Hello Innovators! 👋

Precious here from SASIE, your partner in tech entrepreneurship.

Happy Monday! I hope you are as excited to begin the week with plenty of energy and eagerness. Today, we have a power-packed set of grants, contests, and programs to drive your entrepreneurial journey forward, whether you're creating a technology startup, leading an engineering innovation, or aiming for global recognition.

We have it all from the crème de la crème AWIEF Awards recognizing top African women entrepreneurs, to a substantial Access Bank lending facility for Nigerian women-owned MSMEs to the Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge for social impact-driven ventures.

Let us set out and ensure that this week counts towards our business ambitions and the future of African business!

• WIA Young Leaders 2025: Funded Programme to Empower Women African Leaders Worldwide!

• AWIEF Awards 2025: Honoring Africa's Trailblazing Women Entrepreneurs!

• Access Bank Nigeria: $30 Million Women-Owned MSMEs Support Now Fully Funded!

• Pitch2Win 5 Competition 2025: Your Nigerian Startup's Gateway to Win $10,000 & Meet Global Investors!

• Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2025: Spark Your Impactful Business!

WIA Young Leaders 2025: Funded Programme to Empower Women African Leaders Worldwide!

Unleash Master Training, International Mentorship, and a Business Trip to Paris to Increase Your Influence!

The Women in Africa (WIA) Young Leaders Programme 2025 is now accepting applications for its fully funded initiative, aimed at empowering and supporting exceptional women who are building an innovative, inclusive, and dynamic Africa. If you are a young African woman with a passion for leadership and a desire to change lives, this programme presents a unique chance to receive world-class training, mentorship from global leaders, and high-level international exposure that could be a game changer for your career and entrepreneurial path.

Successful Applicants will gain;

• Personalized Training Program: Leadership skills development, including training on the board, media training, career coaching, and tailored women's leadership training.

• Global Leader Mentorship: Each of the winners will be matched with an international high-profile mentor for personal mentorship.

• High-Level Networking: Exclusive access to CEOs, ministers, journalists, public figures, successful entrepreneurs, and global entrepreneurs across the globe.

• Important Visibility: Greater visibility of your work and profile through WIA's expansive communication network and media features.

• Global Learning Expedition: Exquisite business travel to an elite global economic capital (Paris reserved for Q3/Q4 2025), with comprehensive learning, workshops, and high-level meetings.

Deadline: June 19, 2025

AWIEF Awards 2025: Honoring Africa's Trailblazing Women Entrepreneurs!

Get Pan-African Acclaim and Commend Your Success at Africa's Best Entrepreneurship Awards!

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Awards 2025 have now opened nominations, inviting you to share your successes and be celebrated for your invaluable contributions to Africa's economic growth and sustainable development diversely and inclusively. If you're a successful businesswoman entrepreneur with tremendous vision, leadership, innovation, and business skills, this is your moment to get pan-African recognition and inspire a new generation.

Category-Specific Leaders: Nominations are invited in eight diverse categories to honour entrepreneurial excellence across a wide range:

• Young Entrepreneur Award

• Tech Entrepreneur Award

• Agri Entrepreneur Award

• Creative Industry Award

• Empowerment Award

• Energy Entrepreneur Award

• Social Entrepreneur Award

• Lifetime Achievement Award

Recognition by way of the AWIEF Awards brings rich rewards:

• Top woman entrepreneur recognition on a continental stage.

• Recognition at a red-carpet awards gala and dinner at the AWIEF2025 Conference in Cape Town, along with key stakeholders, investors, and media.

• A robust platform to elevate your profile, expand your influence, and unlock new opportunities.

• The chance to inspire many other African girls and women to be entrepreneurs.

• Chances to meet with a reputable network of colleagues, industry experts, and potential collaborators during the awards dinner and conference.

Deadline: June 17, 2025

Access Bank Nigeria: $30 Million Women-Owned MSMEs Support Now Fully Funded!

Access Access to Crucial Finance from Access Bank's $100M Facility to propel Your Nigerian Business Success!

An excellent opportunity for Nigerian women business owners to advance their businesses and overcome funding hurdles has finally arrived. Access Bank Nigeria has unveiled a remarkable $100 million loan programme for 2025, a substantial portion of which – an astonishing $30 million – is entirely devoted to women-owned enterprises! This pioneering financial support, aligned with the global 2X Challenge goal of economic empowerment for women, directly addresses the urgent need for solid funding among Nigerian businesswomen.

It’s benefits;

• Direct Access to Funds: The funds are delivered directly through accurate bank transfers, with transparency and efficacy guaranteed.

• Large loan sizes: Provision of loans as large as N100 million, with uncollateralized loan possibility of up to N10 million as an option for the W Power Loan variant.

• Flexible Financing: Repayment tenors for working capital, asset acquisition, and expansion needs are all flexible for up to 36 months.

• Competitive Interest Rates: The funding will be at competitive rates, which is a major issue for MSMEs.

• Leveraging the "W-Initiative": Beneficiaries are enrolled into Access Bank's larger "W-Initiative" ecosystem that has already empowered over one million women-owned businesses through a variety of support mechanisms.

Pitch2Win 5 Competition 2025: Your Startup's Gateway to Win $10,000 & Meet Global Investors!

Avail Equity-Free Capital, Expert Mentorship, and Live Pitch opportunities before Leading VCs in Lagos!

An exciting opportunity has arrived for early-stage women founders and technology entrepreneurs from all over Nigeria! The Pitch2Win 5 Competition 2025 hosted by TechCircle is open for application, giving your technology-led or technology-enabled business a world-class platform to compete for $10,000 of equity-free funding and enjoy unparalleled access to over 30 local and global venture capitalists. If you are an African female founder building for the Nigerian market with an already operational product, then this is your chance to accelerate your growth and meet serious investors.

Pitch2Win 5 offers genuine benefits:

• The winning startup will receive a turning point $10,000 in equity-free funding to fuel their growth.

• Finalists get to pitch to a room full of over 30 international and local VCs actively looking to invest in Africa's next big deals.

• The top 30 participants will benefit from advice and mentorship from experienced industry leaders.

• Chances to connect with a diverse network of investors, members of the ecosystem, and fellow high-potential founders.

• Improved visibility for your startup, creating brand recognition and attracting potential partners..

Deadline: June 15, 2025

Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2025: Spark Your Impactful Business!

Win Up to $15,000 in Grants and Advance Your Social or Environmental Solution to the Next Level!

The Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2025 is now open for applications, inviting creative 18-30-year-olds to showcase their early-stage ideas, projects, or live social enterprises from around the globe that solve pressing social and environmental issues. If you're an emerging or established woman entrepreneur with a passion for impact and a solution that solves the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this challenge offers critical grant funding and unparalleled support.

Competitors have access to valuable resources:

• Grant Funding: Multiple grant awards between $3,000 and $15,000 that provide valuable capital to develop or scale your social impact enterprise.

• Learning & Development: Access to valuable learning materials to refine your project and entrepreneurial capabilities.

• Pitch Coaching: Pitch coaching will be offered to finalists to help them pitch with confidence and attract further support.

• Year-Round Opportunities: Members are exposed to a system of year-round opportunities, including potential extra grants, paid work, and specialist training programs.

Deadline: August 29, 2025 Don’t miss out 🚀

ICYMI

• How To Network Like A Pro Without That ‘Icky’ Feeling: 20 Expert Tips - Forbes

• How to Get Your Team to Embrace Systems That Grow Your Business - INC

• Nigeria’s trust deficit is slowing down her innovation - Business of Tech Africa

• I've Been Studying Ultra-Successful Businesspeople for Over 30 Years. Here's What Truly Sets Them Apart. - Entrepreneur

• How To Secure Funding For Your Startup?- My OpportunityGist

• Microsoft Global University Internship 2025 - Apply 

•  Schlumberger Early Career Programme 2025

Thank you for your continued interest in our work. To partner with us on any of our reports or newsletter sponsorships, please reply to this email.

• Did you find our weekly insights helpful? Please help spread the word by forwarding them to a few friends or colleagues who could benefit.

• Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

• Contact us at [email protected] for partnerships or for an opportunity to have your brand associated with any of our newsletters. We can also jump on a call to understand your need(s).