About the Program

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) is Africa's largest entrepreneurship program. Each year it selects 1,000 African entrepreneurs and provides them with:

  • $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital
  • 12 weeks of business training (online)
  • Mentorship from experienced business leaders
  • Networking with 18,000+ TEF alumni across Africa
  • Potential for additional investment and market access support

Since 2015, TEF has funded over 18,000 African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries with over $180 million committed.

Eligibility

  • African citizen resident in Africa (all 54 countries)
  • Early-stage business or viable business idea
  • Business must be less than 3 years old
  • Personally committed to running the business full-time
  • Have not received TEF funding before

What Sectors Are Supported

TEF supports businesses across all sectors including:

  • Agriculture and agribusiness
  • Technology and fintech
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Creative industries
  • Manufacturing
  • Clean energy

How to Apply

  • Visit tonyelumelufoundation.org and click "Apply"
  • Create an account on the TEF Connect platform
  • Complete your business profile — be specific about the problem you solve
  • Submit a 2-minute video pitch explaining your business
  • Answer essay questions about your business model and impact vision
  • Submit before the deadline — late applications are not accepted

    • Tips for Getting Selected

    • Be specific about your business model — "I sell food" is weak. "I supply pre-packaged frozen meals to office workers in Accra through a WhatsApp ordering system" is strong.
    • Quantify your traction — customers served, revenue earned, problem scale
    • Show why you, why now — TEF wants to know why you are the right person to build this
    • The video matters — clear audio, good lighting, confident delivery. Practice before recording.

    Application Deadline: June 30, 2025. This program receives over 200,000 applications annually — apply early and take your time with each answer.