Village Capital (vilcap) has begun accepting applications for its business application acceleration program for start-up ventures in East Africa.
This year, the focus is on Agriculture. VilCap is partnering with The MasterCard Foundation and Duncan Goldie-Scot to identify game-changing financial services and technologies in Agriculture.
According to the project page on VilCap’s website, the organization is looking for “technologies that formalize informal markets, increase the efficiency of the agricultural supply chain, or build wealth for smallholder farmers, low-wealth households, or individuals”
12 select start-up firms will undergo a series of business development training to unlock innovations that increase access to financial services for smallholder farmers. At the end of the program, competing entrepreneurs will select top two enterprises that would earn $50,000 each.
Ross Baird, Executive Director of Village Capital says the program aims to create 200 jobs over the next two years in East Africa, with an estimated 60% of jobs going to individuals living below the poverty line. Graduating enterprises are also expected to increase revenue growth by 4.5 times and distribute goods and/or services to 200,000 customers (with a primary target of smallholder farmers) within that time period.
Applications close February 25th. Apply here.
Muyiwa Coker contributed to this report.
Image via: nairobigarage
