She Leads Africa launches 2017 accelerator for women-run businesses

She Leads Africa has opened applications for the 2017 She Leads Africa Accelerator, a 3-month program designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria’s brightest entrepreneurs. SLA’s 2017 Accelerator will take place in 4 locations across Nigeria – Abuja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Kaduna.

The 2017 Accelerator will consist of 1 week residencies in the four locations where entrepreneurs will receive training from the SLA team and business leaders and experts. During these residencies, entrepreneurs will be focused on business strategy, growth, marketing, finance and distribution. They will also receive a host of on and offline training as well as an opportunity to pitch their business to national and international investors.

Fresh Direct’s founder and 2016 class winner, Angel Adelaja, said “This was like a condensed Masters Program. I am so different now and our company is thinking and strategizing differently.”

This 2017 SLA Accelerator is run in partnership with the Work in Progress! Alliance – a consortium of Oxfam, Butterfly Works and VC4A focused on driving job creation and youth employment in Nigeria. The Kaduna Agribusiness cohort is sponsored by OCP.

Entrepreneurs interested in applying should visit SheLeadsAfrica.org/accelerator for more information and to apply. Submissions close on 25 June 2017 at 11:59pm WAT.

About She Leads Africa

She Leads Africa is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting young African women and their journey towards professional success through online content and offline programmes. SLA has a community of more than 300,000 members in over 30 countries across Africa and has been featured on CNN, CNBC Africa, Black Enterprise and Fox Business. In 2016, She Leads Africa became the first African startup (male or female-led) to be invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

About Work In Progress! Alliance

The Work in Progress! Alliance is focused on unlocking the economic potential of young women and men in Egypt, Nigeria and Somalia. The project aims to enable them to generate sustainable and living incomes – by finding regular employment or starting enterprises. Alliance partners include Oxfam, VC4A (Venture Capital for Africa) and Butterfly Works. As part of the project, VC4A partners with local accelerators and works to strengthen local investor networks.

About OCP

The OCP Group is one of the leading exporters of phosphate rock, phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers in the world. The OCP Group operates in Nigeria and other countries in Africa.