Are you a social entrepreneur in East Africa passionate about creating a positive impact in your community? The Energy for Livelihoods accelerator, delivered by Acumen Academy, is your opportunity to scale up your social enterprise and make a lasting difference in the lives of low-income individuals while contributing to environmental conservation.
Program Overview:
- Objective: Build a thriving ecosystem of locally-led social enterprises across East Africa focused on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, small businesses, and micro-entrepreneurs.
- Duration: 12 weeks of intensive training and support.
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What You’ll Learn:
- Business Model Development: Develop, refine, and test hypotheses for scaling your enterprise.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Gather customer insights to make informed decisions.
- Impact Communication: Learn to communicate and demonstrate social and environmental impact effectively.
- Financial Sustainability: Improve your financial sustainability by refining revenue, cost, and investment assumptions.
- Value Proposition Refinement: Develop marketing, sales, and pricing strategies tailored for low-income customers.
- Leadership Skills: Enhance your leadership skills to build inclusive, sustainable solutions.
Benefits:
- Structured Programming: Learn essential skills for building a business model that combines social impact and profitability.
- Supportive Network: Access a supportive network of peers, facilitators, and mentors for feedback, encouragement, and opportunities.
- Funding Opportunities: Eligible participants may apply for a share of $50,000 and potential inclusion in Acumen’s PEII+ investment initiative.
- Global Community: Graduates will join Acumen Academy’s global community, The Foundry.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Location: Based in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda).
- Sector Focus: Operating in sectors such as agriculture, energy for micro-entrepreneurs, or providing business enabler services.
- Commitment: A deep commitment to poverty alleviation, operational track record of 12+ months, and impact in job creation/income generation.
- Team: Local founding team members with relevant sector experience and three or more full-time staff.
Deadline: March 11, 2024
Ready to take your social enterprise to the next level? Click here to apply for the Energy for Livelihoods accelerator program and unlock the tools and support you need to scale your impact!
Let’s empower communities and create sustainable change together!