GrowthAfrica Accelerator open for 2023 cohort applications

Our growth strategy programme is tailored to helping you scale your profitability as a business, make it investment ready while developing your business, and leadership acumen.The aim of the growth strategy programme’s first 6 months is to provide an intensive entrepreneur programme for SME, and Startup business support. Through this, our entrepreneurs build a thorough understanding of all components of their business venture, internal and external realities, and their interdependencies – identifying challenges to growth and using this to build a comprehensive, implementation-ready growth plan.

Each workshop is followed up by in-company support by the GrowthAfrica SME, and Startup growth advisors and mentors who assist you develop a deeper understanding of your business, help you to identify a growth strategy and articulate growth challenges, and aid in crafting strategic and innovative responses to these challenges – your growth plan.

Once your growth strategy is in place, focus shifts to implementation of set interventions and creating momentum in line with your ambition to scale and access external capital.

The GrowthAfrica team continues to help alongside sage advice and support from subject-industry experts. Focus further shift to connecting you with the growth strategy resources necessary for the effective implementation of your growth plan.

What we offer

We are backed with an experience of over 20 years;
understanding the behaviours, patterns, and trends
of the African Innovation ecosystem.

Business planning and development

Get the tools and skills needed to analyse your business, its reality and the growth obstacles you face. We deliver the tools and resources to overcome them.

More: Enhance your leadership

Peer and industry network

Connect with peers and people in your value chain; network with industry experts. We invite you to join one of the strongest resource network in Africa.

More: Join the fellowship

Mentoring

Tap in to a vast pool of experience and expertise. Learn from and spare with the continent’s top business executives, entrepreneurs and investment professionals.

More: Success breeds success

Investment readiness

Connecting with the right investor at the right time is crucial for success, as is learning how to communicate effectively with investors. We help you with both.

More: Meet the money

Financial modelling

Translating your business model into a financial model increases your likelihood of making wise strategic choices; and your chances of financial success.

More: Working the numbers

Leadership coaching

Developing and running great companies requires great leadership. We inspire and give you practical tools and resources for leading your business to success.

More: Lead the way to success

How you will benefit

  • Growth strategy: Led by experienced facilitators, leveraging our proprietary process and learning methodology, we focus on solutions that lead to an increase in your revenue, profits and impact
  • Bespoke in-company support: Get individualised and tailored in-company support from the most qualified team who will walk you through and support you in your business journey
  • Access and fellowship with quality peers across Africa: Connect and benefit from peer-to-peer learning and networking with like-minded entrepreneurs across Africa
  • Investment support: Receive support in identification of, access to and engagement with potential and relevant investors
  • Access to mentors and industry-subject experts: You will have access to Pan-African mentors/experts who will offer you advice and be your sounding board
  • Financial modelling: Support in building a financial model for your business growth and investment
  • Leadership: Acquire skills and tools to develop stronger entrepreneurial leadership

Clear plans of how to scale and access capital

Access to industry & subject experts & mentors

Support in implementing growth plan

Application criteria

Sectors

We are open to all sectors but have a soft spot for:

  • Agribusiness
  • Education
  • IT/mobile solutions/Tech-enabled businesses
  • Financial Services and Fintech
  • Renewable energy
  • Water & sanitation
  • Health
  • Manufacturing/processing
  • Retail/e-commerce

For profit, post revenue business

Full time and dedicated core team

Existed for 2 years or more

Dedicated full time founding team

Turnover of USD 50,000 plus

Open to raising external investment

Application details

Are you ready to exponentially grow your business?

Do you know a business that fits our criteria? recommend them to us via apply@growthafrica.com.

To prepare offline, download:

Accelerate your business to success

Our ventures & entrepreneurs

Meet the entrepreneurs and ventures we have worked with.
Get to know the resourceful network of alumnis that you could join.

The GrowthAfrica team provided hands-on support and worked with us through our business and strategy whilst connecting us with investors when the time was right and our business was ready.

Cathrine Mahugu Co-founder, Soko

GrowthAfrica is a friend and supporter of entrepreneurs and startups.They are passionate about making a difference and seeing the businesses they work with grow and succeed.

Henry M. Ambwere Founder & CEO, MolaPlus

Through our engagement we have gained a thorough understanding of our business model as well as the context within it operated. I commend the team for their strong committed effort and passion

Stefano Carcoforo Founder & Managing Director, iProcure

GrowthAfrica has created an environment
that promotes continuous learning for
entrepreneurs and is a great partner and
mentor to our business in areas such as
fund raising and sourcing for talent

Ernest Makhotsi Founder, Wayo

GrowthAfrica helped us redefine our
value proposition and this has greatly
improved our interaction with our
customers and consequently our sales.
We were equipped with the tools necessary
to keep track of our business progress
from there make the right business decisions

Robert Kariuki Founder, Essentia Kanan

GrowthAfrica made our transition into
understanding investor requirements
painless and enjoyable. They guided us on
how to sculpt our business and scale it
in the green disruptive innovations space
with a clear lens on how to make it
profitable

Tony Nyagah Co-Founder & MD, Strauss Energy

Before joining the GrowthAfrica Acceleration programme, I talked to several investors with no success and I was frustrated. This Programme made me see my business inside out and now I understand why investors were not interested.

Henok Abera Founder, Wow Peanut butter, Ethiopia

They have made my first experience with an investment firm, seamless and successful. This deal was timely since we were looking to grow but struggled in accessing funds. They supported us in negotiations to ensure it was a good deal for us.

Valerie Muigai Founder, Kijani Baby Uganda

We were encouraged to look deeply within the business. We have now successfully managed to fully communicate to the team where we are heading as a business and how we shall achieve it. Our vision has also been incorporated into our daily activities.

Tolera Shula Co-founder, Elelan Leather

The GrowthAfrica team has been "a shoulder to lean on" through my entrepreneurial journey.
I learnt a lot in the customer journey and today I know how to segment every customer coming through our doors.

Betty Bukirwa Managing Director, St.Eliza healthcare

I joined the programme because I wanted to scale and I particularly enjoyed the customer journey workshop. It helped me accurately define who my mobile app was targeting. With this understanding, I pitched to my board and they approved it.

Manuela Pacutho Founder, The Cradle

Programme results delivered

We keep entrepreneurs at the centre. We believe that who we are and what we do is reflected through the success of the entrepreneurs we work with.

We are grounded in the African promise of social and economic transformation. We fulfil this promise by delivering business growth that transforms entrepreneurial ventures into successful, profitable companies.

28
Accelerator programme history Business cohorts per country since 2012
336
Ventures accelerated Unique businesses completing the programme
436
Number of entrepreneurs Individual entrepreneurs going through the programme in all countries

Investors we work with

Access to relevant investors is often key to your growth. Meet our
broad network of investors looking for your venture.

Apply for our programmes

Contact us

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Mauren Wachira

Mobile: +254 729 028 271
WhatsApp: +254 729 028 271
Email: mwa@growthafrica.com
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Biruk Yosef

Mobile: +251 945 453 050
WhatsApp: +251 945 453 050
Email: byo@growthafrica.com
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Michelle Mboha

Mobile: +256 780 393 598
WhatsApp: +256 780 393 598
Email: msm@growthafrica.com
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Lillian Marenya

Mobile:+254 724 852 944
WhatsApp: +254 724 852 944
Email: lma@growthafrica.com
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Leah Nduati - Lee

Mobile:+233 505 359 927
WhatsApp: +233 505 359 927
Email: lnd@growthafrica.com

Let's talk

Engage with us and find out how the acceleration programme matches your business growth journey

Lillian Marenya Head of Catalytic Support Skype: Lillian Marenya +254 724 852 944 lma@growthafrica.com