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Tag: Funding Opportunities

  • Microsoft-backed FAST Accelerator Launches 2nd Cohort of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program to Boost African Startups

    Microsoft-backed FAST Accelerator Launches 2nd Cohort of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program to Boost African Startups

    Flapmax, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company on a mission to enrich the lives of everyone on the planet through innovation, has announced the launch of the second FAST Accelerator program. It is designed to support and fund the next generation of innovative companies and entrepreneurs throughout the African continent. Building on the success of the inaugural program, FAST Accelerator 2023 offers a transformative experience for startup founders seeking to scale rapidly and sustainably. More than 800 startups from 25+ countries applied to join the inaugural program.

    “FAST Accelerator represents our commitment to supporting ambitious entrepreneurs who are driving sustainable innovation across the continent of Africa and emerging markets,” said Dr. Dave Ojika, CEO of Flapmax. “Through this comprehensive program, we are dedicated to connecting startup founders with a global community, industry-leading technology, and the essential startup funding necessary to forge the path towards local, sustainable, and AI-powered technological solutions of the future. Together, we unite in building a brighter future for Africa and the world, fueled by the transformative power of technology and innovation.

    In partnership with Microsoft, the FAST Accelerator initiative combines business development, technology integration, funding opportunities, and community building to empower startup companies based in Africa and emerging markets to deliver sustainable solutions. It also provides dedicated venture funding and invaluable mentorship opportunities. The top ten FAST Accelerator 2023 startup participants will be selected for a five-week program in Silicon Valley, California, to forge relationships with industry experts, potential investors, and global partners through Flapmax’s vibrant ecosystem of over 600 corporate partners.

    Startup leaders are encouraged to apply to FAST Accelerator this July. To be eligible, startups must be based in Africa, prepared to scale or expand throughout the continent, and have demonstrated established product-market fit and revenue generation. The program is prioritizing business-to-business startups for this cohort, with the areas of healthcare, fintech, Edutech, and industrials/agtech of particular interest. Sustainability and deeptech startups are also encouraged to apply.

    Program participants must be available and committed for the entire duration of the program, which includes a two-week virtual bootcamp in August 2023, followed by a five-week accelerator program in October in California. The journey begins with an intensive virtual bootcamp designed to validate startup ideas, refine business models, and prepare founders for the next stage of growth. Next, the top startups are selected to join a five-week accelerator program on the ground in Silicon Valley to experience unparalleled acceleration, networking, and fundraising opportunities, while immersing themselves in the dynamic startup ecosystem of Silicon Valley.

    “As a HR technology company dedicated to building world-class software solutions for businesses, we are delighted to have participated in the transformative FAST Accelerator program in 2022,” stated Lekan Omotosho, co-founder and CTO of Pade. “The technology and business masterclasses offered through Flapmax Learn were truly exceptional, and the invaluable network of mentors and advisors has played a significant role in our growth. With the successful raise of $500,000, we are poised to scale our cutting-edge HCM solutions across the continent, catering to both SMEs and large corporations.”

    “At Snark Health, we are pioneering a novel approach to healthcare payment solutions, and our collaboration with FAST Accelerator has been instrumental in driving our growth,” said Edwin Lubanga, co-founder and CTO of Snark Health. “Through FAST’s support, we have gained access to critical infrastructure, enabling us to deploy our services at scale. Working in conjunction with Microsoft and Azure services and partnering with hospitals in Kenya, we are determined to deliver equitable and affordable healthcare to tens of thousands of SMEs and health centers across Africa, creating a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape.”

    “Our collaboration with FAST Accelerator has opened doors to an extraordinary opportunity, one that I fully endorse,” said Innocent Orikiiriza, founder and CEO of KaCyber Technologies. Guided by FAST Accelerator, we have developed a comprehensive sustainability framework that now underpins our business operations, emphasizing the vital importance of sustainability in the public transport sector. Additionally, we have achieved a major milestone of processing 11 million travel tickets to date, amounting to a transaction value of 200 billion Ugandan shillings, immensely bolstering our revenue pipeline. With major corporate partnerships underway, we eagerly anticipate unlocking even greater possibilities with FAST as we work towards realizing a seamless and sustainable mobility experience throughout Africa.”

  • Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust Open Applications and Call for Brilliant Nigerian Teens to Join the Global Rise Community

    Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust Open Applications and Call for Brilliant Nigerian Teens to Join the Global Rise Community

    …Winners of the 2023 Rise Global Challenge Will Join 11 Past Winners from Nigeria and 200 Winners Worldwide To Receive Access to a Lifetime of Benefits

    Schmidt Futures, in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, today announced that young people ages 15 to 17 (as of July 1st, 2023) can apply for the 2023 Rise Global Challenge with the launch of the ‘Rise To’ campaign. The flagship program of Schmidt Futures and the anchor of a broader $1 billion philanthropic commitment from Eric and Wendy Schmidt, Rise finds brilliant people who need opportunity and supports them for life as they work to serve others. Rise will build a lifelong community of students, teachers, and institutions across sectors who aim to serve others. The program, which identifies young people between the ages of 15 and 17 from around the world, is designed to encourage a lifetime of service and learning by providing support that could include scholarships, career services, and funding opportunities to help these leaders serve others for decades to come.  

    Since its inception, Rise has welcomed over 150,000 people from over 170 countries to its community and selected 200 Winners from 69 countries of origin who have showcased their brilliance – from making education more accessible to mitigating global warming and developing tools to better detect cancer.

    Schmidt Futures recognizes that talent is created equally, but opportunity is not, which is why the Rise program partners with 30+ global organizations, including NBA Africa, the African Leadership Academy, HALI Network, and BUILD Nigeria, to scour the globe to find brilliant young people who are passionate about building a better world. 

    Over the last two years, a total of 11 Nigerian students have been selected as Rise Global Winners. Their projects include

    • Starting an international NGO to educate the public and solve pressing social issues including gender equality and gender laws in Nigeria;
    • Developing a program that offers teacher training programs, a student-centered curriculum as well as internship opportunities for students to receive quality computer science education in public and private schools; 
    • Building robotics to automate tasks; and
    • Increasing access to STEM opportunities for Nigerian girls, among others.

    “BUILD Nigeria is thrilled to continue growing our partnership with Rise in Nigeria as we work together to find and support the next generation of young problem-solvers looking to build a better world,” said Tolulope Olasewere, Co-Founder of Build Nigeria.

    To celebrate the opening of applications, the ‘Rise To’ creative campaign invites brilliant young minds to continue to turn opportunities into action as they ‘Rise To’ face the world’s most pressing issues. Produced by Ogilvy, the campaign seeks to inspire and foster a global community of 15- to 17-year-olds invested in creating a better future. Rise has partnered with multi-platinum singer-songwriter Bishop Briggs, known for her viral track “River,” on a series of beautifully shot films and audio ads featuring 2021 Rise Global Winners. The ads will come to life across social media as well as on Spotify and are set to the tune of Brigg’s new single “superhuman.” The song, which was released today, is inspired by this new generation of young people and recognizes the superhumans that lie dormant in each of us.

    “As a new parent, when I wrote “superhuman,” I was inspired by this brilliant up-and-coming generation,” said Bishop Briggs. “The Rise Global Winners’ dedication to building a better world truly exemplifies what the song is about — knowing you have the strength to continue on no matter what comes your way.”

    Over the next two weeks, ‘Rise To’ will feature an integrated digital campaign showcasing the diverse brilliance of Rise Global Winners and inviting more to join the community. The activation will involve celebrating two years and 200 Global Winners across two iconic locations — Times Square in New York and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. 

    Winners featured in the ‘Rise To’ campaign include:

    • Rushank Goyal (India), who advocates against food adulteration in his community by conducting discussion sessions.
    • Leah Mtindya (Zambia), who spreads awareness among teenagers about sexual and reproductive health, trans healthcare, and domestic abuse.
    • Saoirse Exton (Ireland), who rewrote Irish mythology from a feminist perspective, foregrounding the strong characters that traditional narratives tended to suppress.
    • Artash Nath (Canada), who created a way to measure the effectiveness of COVID-19 lockdowns using seismic vibrations to track human movement.
    • Jennifer Uche (United States), who launched a podcast that highlights the importance of youth advocacy and the power of young people to change the world. 

    Rise Global Winners will receive individualized and flexible support to achieve their goals as they work to serve others. The program is designed to encourage a lifetime of service to develop innovative solutions to solve society’s hard problems. That’s why Rise provides all applicants, regardless of Winner status, with access to its global network, free online courses, and curated opportunities from partners. To stay up-to-date on the benefits available for Rise applicants each year, please read the Official Rise Challenge Rules by visiting https://www.risefortheworld.org/rules.

    “Eric and I have been impressed by the optimism, initiative and curiosity of the young people in the growing Rise community,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Futures and president of the Schmidt Family Foundation. “We are excited to continue expanding this network with the 2023 cohort and can’t wait to see what these talented teens can accomplish when they work together in service for others.”

    “We look for hidden brilliance, in whatever form it takes, wherever it is in the world,” said Eric Braverman, CEO of Schmidt Futures. “There are so many extraordinary people who could do so much more to make the world better if they only could find opportunity — and each other.  We hope to make the longest bet we can imagine on exceptional talent with perseverance, integrity, and care for others.”

    “We know that amazing things happen when talented people from different backgrounds are brought together and given opportunities to study, collaborate, and innovate,” said Elizabeth Kiss, CEO of the Rhodes Trust. “Rise is an extraordinary opportunity for people from every corner of the world to embark on a lifelong journey of service and impact. Wherever you are, we encourage you to apply. You only know what you can achieve when you try.”

    All Rise Global Winners receive the following benefits upon selection:

    • Residential Summit: A fully-funded, three-week residential summit with other members of the Rise Global Winner cohort.
    • Global Winner Network: Access to the Rise Global Winners network to connect on common interests, make service commitments, launch enterprises, and collaborate.
    • Counseling and Career Support: Advice and support for applying to university and selecting a career
    • Programming: Access to specialized programs, courses, and other opportunities through Rise partners.
    • Higher Education Scholarships: A four-year, post-secondary scholarship at any accredited university, including tuition and a living stipend, based on need and where not already covered by financial aid.
    • Technology: A technology package, such as a laptop or tablet, to be determined annually.

    In addition, all Rise Global Winners can apply for the following benefits:

    • Partner Network: Matching to programs, secondary school scholarships, internships, and other benefits from partners who are part of the Rise network.
    • Funding Opportunities: Apply for funding to experiment with innovative ideas to address major problems in local communities or around the world—ranging from seed money to start a social enterprise to a grant for a non-profit.
    • Education Support: Apply for scholarship funds for a graduate degree.

    How to Apply?

    The online applications are open on the Rise website and are available until January 25, 2023, at 16:59 GMT. For applicants without access to mobile technology, Rise works with its partners on the ground to offer alternative pathways through paper applications.

    Rise provides applicants with multiple opportunities during the application process to showcase their potential through videos, projects, and group interviews. The application allows applicants to select projects most suited to their interests, abilities, and time availability.

    The Rise 2023 Challenge has three stages:

    • Submission: Applicants introduce themselves through videos, create an individual project that demonstrates their talents and benefits their communities, and peer review other applicants’ projects, among other activities.
    • Interview: Rise then selects up to 500 Finalists to advance to “Finalist Days,” where they demonstrate their motivations, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork skills in an innovative interview format.
    • Global Winner Selection: From the Finalists, Rise selects 100 Global Winners to receive a lifetime of benefits as they work to serve others.