Ygap Kenya has announced the opening of applications for its Accelerator Program, designed to support entrepreneurs aiming to grow their impact-focused ventures. The program aims to help these ventures refine their business models, achieve financial sustainability, and expand their impact within their communities.

Program Overview

• Duration: 12 months (including a week-long accelerator starting from 13th March 2025)

• Type: Equity-free

• Focus: Impact-focused ventures

Key Benefits

• Capacity Building Bootcamp: Participants will attend a bootcamp to strengthen their business models, meet like-minded entrepreneurs, and gain essential tools for growth.

• Ongoing Support: The program offers ongoing accountability and business development sessions, strategic and operations coaching, masterclasses, webinars, and on-site business development sessions.

• Networking Opportunities: Ventures will be connected to mentors, customers, advisors, and other key players within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

• Tailored Support: The program provides strategy, branding, legal, mentorship, and accounting support tailored to the needs of early-stage enterprises and start-ups.

Program Pillars

• Business Model Refinement: Ventures will work on validating and strengthening their business models.

• Financial Sustainability: The program aims to help ventures move towards financial sustainability and secure further investment.

• Community Impact: Participants will focus on growing the impact of their ventures within their communities.

• Network and Resources: Ventures will gain access to a network of experts and resources to help them scale.

Eligibility Criteria

• Operational Status: Ventures must have already been launched and are currently operational.

• Registration: Ventures must be formally registered (unless not applicable to where the business runs).

• Revenue: Ventures must be post-revenue and able to provide evidence of commercial transactions.

• Impact Focus: Ventures must have a social or environmental focus, contributing positively to their community.

• Local Connection: Founders must be Kenyan and intimately connected to their community.

• Unique Element: Ventures must have a unique product, service, production method, or business model.

• Commitment: Ventures must demonstrate a clear desire and commitment to participate fully in the ygap program.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: 20th September 2024

• Program Start: 13th March 2025

• Duration: 12 months

ygap is an international organization that creates positive change by making entrepreneurship more inclusive. At a micro level, Ygap looks to increase the capacity and agency of entrepreneurs to run successful businesses that are making a positive impact.

Interested entrepreneurs can submit applications through the Ygap website.