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. You will also get complimentary access to major startups’ and partners’ events.
What We Expect From You The program is open to a maximum of 30 aspiring business mentors from African countries or those with strong ties with – and interest in the continent. The only thing you need to invest during the approx. 2-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 the continent. 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 5 virtual online bootcamp sessions and expert sessions between July and August 2022 (each session is approx. 1-1.5 hours, totals about 3-4 hours/month). You are willing to offer mentorship post the program to African startups through the VC4A Mentorship Marketplace. What previous MDC graduates say about the program: “The mentor sessions were very good as the knowledge sharing helped in addressing challenges faced with the mentee. The program was well-paced and constant communication by the VC4 team was excellent. There was a good air of camaraderie with other mentors who chipped in to help other mentor companies where they could.” Rolayo Akhigbe – FCMB Nigeria “Speakers and program managers were very welcoming and insightful. The curriculum was also very relevant and useful. I also loved my mentee!” Damien Pieretti – HSBC USA. “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.
Timeline Application deadline: 25th of June 2022 If you’re interested in joining the program as a mentor, please create a VC4A account and/or sign in to your account, and hit the apply button to submit your application before the 25th of June. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted separately the following week. Contact Ahmed Nour at anour [at] vc4a [dot] com if you would like to discuss this opportunity in more detail. Note: We plan the kick-off session on 13th July 2022 and the closing session by August 25th, 2022. Make a tangible contribution to promising startups in Africa and become a business mentor today!
About the Work In Progress! Alliance This program is part of the “Work In Progress!” project. The goal of “Work in Progress!” is to improve the economic prospects of young men and women in Egypt, Nigeria, and Somalia, create jobs and stimulate entrepreneurship by improving the skills of young people, strengthening small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and creating an enabling environment. Work in Progress! Alliance partners include Oxfam, Hanze University, VC4A, and Butterfly Works.
Mentor Driven Capital The ‘Mentor-Driven Capital’ course is dedicated to African business professionals to boost high-powered mentoring abilities to support entrepreneurs while learning to think and act like a savvy business angel. ‘Mentor-driven capital’ is the approach to creating value for startups by sharing the knowledge, experience and network you’ve built during your career, while also maximizing the return on your investments. View course