model Unlocks Growth for SMEs in Kenya and Uganda
Access to fair and flexible finance remains one of the largest barriers for SMEs in Africa, yet these businesses are also the backbone...
Supporting Tunisia’s Young Changemakers: Moovjee 2025 Application Now Open
Moovjee Tunisia has announced its 2025 call for applications, presenting young entrepreneurs with a rare chance to access mentorship, financial support and international...
Africa’s Best Entrepreneurs Compete for $1.5M Prize
Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) has once again ignited hope and ambition across the continent by announcing its 20 semi-finalists for the 2025 competition....
Economic Growth: DBN’s Strategy to Empower Nigerian MSMEs
Behind every thriving community in Nigeria, there is a micro, small or medium enterprise (MSME) fueling growth, creating jobs and fostering innovation. Whether...
New Dawn for Nigerian Startups
In a significant move to bolster Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the 8thGear Hub & Venture Studio has announced a strategic partnership with the Development...
From Sketches to COO: Olalekan Akinyele’s Rise to the Top
Olalekan Akinyele’s journey from a young boy with a passion for drawing in Lagos to a prominent entrepreneur and creative leader exemplifies resilience,...
Mozambique Unveils $40m Guarantee Fund to Unlock Entrepreneurial Capital for 15,000 SMEs
Mozambique has placed entrepreneurship at the centre of its economic renewal strategy with the launch of a US$40 million Mutual Guarantee Fund, a...
Standard Bank Namibia Launches Blue Growth Series to Uplift Small Businesses
Standard Bank Namibia, in partnership with the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy (NIFA), has launched a four-month pilot initiative to support 40 micro,...
Alibaba and ITC Back African SMEs in $330,000 Digital Trade Breakthrough
For decades, African entrepreneurs have been told that global markets are “out of reach.” Today, that narrative is rapidly shifting, thanks to a...
Green Jobs for All: Africa’s Path to Inclusive Growth
The African continent is at a pivotal moment in its journey toward sustainable development, with the need to balance economic growth with environmental...
Unlocking Opportunities for Women-Led MSMEs in Nigeria
In the rapidly evolving landscape of global trade and digital economy, women-led businesses in Nigeria are emerging as powerful drivers of economic growth...
SMEs in Ingquza Hill Can Now Apply for Equipment Grants
Small businesses and cooperatives in South Africa’s Eastern Cape district of Ingquza Hill have been invited to apply for municipal funding aimed at...
Digitopia: Egypt’s New Innovation Challenge Empowering Young Tech Talent
Egypt is opening new doors for young innovators with the launch of Digitopia, a national competition designed to turn ideas into real-world digital...
Namibia’s Grassroots Capitalism Finds New Champions in Omaheke
In the austere expanses of eastern Namibia, far from the fluorescent glare of stock markets and venture capital circles, a quieter kind of...
Visa and ITC Expand SheTrades to Empower Africa’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
In a significant move to strengthen the entrepreneurial backbone of sub-Saharan Africa, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Visa have launched a regional...
Back to Basics: A Catalyst to Empower Ghana’s Entrepreneurs
On 25 July 2025, Ghana witnessed a transformative gathering at the Silver Star Tower, where JA Ghana and Boxplay Ventures hosted an impactful...
South Sudan Launches High-Impact Initiative to Support Women Entrepreneurs
More than 1,000 women in South Sudan are stepping into entrepreneurship with renewed confidence, backed by a national initiative that aims to equip...
Turning Challenges into Opportunities for Gambian Women and Youth
The Gambia, a small West African nation renowned for its vibrant culture and rich history, has over half of its population living below...
$10M Swiss Grant to ITC Targets Growth of African Entrepreneurs
In a significant boost to Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, Switzerland has pledged CHF 8 million (approximately US$10 million) to the International Trade Centre (ITC)...
New Online Program Set to Transform Women-Owned SMEs in Kenya
A new partnership between Equity Bank Kenya, Equity Group Foundation and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is set to transform the entrepreneurial landscape...
Strategic SME Support: Zambia’s New Investment Platform Champions Local Innovation
Zambia recently launched the Growth Investment Partners Zambia (GIP Zambia), an investment platform that will invest over $300 million in local small and...
Iyanuoluwa Joseph Akinnusi Puts Business Footing on the Map
Across Nigeria and the broader African continent, entrepreneurship is often born out of necessity rather than passion or innovation. For many, starting a...
Inclusive Growth: Generation Ghana’s Youth Empowerment Drive
Over the past two years, a transformative wave has been sweeping through Ghana’s youth community, driven by a pioneering initiative known as Generation...
New Grant Fuels Women’s Business Skills in Northern Mozambique
The Government of Norway and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are investing USD 2.8 million in a three-year initiative to support women and youth entrepreneurs...
Kenya’s Climate-Smart SMEs Selected for U.S.–Japan Innovation Program
A new chapter is unfolding in Kenya’s climate innovation landscape as 11 bold small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are welcomed into the Green...
UNIDO Launches New Funding Round for Egypt’s Green Businesses
The future of business in Egypt is turning green and for good reason. The environmental and economic benefits of circular practices are becoming...
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