The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has officially launched its TEF Entrepreneurship Programme 2025, a transformative initiative aimed at empowering African entrepreneurs and driving economic growth across the continent. Entrepreneurs from the 54 African countries are invited to submit their applications for this prestigious programme before the March 1st, 2025 deadline.
This programme offers exceptional opportunities for African entrepreneurs, especially those in the early stages of their businesses, to access funding, training, mentorship, and networking platforms.
TEF Entrepreneurship Programme 2025: Key Information
Since its establishment in 2010, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has been committed to catalyzing economic transformation in Africa through entrepreneurship. By launching the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has achieved remarkable milestones:
- Reaching 1.5 million young Africans through its digital platform, TEFConnect.
- Disbursing $100 million in direct funding to 20,000 African entrepreneurs.
- Facilitating the creation of 400,000 jobs and generating $2.5 billion in revenue.
The programme is open to all entrepreneurs with businesses aged between 0-5 years, including startups leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and those contributing to green innovation.
What Does the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme 2025 Offer?
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme seeks to identify exceptional African entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas or startups with significant growth potential. Participants will benefit from a structured, multi-phase programme designed to maximize their entrepreneurial success:
- Application Phase
- Training Phase
- Business Plan, Financials, and Pitch Video Submission Phase
- Seed Capital Phase
This initiative underscores opportunities for African startups by providing essential resources to build sustainable and impactful businesses.
Application Phase: Your Gateway to Success
The 2025 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme application process will run from January 1st to March 1st, 2025, and involves four critical sections:
- Personal Information
- Business Information
- Cognitive and Business Acumen Assessment
- Declarations
Applicants must complete the online form on TEFConnect with accurate and valid details. A notification of eligibility will be displayed after submission, and applications meeting the cut-off score will be reviewed by a third party.
Training Phase: Building Entrepreneurial Capacity
Shortlisted applicants will undergo business management training tailored to enhance their entrepreneurial skillsets. The training includes multiple-choice assessments to monitor progress and pairing with mentors who guide participants throughout the programme.
Developing and Submitting Your Business Plan
Participants will apply their training to create a robust business plan and financial documents using templates provided by the TEF team. They will also submit a 2-3 minute pitch video showcasing their idea or startup.
Submissions will be reviewed by third-party consultants who will provide constructive feedback, helping participants refine their plans and improve their chances of securing funding.
Seed Capital Phase: Turning Ideas into Reality
Successful participants will advance to the seed capital phase, which requires submission of the following documents:
- Original government-issued ID (National ID, driver’s license, or passport).
- Business registration certificate.
- Evidence of tax registration, with the business name clearly indicated.
- Bank reference letter matching the business registration details.
- Partner consent form (if applicable), with the partner’s ID included.
- Medical report for participants with disabilities.
Applicants from countries where the United Bank for Africa (UBA) operates must open an account with UBA. Others may use reputable local banks. This ensures seamless disbursement of the seed capital, enabling entrepreneurs to scale their ventures.
How to Apply for the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme 2025
Interested entrepreneurs can submit their applications via the official platform:
Apply Now on TEFConnect
Discover More Funding Opportunities
For additional programmes and funding opportunities across Africa, visit the following resource:
Explore Funding Opportunities for African Startups