The Empower Africa Business Platform is Now Live !!!
This seven-week online program equips aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to build successful businesses in Africa.
The program kicks off on May 23, 2024, and applications close on May 14. It targets startup founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, startup employees, and corporate innovators seeking to launch ventures within Africa.
Developed by experienced African founders and venture capitalists, the fellowship promises an immersive learning experience beyond traditional entrepreneurship education.
Participants will receive hands-on training, live learning sessions, and gain insights from real-world case studies, all designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities of the African startup landscape.
The curriculum covers essential aspects of building a startup, including idea validation, minimum viable product creation, navigating legal and financial hurdles, and fundraising strategies.
The program boasts renowned instructors like Iyinoluwa E. Aboyeji, Co-founder of Andela, Flutterwave, and Future Africa, and Mia Koschitzky-Kimani, Managing Partner at Future Africa and Co-founder of DukaConnect.
Upon completion, graduates join the Young African Catalyst network, a community of over 200 African founders and VCs, offering ongoing support and potential partnerships.
“We’re thrilled to empower the next generation of African startups,” said Karl Nchite, Co-founder and CEO of CatalyzU. “Africa’s entrepreneurial scene is vibrant and rapidly growing.
By providing practical experiences and access to industry leaders, we equip entrepreneurs to turn innovative ideas into thriving businesses.”
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until spots are filled. This initiative follows CatalyzU’s rebranding in July 2023 and its acceptance into Techstars Toronto alongside other startups from Canada and emerging markets.

South African private-equity firm Summit Africa has secured a US$20 million commitment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) toward its second fund, Summit Private Equity Fund II (SPEF II).

Kenyan agritech Victory Farms has raised $35 million in Series B funding to finance its expansion plans.

African startups have been invited to apply for the prestigious New Venture Competition organized by Harvard Business School’s Africa Business Club.