Applications are open for ShEquity Business Accelerator 2021. Accra, Ghana, 23rd March 2021 – ShEquity and MBC Africa announced today the launch of the ShEquity Business Accelerator (SHEBA). Located in Accra, Ghana, SHEBA will offer venture building and technical support to African female entrepreneurs with impactful and scalable businesses viewed as potential ShEquity investment candidates in agribusiness (agtech, production, processing, wholesale & retailing, any other agribusiness value chain aspects), healthcare, technology (fintech, clean-tech, etc.), renewable energies, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). In addition, qualifying participants will receive the funding needed to structure their businesses and become ShEquity investment-ready.

Program Details

The accelerator is the next horizon in ShEquity’s significant investment and active role in building an investment ecosystem for African women entrepreneurs. Accordingly, SHEBA will serve as the pipeline for the ShEquity West Africa VC Fund which is being set up in Accra, Ghana. Every year, SHEBA will select and support 30 women, focusing on the following: business development, financial management; go to market strategy, branding & marketing, governance structure, HR/Team management, leadership development, networking opportunities, founders’ personal development/soft skills development.

Despite being based in the highest region for female entrepreneurship activity in the world, African women are still finding it more challenging to secure investment than their male counterparts. SHEBA helps de-risk African female-led businesses, ready them for investment and equip the founders with the skills set needed to scale their businesses.

Requirements

Interested applicants must adhere to the following requirements:

• Be a woman leading/owning an impactful and scalable business.
• Committing to the 6 months program duration.
• Have a business that has been in operation for a minimum of 24 months and is based in the ECOWAS Region.
• Signing the SHEBA agreement (to be provided to these selected).

ShEquity

The overall purpose of ShEquality is to provide smart investments for African female entrepreneurs and innovators, the key driver of inclusive socio-economic growth. ShEquity aims for a triple bottom line: financial, social and environmental returns, with direct impact correlating to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, ShEquity facilitates access to a pool of de-risked deals to investors composed of innovative, impactful and scalable female-led and owned businesses. Find more information here