Hello Innovators! 👋

Precious here from SASIE, your partner in tech entrepreneurship.

Happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed a fantastic weekend and are ready to tackle a new week of great potential. Today, I have some news that are really necessary and empowering opportunities tailored to drive your entrepreneurial growth.

But first off, a REMINDER to our African Women Entrepreneurs: the application deadline for the SASIE Idea to Venture Cohort 2 is near! This is the last-minute opportunity to access hands-on training and mentorship and even an opportunity to pitch your idea.

But that's not all. I've also rounded up a fresh list of other not-to-be-missed opportunities this week, from a prestigious UNICEF Venture Fund for impactful tech solutions, through the EY SDG Accelerator for women in work with AI.

Let's begin and make this week count towards our entrepreneurial dreams!

• EY SDG Accelerator for Women Entrepreneurs: Unlocking AI for Global Impact!

• UNICEF Venture Fund: Empowering Women-Owned Tech for Children's Future!

• Standard Chartered Women in Cyber Security Program 2025: Create Your Future in Technology!

• Future of Capitalism Competition 2025: Win Up to $1 Million for Your Disruptive Tech Startup!

• Delt-Her Women Empower Program 2025: Your Engineering Concept Can Change Nigeria!

• Lagos State SME Export Acceleration Program: Go Global with Your Business!

EY SDG Accelerator for Women Entrepreneurs: Unlocking AI for Global Impact!

Access Global Networks, Expert Mentorship, and Scale Your Women-Led AI Venture!

A new opportunity is available for women entrepreneurs in Africa, Latin America, South, and Southeast Asia who are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for driving social impact. The EY SDG Accelerator for Women Entrepreneurs, a 6-month accelerator program operated by Bright Tide in partnership with EY and supported by Microsoft and Women's World Banking, is open for applications. It is a strong chance to gain unprecedented support and visibility for your AI-driven business that is creating an impact towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What selected entrepreneuurs will gain;

• Personalized attention from experienced EY coaches to strengthen business plans and operational efficiency.

• Technical Workshops & Capacity-Building Sessions: Specialist workshops and clinics from industry-leading partners.

• Access to a worldwide network of investors, corporates, and social innovators.

• Regular calls with peers to facilitate knowledge transfer and networking between cohort members.

• Opportunities to attend special events and promotional activities, increasing the venture's visibility.

Deadline: June 15, 2025

UNICEF Venture Fund: Empowering Women-Owned Tech for Children's Future!

Apply Now for Up to US$100K of Equity-Free Capital for Your Open Source Frontier Tech Startup!

The UNICEF Venture Fund has opened an open call for early-stage, for-profit technology startups, with up to US$100,000 in equity-free capital. This is a unique chance to accelerate your entrepreneurial venture, gain significant funding without dilution of ownership, and contribute towards a better future for kids, especially if your solution uses cutting-edge technologies like AI and Blockchain.

This catalytic funding is for;

• Early-Stage Tech Startups: Profitable companies that have progressed beyond the ideation phase and possess awesome working prototypes.

• Open Source Innovators: Companies heavily committed to Open Source practices and licensing.

• Impact-Driven Founders: Companies whose technology solutions are designed to enhance the lives of children considerably.

• Globally Registered: Startups must be registered in one of UNICEF's programme countries.

• Women-Led & Youth-Led Businesses: The fund actively supports and prioritizes applications from women-led and youth-led businesses, promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech ecosystem.

Growth-ready startups selected will receive:

• Up to US$100,000 of non-dilutive capital, with you retaining 100% while expanding your business.

• The opportunity to be matched with UNICEF, one of the world's leading organizations, thereby attaining credibility and visibility.

• The ability to directly and concretely impact the lives of children through your technology innovation.

Deadline: November 30, 2025

Standard Chartered Women in Cyber Security Program 2025: Create Your Future in Technology!

Unleash Training, Mentoring, and a Career in High-Demand Cyber Security!

A historic opportunity is now open to young women from around East Africa, including aspiring entrepreneurs, who are keen to create a career in the critical and rapidly expanding area of cybersecurity. Strathmore University, in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, has launched the Standard Chartered Women in Cyber Security Program 2025. The four-month online training and mentorship program is designed to equip women with the basic technical skills, industry exposure, and professional development skills to commence a successful career in cybersecurity.

Participants will receive:

• Individual consultations with experienced industry mentors providing individualized guidance, advice, and accountability for career goals.

• Collaborative sessions with industry experts for insights into the newest cybersecurity challenges and trends, rendering the topic easier to understand.

• Learning through self-study modules taught by subject matter experts, mastering fundamental cybersecurity concepts and practices.

• Learning required professional skills such as work-life balance, interviewing skills, and curriculum vitae preparation.

• Open access to network with peers, mentors, regulators, academics, and employers in the private sector.

• Build Continuous Professional Development (CPD) hours on module completion, providing a convenient, transportable, industry-recognized confirmation of competence.

• A defined path of entry and development in the cybersecurity career.

Future of Capitalism Competition 2025: Win Up to $1 Million for Your Disruptive Tech Startup!

Unleash Significant Investment to Change the Face of Global Business with Your Breakthrough Solutions!

Future of Capitalism Competition 2025 is now open for applications, offering a chance to secure up to $1 million in funding to propel your business forward and highlight your innovative B2B technology. You could be a go-getting woman entrepreneur with a solution that can transform the way businesses run, and this competition is your key to substantial funding and global recognition.

The Competition is available to:

• Early-Stage Tech Startups Worldwide: This includes innovative projects by female entrepreneurs from around the globe.

• B2B Tech Focus: Companies with solutions aimed at enhancing or transforming business-to-business processes.

• Innovation Drivers: New companies with solid concepts or early-stage product prototypes that have high potential to disrupt and optimize industry practices.

• Flexible Incorporation Status: You do not necessarily need to be legally incorporated to join, so it is also accessible even to very early-stage teams.

Participants will receive;

• Significant Investment: The potential to receive a maximum of $1 million in investment, offering important capital to test, expand, or monetize your technology.

• Global Visibility: A platform to get your innovative solution in front of a wide global audience of prospective investors, partners, and industry influencers.

• Networking Opportunities

Deadline: September 30th, 2025

Delt-Her Women Empower Program 2025: Your Engineering Concept Can Change Nigeria!

Open Up Funding, Expert Mentorship, and Materialize Your Innovative Engineering Idea into a Winning Startup!

The Delt-Her Women Empower Program 2025 (Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her) is receiving applications, with a national platform that will equip, mentor, and fund women-led engineering innovations to transform them into successful startup ventures. If you are a Nigerian female with a great engineering idea and passion for creating practical real-life solutions, then this program is your ticket to leadership, impact, and business success.

Successful applicants will be provided with;

• Capital investment to turn your engineering innovation into a working product or thriving business.

• Personal advisory from seasoned experts in engineering and business, with practical counsel and strategic guidance.

• Hands-on training aimed at enhancing your leadership and technical skills.

• Exposure to influential industry leaders, prospective investors, and a supportive peer community of fellow innovators.

• A chance to be among a movement that could possibly encourage young girls throughout Nigeria to pursue careers in STEM and engineering.

Deadline: July 31st, 2025 

Lagos State SME Export Acceleration Program: Go Global with Your Business!

Unleash World-Class Export Training, Mentoring, and a Place at IATF 2025 for Lagos-Based SMEs!

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has come your way for ambitious women entrepreneurs running Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Lagos State. Applications are now open for the Lagos State SME Export Accelerator Programme, an all-inclusive capacity development programme to empower businesses like yours to thrive in cross-border trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). In partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and specifically ImpactHER, this programme will equip Lagos SMEs with the necessary knowledge, skills, and networks to take businesses international.

Accepted participants in this well-regarded accelerator shall be exposed to;

• World-Class Export Readiness Training: Comprehensive training on the nitty-gritty of international trade.

• Expert Business Mentorship: Individual mentorship by professionals with experience to address export challenges.

• Trade Advisory & Simulations: Guided working and simulated real-time negotiations to prepare for real-life situations.

• B2B & B2G Matchmaking: Carefully selected meeting opportunities with prospective business partners and government institutions across international borders.

• Site Visits to Export Hubs: Practical experience in operational export hubs.

• Live Pitching Sessions: A chance to pitch your business directly to investors.

• Sponsored Exhibition at IATF 2025: A highly coveted opportunity to showcase your products/services at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025, a top-ranked continental trade conference.

Deadline: June 20th, 2025

ICYMI

• Ranking The World’s Top Venture Capitalists In 2025 - Forbes

• 20 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Turn Rejection Into Growth - Forbes

• How I Turned AI Into a Teammate, Not Just a Tool — and How You Can, Too - Entrepreneur

• 7 habits of disciplined people that gets them success easily - India Today

• People With High Emotional Intelligence Use 5 Short Phrases to Become Exceptional Leaders - INC

• Microsoft Offers Free Virtual Internship—Here’s How to Apply!

• TCS Virtual Internship 2025 - Tata Consultancy Services

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