Deadline: 30th April 2022
French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Challenge 2022 for African Start-ups (€150K prize)
Every year, the Digital Challenge 2022 for African Start-ups recognizes 5 to 8 start-ups working on new digital solutions in Africa that aim to improve energy availability and grid performance.
Eligibility Requirements
The Call for Projects is open to start-ups and utilities.
The start-up must meet the following criteria:
- Created less than 10 years ago
- Be in the pre-seed/early-stage financing phase i.e. less than €1M funding raised
- Annual turnover of less than €1M
- Employ between 1 and 99 people full-time.
If the project fits one of the additional criteria listed below, NGOs can apply under the Start-up category:
- As a division of the NGO, the project has been established as a company.
- The initiative has its own staff and business plan, and it focuses on long-term business viability and profitability (e.g. plans to spin off as an independent entity).
Finally, the startup’s project must fit into one of the three themes listed above and be:
- Digital i.e. based on a telecom, computer or cloud-based technology
- Innovative, either intrinsically or compared to the local market
- Local i.e. headquartered or with project management activities in the country of the project
Benefits
For every annual Call for Projects, the 5 to 8 winning start-ups will each benefit from:
- Financial support of up to €150K including: Grant funding to contribute to costs for equipment, software, training and recruitment ; Technical assistance (awarded on a case-by-case basis), which could include project management support, strategic and technical expertise, and accounting/reporting assistance
- A joint boot camp run by cross-sectorial experts, to support project implementation, provide sectorial insights, foster synergies between project winners and encourage best-practice sharing
- Widespread communication campaigns piloted by AFD during the selection phase, award ceremony, bootcamp and for a period of time after these events.
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How to Apply Digital Challenge 2022 for African Start-ups
1. Download the Start-up Application Pack (email address required)DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION PACK
2. Watch the recording of the webinar in English here or in French here
3. Complete the application form and prepare the required documents
4. Submit your project before 30th April 2022
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Challenge 2022
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