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) women 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 March and April 2023 (each session is approx. 1-1.5 hours, totals about 3-4 hours/month). 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 Application deadline: 31st of January 2023 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 31st of January. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted separately the following week. Contact Akram Eladwy if you would like to discuss this opportunity in more detail. Note: We plan the kick-off session on the 1st of March, 2023 and the closing session by the 30th of April, 2023. 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.