GrowGrow
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Grow

12-month pan-African investment readiness program for seed-stage startups.

Organizer: Open Startup International
Deadline: October 15, 2025 (in 20 days)
Category: Accelerator
Regions: Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Tanzania, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sudan, Central African Republic, Djibouti, South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Gambia, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Botswana, Mozambique, Comoros, Mauritius, Morocco, Ghana, Algeria, Chad, Cabo Verde, Namibia, Somalia, Niger, Seychelles, Congo, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali, Eritrea, South Sudan, Egypt, Gabon, Malawi, Angola, Eswatini, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Sao Tome & Principe, Libya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, DR Congo
Back to All Opportunities

The Grow program is a 12-month initiative designed to strengthen the investment readiness of African startups while supporting their growth, market expansion, and fundraising capacity. Developed in collaboration with AfricaGrow, BPI France, Go Ventures, and AfricInvest Group, the program serves as a pan-African platform for seed-stage startups seeking to refine operations and connect with investors.

Program Overview

  • Startup Phase: Seed stage
  • Duration: 12 months
  • Field: Open to all sectors
  • Location: Pan-African
  • Format: Hybrid delivery model

Eligibility Criteria

  • Seed-stage startups that have raised up to USD 350,000.
  • Operating for less than four years.
  • Must be active in Africa and contributing to job creation across the continent.
  • Teams of 2 to 4 co-founders, with at least one co-founder of African origin.

Key Benefits

  • Training: Tailored sessions on business, product, growth, and fundraising led by field experts.
  • Mentorship: Dedicated guidance based on startup-specific needs.
  • Hands-on Support: Personalized assistance throughout the year.
  • VC Matchmaking: Curated connections with individual and institutional investors.
  • International Exposure Fellowships: Support to participate in global events and gain visibility.
  • Talent Fellowships: Financial backing to attract regional and local talent.
  • Community: Access to a network of peers, experts, and ecosystem partners.

Program Structure

  • 2 Months Online Training: Intensive, customized modules from international trainers.
  • 4 Months Mentorship: Ongoing support from experienced mentors.
  • 4 Months Fellowships: Access to funding for talent and international exposure.
  • 8 Months Investor Matching: VC clinics and exposure to a wide network of investors.

Program Leadership and Advisors

Program Team:

  • Rihem Chahloul, Program Manager
  • Rana Soltani, Program Officer

Advisory Board:

  • Rutvik Deepak, Go Ventures
  • Igor Ovcharenko, Innovation & Digital Development Agency
  • Olga Duka, Improve Ventures
  • Richard Rabbat, Lighty-AI, former VP at Twitter
  • Achref Mattar, Youth Hub

The Grow program offers a structured pathway for African startups to strengthen their investment readiness and scale across markets. By combining training, mentorship, financial fellowships, and investor matchmaking, it creates an enabling environment for founders to build sustainable businesses and expand their impact on the continent’s economy.