Village Capital is to launch a new community-based entrepreneur-mentoring initiative in mid-February, aiming to unlock more capital for seed-stage entrepreneurs across developing markets.
The initatiative, to be known as VilCap Communities Global, will see prominent industry figures commit to leading localised programmes to train entrepreneurs in their community. Each programme will have a particular niche focus.
The community leaders will also each put up US$50,000 to be invested at the conclusion of each programme through Village Capital’s peer-selection model. Disrupt Africa has previously spoken to Village Capital about this unique investment model, here.
In Africa, five leaders have to date committed to running programmes under the remit of the Village Capital Communities initiative, with applications to be opened to further leaders in the second half of 2016.
In the tech entrepreneurship space, Chanzo Capital, led by Eric Osiakwan, will support the next generation of digital technologies from the KINGS; while Impact Amplifier, led by Max Pichulik, will accelerate South African health ventures to investment readiness.
Three further programmes will support offline entrepreneurs – Wennovation Hub, led by Michael Oluwagbemi and Wole Odetayo, are to help develop aquaculture ventures across five West African countries; She Leads Africa, led by Yasmin Belo-Osagie and Afua Osei, helps young women in Nigeria and Ghana achieve their professional dreams; and Spark* International, led by Aaron Tait, is trying to generate scalable solutions to poverty in Kenya.
Each Community will devise its own application process, but for now interested entrepreneurs can fill out a form on the VilCap Communities site, and will be informed when a relevant programme opens.
