Mentor-Driven Capital program 2024

In partnership with FMO Ventures Program

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Are you an established business professional, entrepreneur, or investor with some time on your hands? Do you want to play a bigger role in the startup ecosystem? Do you want to make a tangible difference in the lives of entrepreneurs and their journeys?

Then, apply to become a mentor in the 2024 VC4A Mentor-Driven Capital Program in partnership with FMO Ventures.

‘Mentor-driven capital’ is one of VC4A’s approaches to creating value for startup ecosystems around the world. It’s about finding and supporting motivated and experienced professionals like you to share the knowledge, experience, and network you’ve acquired over your career with promising entrepreneurs through the VC4A Mentorship Marketplace. As you support your mentee on his/her entrepreneurial journey, you get keen insights into the local startup ecosystem and hone your own mentoring, business & leadership skills.

This year, in partnership with the FMO Ventures Program, the call is launched to empower 30+ mentors in each of the targeted countries: Ghana, Tanzania and Morocco.

The program will run for 3 months (May – July) and then the selected mentors in each country will be matched with ventures from selected supporting organizations.

This program aims to boost the ability of business experts as a high-powered mentor through the VC4A Mentor-Driven Capital framework. You and selected business leaders will receive expert guidance, training, and hands-on sessions around mentoring through a comprehensive framework facilitated by experts.

Previous expert-led sessions by experienced angel investors featured thought leaders such as Tomi Davies – Chief Investment Officer at GreenTec Capital Partners, Tarek El-Kady – Founder of Alex Angels, Mrs. Maya Horgan Famodu, Founder & Partner at Ingressive Capital, Dr. Ayman Ismail – Associate Professor of entrepreneurship at the American University of Cairo, Mrs. Yemi Keri – Founder of Rising Tide Africa and Kola Aina – Founder of Ventures Platform, among many others.

Overview

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August 13, 2024
Program dates Apr 2 - Jul 31
OrganizerFMO Ventures Program
Targets Africa
Sectors Sector agnostic

Program perks

What you’ll get out of it:

  • Attend expert-led sessions on essential mentorship and startup-related topics.
  • A mentorship guide and online training materials.
  • Access peer-to-peer learning through expert discussions, group sessions, and networking opportunities.
  • Get matched with Africa-based founders with mentorship needs through the VC4A Mentorship Marketplace.
  • Access partner organizations’ demo days and invite-only events like the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit.

What we expect from you

The program is open to a maximum of 30 aspiring business mentors from Ghana, Tanzania and Morocco or those with strong ties with – and interest in those countries. The only thing you need to invest during the 3-month program is 4-5 hours per month of your valuable time and knowledge!

Selection Criteria:

  • You are based in Africa or closely affiliated with any of the three target countries of the program: Ghana, Tanzania, or Morocco.
  • You are a senior business professional, entrepreneur, and/or investor with 10+ years of experience.
  • You are interested in the startup ecosystem and keen to support startup companies.
  • You can attend the 6 virtual online bootcamp sessions and expert sessions between May and July 2024
  • You are interested in offering mentorship post the program to African startups through the VC4A Mentorship Marketplace.

What previous MDC graduates and experts say about the program:

“Mentoring helps to get out of your daily routine, make new connections and get new perspectives” Fayelle Ouane – Managing Director at SUGUBA

“It’s key to help the entrepreneur get access to corporate clients by making the right introductions at the right time to the right decision maker so the entrepreneur can tell the right message” Kenza Lahlou – Managing Partner at Outlierz Ventures

“I see a lot of businesses every day, but it’s different when you’re more hands-on, ​​to actually be in touch with the entrepreneurs. I loved it.” Habiba Helmy – Arab Bank Egypt.

“The value from the exchanges with the mentor participants has been huge. One mentor has joined one of the angel networks I am involved with, and I connected a startup that one of the mentors was working with to another angel network. The programme is really effective in generating support for entrepreneurs – both funding and mentoring.” Umulinga Karangwa – Angel Investor & Fund Manager.

Timeline

May – July 2024

About the FMO Ventures Program

FMO Ventures Program is an initiative of FMO. The EUR 200 million program is supported by contributions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands as well as by a guarantee from the European Commission.

FMO Ventures Program aims to empower innovative business models applying disruptive technology to enable or improve affordable access to goods and services to the un(der)served in emerging markets. FMO Ventures Program focuses on direct investments in young start-up and scale-up companies in Fintech, Energy access and Agritech, as well as on indirect (fund) investments in Venture Capital funds, predominantly in Africa and the European neighborhood, and in certain parts of Asia.

Team

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