Growth Accelerator 2022

About the accelerator program

The AWIEF Growth Accelerator is an investment-readiness program, designed to support the unique needs of early-stage and high-growth-oriented women-led ventures. This year, in partnership with Nedbank, the AWIEF Growth Accelerator will provide the ventures with business modeling, growth strategy training, corporate advisory, mentorship, networks, and access to strategic partnerships.

The accelerator provides capital-raising support for growth, scale, and sustainability. It builds women’s entrepreneurial leadership capacity, connects them with appropriate sources of capital, and helps them scale.

Supported 100 women founders
Since 2017, more than 100 early-growth-stage women founders have gone through the accelerator program. For the 2022 cohort, another 20 female entrepreneurs will be selected from sectors including: technology, agribusiness and agro-processing, financial services, manufacturing, health, education, tourism & hospitality, creative industries, and renewable energy.

Call for application

Applications are invited from committed and innovative South African female entrepreneurs for the AWIEF Growth Accelerator 2022 cohort.

Eligibility criteria

Businesses must be:

• South African Exempt Micro Enterprises (EMEs) or Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs); at least 51% female black-owned.
• In a post-revenue phase.
• Scalable and innovative ventures.
• In operation for not less than three years.
• Owned or led by ambitious and committed women entrepreneurs.
• Seeking investment or funding to scale and expand.

Why join the program?

After six months of hard work and being challenged, as part of the AWIEF Growth Accelerator cohort, you will be ready to tell your story and showcase your business to the world. The program offers:

• Three two-day bootcamps
• Masterclasses: international expert-led sessions covering all scaling fundamentals
• One-on-one tailored mentorship and leadership coaching
• Corporate partners: connection to corporates in your industry for valuable partnership opportunities, and as customers
• Access to investors: get connected to opportunities with Nedbank and active VCs, impact, and angel investors looking to invest in African women-led ventures
• Pitch n GrowTM : Demo day/pitching event at the annual AWIEF Conference and Awards.
• Join the AWIEF Community and alumni growth program: unmatched access to a pan-African and global network and peer connection to other women entrepreneurs, continued online post-program support, e-learning, events, and tailored introductions.