Deadline: 31-Mar-23
The World Resources Institute (WRI) has launched the Land Accelerator Program in Africa, the world’s first training and mentorship program targeted specifically toward businesses that restore degraded forests, farmland and pasture.
To support the AFR100 Initiative’s goal of restoring 100 million hectares of land by 2030, the Land Accelerator provides entrepreneurs across Africa with mentorship and networking opportunities, technical training and workshops to build up their storytelling and pitching skills.
Participants leave the program more empowered to connect with potential investors so that they can take their business to the next stage of growth. The program has attracted nearly 3,400 applicants in Africa since 2018, and its 196 alumni from 45 countries report that they have created 9,000 jobs, worked with 250,000 farmers and restored 201,000 hectares.
The Land Accelerator is funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa.
Benefits
- Since 2021, WRI and their partners at AFR100 and Fledge have invited a cohort of 100 top land restoration entrepreneurs from across the continent to join us for a virtual business accelerator. Restoration entrepreneurs are invited to apply from all sub-Saharan African countries, free of charge.
- The Top 100 will benefit from:
- 3 months of exclusive weekly trainings from experts.
- 3 months of access to Fledge’s online lessons for start-ups.
- Templates to create content to help your business thrive.
- Weekly office hours with mentors who will lend their expertise.
- Weekly networking sessions to speak with and learn from other entrepreneurs in your cohort.
- Those who meet all program attendance requirements will receive a $5000 innovation grant.
- By the end of the program, entrepreneurs will have access to trainings and tools to complete:
- A compelling one-minute pitch to hook investors, customers and potential partners.
- A 10 to 12 slide pitch deck targeted toward investors.
- An environmental indicator measurement, management and marketing plan.
- A three- to five-year financial model to visualize their growth projections and to identify capital needs.
- Increased confidence in their business’s mission and operations.
- The top 100 entrepreneurs who complete the virtual training are invited to apply for a Land Accelerator investment pack, which will be awarded to the Top 15 entrepreneurs.
- Recipients of the investment packs will benefit from:
- An innovation grant of at least $5,000 each.
- A coaching meeting with a Land Accelerator organizer to develop an investment and innovation grant plan.
- A 90-minute group session with members of the Land Accelerator mentor network, who provided tailored feedback.
- A one-on-one call with a Land Accelerator mentor to provide feedback and a thorough review of all the materials submitted throughout the program.
- The opportunity to present a three-minute business pitch at the virtual or in-person Land Accelerator Demo Day, that brings together the awardees and investors from across the continent.
- The opportunity to meet fellow entrepreneurs in-person at the Land Accelerator Impact Days in Malawi to be held Oct 16-20, 2023 to learn from both leading entrepreneurs and trainers.
Eligibility Criteria
- They welcome applications from businesses based anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa. Applications must be written in either English or French.
- All entrepreneurs whose business model clearly centers around land restoration — through practices such as sustainable agriculture, reforestation and agroforestry — are invited to apply.
- Investment packs will be awarded to the top entrepreneurs from the Land Accelerator Africa cohort who submit the following:
- Company factsheet.
- One-minute business pitch (submitted in writing and via video recording).
- 10 to 12 slide pitch deck.
- 5 to10-minute site-visit video.
- Video presenting a two- to three-minute Demo Day pitch for potential investors.
- The selection committee may also choose to conduct interviews with some candidates before making the final selection. Templates and guidance for the documents will be provided to the 100 businesses throughout the course of the Land Accelerator.
For more information, visit Land Accelerator.