Hello Innovators! 👋

Precious here from SASIE, your partner in tech entrepreneurship.

HEADLINE: Are You Ready to Claim Your Space?

Happy Monday! We are officially into the third week of January, and the "Big Money" starts to move. This week, we are not just talking about grants; we are talking about a commitment of €54.8 million to women entrepreneurs in Africa.

Whether you're growing a tech company, launching a climate project, or creating a creative hub, this list of opportunities is for women who refuse to play small. It is your week, no, your chance at “moving from planning to application”, and we will make that happen.

ClimaFii Alliance 2026: Climate & Finance Innovations

The ClimaFii Alliance is an international effort led by the Shell Foundation and Accion. It aims to fill the "missing middle" void by working with early-stage startups that can provide micro-entrepreneurs with clean energy and electrification mobility services. It is an intensive support and venture-building solution involving capital and knowledge inputs in order to develop climate-smart enterprises in Africa and India.

WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE

• Catalytic Capital: Equity-free investments from $45,000 to $70,000 in order to validate models and reduce risks in operations.

• Venture Building: Technical help with unit economics, pricing, and go-to-market.

• End-User Finance TA: Assistance in developing Asset Finance or Embedded Finance solutions for targeting end-users.

• Investor Network: Access to equity and debt markets for subsequent funding rounds.

• Gender Incentives: Additional flexibility for businesses with strong outcomes on women micro-enterprises.

Who Can Apply?

• Sectors: Clean Energy (Solar, Biofuel), Electric Mobility (2-3 wheelers, battery swapping), Agri-Processing (Solar mills/dryers), and Circular

• Location: Must be registered and operating in Sub-Saharan Africa or India.

• Stage: Early stage, ranging from Pre-seed to Post-seed, with Minimum Viable Product Developed & Already Launched.

• Impact: Must possess the potential to acquire a minimum of 2,000 micro-enterpreneurs

Deadline: January 16, 2026 (Urgent)

2026 Top 25 Women of Influence+ Award Winners

"The Top 25 Women of Influence+ Awards" is an award program in Canada that recognizes the contributions of influential women who bring about impactful changes in society. This award goes to individuals who have overcome barriers on an international stage, led grassroots campaigns with inclusivity, or used their influence to initiate important conversations for the benefit of others.

• Prestigious Recognition: To be considered one of the most influential women of the year in Canada.

• Global Visibility: Featured profile and coverage through the Women of Influence+ network.

• Networking: The opportunity to connect with the ‘best and brightest’ women leaders and role models.

• Awards Celebration: An invitation to the Awards Celebration Luncheon in Toronto (April 2026).

Who Can Apply?

• Target: Women who have shown outstanding initiative, inspiration, influence, and purpose-driven leadership.

• Nomination: Both self-nomination and nomination of others for awards are allowed.

• Theme: Primarily focuses on women in the Canadian environment and those with significant influence within the Canadian setting.

 Deadline: January 16, 2026

GROWTH 4 ZAMBIA Small Businesses Grants

Growth 4 Zambia is a social business that aims to be a catalyst for business growth in Zambia. Growth 4 Zambia provides funding, in addition to technical knowledge, for small business enterprises or business ideas that are READY TO GROW into the next phase of life. It mainly targets business ideas that seek to provide jobs within the community. These business ideas should also focus on creating wealth within the community or making a good impact within society.

What You'll Receive

• Direct Capital: Offering financial assistance to small businesses to expand them.

• Expertise and Mentorship: Expertise and mentorship related to business to develop business models.

• Community Impact: Chances of contributing to the social fabric and sustainable development of Zambia.

• Multi-Year Support: The project is initiated in 2023 and targets contributing capital support within a period of three years.

The Awesome Foundation: Micro-Grants Every Month

The Awesome Foundation has been set up to support the interests of the "awesome" in the universe. They issue small grants to individuals with bright ideas or ideas that can benefit the community. They run on the principle of self-organized groups, which give awards to creatives to bring their ideas to life. They award the amount every month.

What You’ll Receive

• $1,000 Cash Grant: This is an “inklust-attached” cash grant to finance your project

• Full Ownership: The incubator does not take any equity or ownership in your idea. Your idea is yours.

• Global Network: Access to the global network of "micro-trustees" and other creatives.

• Simplicity: A simple and direct application process designed for individuals or small collections of people.

Who Can Apply?

• Individuals & Groups: Anyone with a “crazy brilliant” idea can apply.

• Project Types: The project ideas encompass arts and technology, community service, and climate-related initiatives.

Deadline: Ongoing (Monthly)

Madame C.J. Walker Entrepreneurship Award (UCLA)

This award, presented by the UCLA Afrikan Student Union (ASU), was established to honor the tradition and legacy left behind by Madame C. J. Walker—someone who invested in and contributed to the future economic success of Afrikan communities. This award assists Afrikan students or recent Afrikan UCLA alumni who are active in starting or scaling a startup for the benefit of Afrikan communities worldwide.

What You’ll Receive

• Financial Award: Up to $5,000 each to five selected recipients to fund a startup.

• Skill Development: Chances for improvement in entrepreneurial skills and expansion of professional networks.

• Networking: “Access to a growing network of socially conscious black founders and alumni.”

• Legacy Building: Be involved in an ecosystem of like-minded individuals who share the passion for sustainable Black economic empowerment.

Who Can Apply?

• UCLA Affiliation: Current undergraduates and/or graduate students, and/or recent UCLA undergraduates/graduates within the past 2 years.

• Teams: Startup teams with at least 50% of founding members satisfying UCLA affiliation requirements.

• Startup Phase: Early to mid-stage startups with an established business model validated by customer validation.

• Focus: Ventures that impact the Black community within the realms of Technology, Health, Education, Arts, and/or Economic empowerment.

Deadline: January 30, 2026

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• Virtual Assistant: (Remote) - Kuubiik

• Accountant (Mid-Level) - UK-based Accounting Consulting Firm (Remote)

• Share the wealth! Do you know another 'No Ordinary Woman' in need of a ₦100M fund or a $5,000 grant? Share this mail with her! I'll share my '2026 Grant Application Checklist' with you as my special thank you for adding to the growth of our community, if you share this email with 3 friends

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