In partnership with The Human Development and Innovation Fund (HDIF) the Embassy of the Netherlands and Village Capital we are excited to launch the 2020 Investment Readiness Accelerator for Social Enterprises.

Supporting entrepreneurs helping to solve Tanzania’s social and innovation challenges.

Low Access to Essential Social Services: Tanzania faces immense social challenges, with a majority of the population lacking access to clean water, the national energy grid, financial services, and affordable healthcare, education and food.

High Unemployment: Rates of unemployment in Tanzania are rising. Every year, 800,000 Tanzanians enter the labour market but there are only enough jobs for 50,000 of them, of which the vast majority are considered “vulnerable” and informal working agreements.   

Underdeveloped Innovation Ecosystem: Tanzania has low business growth in part due to an ecosystem that lacks robust, coordinated pillars of (a) capacity building, (b) access to networks, and (c) access to appropriate types and sufficient amounts of capital.

Entrepreneurs can solve these challenges. Innovators have the potential to develop disruptive and scalable products and services that help this large and growing population while generating job growth and local economic development. However, early-stage entrepreneurs often lack the necessary training, networks, and capital to grow.

Programme Overview

We’re seeking startups from all regions of Tanzania that are tackling the largest challenges in the country’s most critical social sectors of:

(1) Education
(2) Healthcare
(3) Financial inclusion
(4) Clean energy
(5) Agriculture
(6) Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

The programme includes a series of workshops – these are typically four-day engagements – that provide our entrepreneurs with training to develop their business models, financials, pitches, sales pipelines, and other aspects. Entrepreneurs will also have one-on-one time with mentors, industry experts, investors, top local business leaders, and potential customers.

Selected startups are required to have one C-level team member attend all three workshops, and Anza will bear flight and lodging costs for any non-Dar-based participants.

At the end of the programme, ventures will be selected by other entrepreneurs in the cohort to get investment from Anza Growth Fund.

The workshops will take place on the following dates:

Workshop 1: Monday 04th May-Thursday 07th May
Workshop 2: Monday 13th June-Thursday 16th June
Workshop 3: Monday July 20th-Thursday 23rd July

For more information about the programme, please see our FAQ.

Application

The 2020 application window is opening soon…

Partners

Advisory Board