BIC Africa Online Acceleration Programme for Women Entrepreneurs

BIC Africa Online Acceleration Programme aims to support 20 women entrepreneurs in Africa to scale their business. In its fourth edition, 15 women from specific country projects such as Angola, Comoros, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Somalia, and 5 others from various Sub-Saharan African countries will be selected. The program seeks to empower these entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses while contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The four-month program, running from April to July 2024, is designed for established post-revenue women entrepreneurs with registered startups or businesses. It encompasses a blend of online training modules, coaching sessions, individual exercises, and networking opportunities with women experts from Africa and Europe.

Requirements

BIC is seeking established women entrepreneurs willing to explore business growth and potential internationalization with the support of the BIC Africa Acceleration Programme. Selected entrepreneurs will benefit from a comprehensive online training course, group coaching sessions, networking opportunities, and access to the BIC Africa alumnae network.

Preferred candidates should:

• Be women (minimum age of 18) founders/owners of established businesses with operational teams and strong development potential.
• Be available between April and July 2024, dedicating a maximum of 2 hours per week for online sessions, plus time for individual work and reflection.
• Already run a startup or company (registered for at least 1 year) and aim to scale up.
• Demonstrate commitment to actively participate in all program activities and contribute to future developments.
• Have access to a reliable internet connection.
• Possess a good working knowledge of the English language.

Programme Details

The core programme includes:

• Six online interactive training modules covering topics such as Mission and Unique Value Proposition, Product Development, Business Model, Team & Partnerships, Finance, and Marketing.
• Four online group coaching sessions covering topics such as Leadership, Personal and Business Finances, Storytelling, and Pitch Training, and Time Management.
• Two networking sessions at the beginning and end of the program.
• Access to support documents and session recordings.
• Integration into the BIC Africa Community of women entrepreneurs, providing visibility on the BIC Africa website, participation in the LinkedIn group, and access to networking and market linkage opportunities.

Benefits

The program offers further opportunities and awards, including:

• A Certificate of Recognition for successful completion of the 12-week acceleration program.
• Remote one-to-one mentoring sessions for high-performing participants, matched with European incubation experts.
• Additional Business Awards, such as support, highlighted visibility on the BIC Africa website, and invitations to BIC Africa events.

The BIC Africa Acceleration Programme aims to help participants:

• Explore growth and scaling trajectories for their businesses.
• Assess team competencies and consider business model adaptations for the growth phase.
• Articulate the social value proposition, identifying how the proposed solution contributes to SDGs.
• Access appropriate sector, local, and international experts.
• Join a vibrant community of women entrepreneurs for learning, exchange, and connection.
• Connect with BIC Africa and the European Business Innovation Centre Network (EBN) [see: https://ebn.eu/].

Application Deadline: 19^th of March 2024, 6:00 PM CET.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the BIC Africa Online Acceleration Programme.