Call For Applications: Bet9ja Foundation ScaleUp Business Accelerator 2.0 (Up To N3Million Grant )

The ScaleUp Business Accelerator Program is Bet9ja Foundation’s flagship entrepreneurship program designed to identify, support, and accelerate high-potential Nigerian SMEs and startups. Through non-dilutive grant funding, structured training, mentorship, and market access, the program equips early-stage businesses with the tools and support needed to scale sustainably and contribute to Nigeria’s economic development.

Selected businesses receive up to ₦3 million in grant funding and compete in the ScaleUp Pitch Challenge, where the winning business is awarded an additional ₦5 million grant.

Program Benefits 

Mentorship

Work closely with experienced mentors and industry experts who provide hands-on guidance tailored to your industry.

Funding

Advertisement

Access non-dilutive funding to help you build and scale your business without giving up equity.

Growth

Unlock access to investors, partners, a growing community of ScaleUp alumni and new markets.

Who should apply

Businesses that:

Are registered in Nigeria (CAC or Business Name registration).

Have operated for a minimum of 6 months.

Are generating revenue.

Demonstrate clear traction (revenue, customers, or pilot programs).

Show strong scalability potential beyond their current market.

Founders that:

Are Nigerian citizens or legal residents.

Are between 22 and 40 years old at the time of application.

Are founders or co-founders actively involved in the business.

Can commit to full participation in the 10-week accelerator.

Eligible Industries

The Bet9ja Foundation ScaleUp Business Accelerator welcomes startups and growing businesses across a wide range of industries. Our program is designed to provide tailored mentorship, access to funding and strategic growth opportunities for businesses with the potential to scale sustainably.

 Agriculture & Agritech

 Healthcare Services & HealthTech

 Fintech & Financial Services

 EdTech & Skills Development

 Renewable Energy & CleanTech

 Retail & E-commerce

 Light Manufacturing & Production

 Logistics & Transportation

 Fashion & Lifestyle

 Professional & Business Services

 Hospitality & Tourism

 Creative Industries & Media

 Others

APPLY HERE

Apply for the Giving Joy Small grants. (up to $500 USD) For Women Entrepreneurs and Changemakers Worldwide.

Deadline: April 30, 2026

Giving Joy is an international nonprofit that provides small grants (up to $500 USD) to women entrepreneurs and changemakers worldwide.

Their goal is simple: To Help women build income, independence, and impact in their communities.

What They Fund

They fund ideas with impact, especially those that:

Help women, girls, or families

Create social + economic change.

Are innovative and practical

Examples:

Women empowerment programs

Small businesses with community impact

Skill training projects

Social enterprises

2026 Application Timeline

In 2026, they changed to 2 global cycles per year:

🟢 Cycle 1 (Spring 2026)

Opens: April 1, 2026

Closes: April 30, 2026

Results: June 2026 

🟣 Cycle 2 (Fall 2026)

Opens: September 1, 2026

Closes: September 30, 2026

Results: December 2026

Who Can Apply?

You are eligible if:

You are a woman (18 years and above)

From any country

You want to:

Start a business

Grow a business

Launch a nonprofit/NGO

Run a community project.

Giving Joy Website

APPLY HERE

Call For Applications: Startup Innovation Challenge 2026 for Nigerian Startups & SMEs (Over ₦100 Million in Prizes)

Applications are now open for the Startup Innovation Challenge 2026, a high-impact opportunity for startups, SMEs, and innovators across Nigeria to access funding, mentorship, and business support.

The program is organized by Startup Abuja, a social enterprise focused on empowering entrepreneurs and building Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

An online innovation challenge and business growth experience for startups, SMEs, tech innovators, and entrepreneurs across Nigeria.

Why You Shouldn't Miss This Opportunity

Over ₦100 million worth of prizes (cash + AWS credits + mentorship + business support)

Over ₦100 million worth of prizes (cash + support)

Access to at least ₦1,500,000 in AWS credits via Transnet Cloud.

Mentorship, visibility, and investor-readiness support.

Free AWS-powered environment to build during the innovation challenge.

Prize Categories (Equity-free)

1st Place

₦10 million value

₦5M Cash

₦4M AWS Credits

₦1M Business Mentorship/Training

2nd Place

₦8 million value

₦3M Cash

₦4M AWS Credits

₦1M Business Mentorship/Training

3rd Place

₦7 million value

₦2M Cash

₦4M AWS Credits

₦1M Business Mentorship/Training

10 Runner-Ups

₦8 million value

₦200,000 Cash

₦1.5M AWS Credits each person/team

All selected participants

₦500,000 worth of AWS credits

Challenge Categories :

EduTech

HealthTech

FinTech

AgroTech

Web3 / Blockchain

E-commerce

SaaS

Logistics / Transportation

Real Estate

And more...

Who Can Apply :

Both genders (age is not a restriction)

Nigerian or any other Africans

Non-Africans building for the African market

Your solution is tech-enabled

You have at least a working prototype/MVP for your solution (with a functional website)

Application Deadline

Application is open and will close on Sunday, 31st May 2026 by 11:59pm.

APPLY HERE

Apply Now For The Florish Africa grants program 2026. For Women Entrepreneurs.

Flourish Africa is the women empowerment movement founded by Apostle Folorunso Alakija to serve as a catalyst for female empowerment and development. Borne out of her passion to see women become truly fulfilled and empowered, the Flourish Africa movement was designed to create a platform for both female millennials and adults alike to have access to information that will help them grow in the areas of their career, business, love, and relationships.

 Eligibility 

To qualify, you must:

Be a woman (18–50 years) 

Own a business in Nigeria

Have at least 51% ownership (if co-owned) 

Have access to internet (for training) 

Business stage:

Startup OR existing small business

 For advanced cohorts:

CAC registration may be required

At least 1 year in business + small team

How to Apply

Visit flourishafrica.com

Complete the online application and upload the required documents

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email for the next stage

APPLY HERE

WEBSITE

The Mastercard Foundation Associates Program 2026 for young Africans (12-month internship plus monthly stipend)

Application Deadline: Unspecified

Applications are now open for the 2026 Mastercard Foundation Associates Program. The Mastercard Foundation Associates Program connects talented young people with 12-month internships across Africa. The program works through partnerships with external organizations and Foundation partner organizations to support Associates in developing leadership, employability, and entrepreneurship skills following graduation.

Requirements

Recent graduates with 0–2 years of work experience

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni

Alumni of Mastercard Foundation programs

Young people, age 18 to 35, across Africa seeking meaningful early‑career experience

Benefits

12‑month internship placement

Hands‑on work experience

Leadership, employability, and entrepreneurship skill‑building

Mentorship and professional networks

A stipend is provided for the duration of the internship.

Career transition support

Program Journey

Recruitment & Selection

Placement in Internship Roles

Transition Pathways

How to Apply

Applicants may apply directly through the application links depending on their country of residence, or they can apply for remote roles. Roles will be posted on an ongoing basis.

APPLY HERE

APPLY For Beauty Hut Women’s Grant powered by Busha For Women in Beauty Business. Naira (6,000,000) in Funding. (2026)

Applications close March 26, 2026.

As a female-led company, Beauty Hut understands firsthand the grit it takes to build and scale a beauty brand in Africa. That’s why we’re committed to supporting ambitious women who are ready to take their businesses to the next level.

If you’re building and ready to grow, this grant is for you.

With a total grant pool of ₦6,000,000, we are proud to support ambitious female entrepreneurs across Nigeria. The first prize winner will receive ₦3,000,000, in funding to support and grow their business.

It’s designed to support female beauty entrepreneurs in Nigeria with funding, mentorship, and visibility.

Prizes:

🥇 1st place: ₦3,000,000

🥈 2nd place: ₦2,000,000

🥉 3rd place: ₦1,000,000 

Who Can Apply

You are eligible if:

You are a woman founder (or co-founder) 

Your business is:

In the beauty industry (skincare, haircare, wellness, retail, etc.) 

Your business:

Is operational for at least 6 months .

Is registered OR has a clear plan to register .

Operates in Nigeria .

You have a clear plan for how you’ll use the grant money .

Program  Benefits (Beyond Money)

This grant is not just funding:

 Cash grant (up to ₦3M)

 Mentorship from industry experts

 Live pitching opportunity

 Business workshops

 Visibility & exposure in the beauty industry .

APPLY HERE

Empowering the Next Generation of Female Entrepreneurs: Apply for the BOI–MTN Y’ellopreneur Program 2026

Applications are now open for the BOI–MTN Foundation Yellopreneur Program 2026, a high-impact initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs in Nigeria through capacity building, funding access, and business support services.

The programme is a collaboration between the Bank of Industry and MTN Foundation, aimed at reducing unemployment and strengthening women-led businesses across Nigeria.

About the Yellopreneur Program

The Yellopreneur Initiative is a flagship women empowerment program focused on equipping female entrepreneurs with the skills, funding, and advisory support needed to grow sustainable businesses.

The program combines entrepreneurial training, access to finance, and mentorship, making it one of Nigeria’s most structured support systems for women in business.

The latest phase (Yellopreneur 3.0) introduces a ₦1 billion matching fund to expand access to capital for women-led enterprises.

Program Benefits

Selected participants will receive:

📚 Entrepreneurship and business management training

💰 Access to loans of up to ₦5 million (single-digit interest)

🎁 Potential grant component (partial conversion after repayment)

🤝 Mentorship and advisory support services

📈 Support in developing bankable business plans

🌍 Access to markets, networks, and growth opportunities

The program is designed to help entrepreneurs become investment-ready and scalable.

Program Structure

The Yellopreneur program typically follows a structured process:

Training Phase – Selected applicants undergo intensive business training.

Business Plan Development – Participants create bankable business proposals.

Pitch Stage – Entrepreneurs pitch their businesses.

Funding Selection – Top participants receive financial support.

About 1,000 women are trained, with top candidates selected for funding support.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must:

Be a female entrepreneur in Nigeria

Own or run an existing business (typically 2+ years old)

Operate in sectors such as:

Agriculture

Manufacturing

ICT/digital services

Processing

Circular economy / waste management

Source materials locally where possible

Be willing to participate fully in the training and mentorship program.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

Visit the official MTN Foundation portal

Review eligibility requirements

Complete and submit the application form.

APPLY HERE