WRI, in partnership with AFR100 and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), is excited to announce that the application cycle for the 2023 Land Accelerator Africa is open through March 31, 2023!
 APPLY HERE BY MARCH 31

We highly encourage women-led and youth-led companies to apply. Applications from all African Union member countries are welcome.

In support of the AFR100 goal of beginning to restore 100 million hectares of land by 2030, the Land Accelerator provides land-restoring entrepreneurs across Africa with mentorship and networking opportunities, technical training, and workshops to build up their storytelling and pitching skills.

Participants leave the program ready to connect with potential investors so that they can take their business to the next stage of growth. The program has attracted nearly 3,000 applicants in Africa, and its 196 alumni from 34 countries have self-reported that they have created 9,048 jobs, worked with 249,496 farmers and restored 201,076 hectares. You can learn more about the Land Accelerator 2022 cohort here.

For the 2023 cohort, we are embracing an exciting approach:

The Top 100 will benefit from:

• 3 months of exclusive weekly trainings from experts.
• 3 months of access to Fledge’s online lessons for start-ups.
• Templates to create content to help your business thrive.
• Weekly office hours with mentors who will lend their expertise.
• Weekly networking sessions to speak with and learn from other entrepreneurs in your cohort.
• Those who meet all program attendance requirements will receive a $5000 innovation grant.

By the end of the program, entrepreneurs will have access to trainings and tools to complete:

• A compelling one-minute pitch to hook investors, customers and potential partners.
• A 10 to 12-slide pitch deck targeted toward investors.
• An environmental indicator measurement, management and marketing plan.
• A three- to five-year financial model to visualize their growth projections and to identify capital needs.
• Increased confidence in their business’s mission and operations.

The top 100 entrepreneurs who complete the virtual training are invited to apply for a Land Accelerator investment pack, which will be awarded to the Top 15 entrepreneurs.

Recipients of the investment packs will benefit from:

• An innovation grant of at least $5,000 each.
• A coaching meeting with a Land Accelerator organizer to develop an investment and innovation grant plan.
• A 90-minute group session with members of the Land Accelerator mentor network, who provided tailored feedback.
• A one-on-one call with a Land Accelerator mentor to provide feedback and a thorough review of all the materials submitted throughout the program.
• The opportunity to present a three-minute business pitch at the virtual or in-person Land Accelerator Demo Day, that brings together the awardees and investors from across the continent.
• The opportunity to meet fellow entrepreneurs in-person at the Land Accelerator Impact Days in Malawi to be held Oct 16-20, 2023 to learn from both leading entrepreneurs and trainers.

Are you a land restoration entrepreneur? Do you know one? Please apply as early as possible and spread the word throughout your networks.