The ScaleUp Agribusiness Accelerator Programme targets outstanding Nigerian agribusiness entrepreneurs (Founders, CEOs and Owner-managers) whose businesses are currently at growth stage and who are looking to scale their business expand their market reach and attract potential investors and strategic partners.
The programme will run for a duration is 6 months and includes a one-week accelerator bootcamp, interactive workshops, consulting sessions, business support services, one-on-one and group mentoring sessions with a team of seasoned sector faculty members and advisors.
The Agribusiness Accelerator Programme is implemented by ScaleUp Lab, FATE Foundation and supported by African Capital Alliance (ACA) Foundation.
COURSE FEATURES
Bootcamp: 1 Week
Workshops: 30
Duration: 6 Months
Skill Level: Growth-scale stage
Language: English
Class size: 20
Certificate: Yes
Structure:
Interactive Learning, Workshops, Group Case Studies, gamification, Advisory, and Business Pitch
Key focus areas:
- Product and process improvement
- Agribusiness value chains
- Cashflow management
- Accessing funding and financing opportunities
- Export opportunities
- Scaling your agribusiness
- Leveraging technology
Start of Programme:The Agribusiness Accelerator Programme will commence with a virtual induction and intensive one-week accelerator boot camp. This will be followed by a detailed GAP Analysis to help each entrepreneur develop an individual growth plan and tailored roadmap that addresses the growth needs of the business to scale.
Programme Sessions: The sessions are designed for capacity building through workshop and coaching sessions, peer learning and feedback, one-to-one mentoring and individual growth support for each participating entrepreneur and business. Entrepreneurs will have opportunities to meet and interact with several entities including agribusiness experts, experienced entrepreneurs, senior level professionals, advisors, mentors, partners and investors. Finally, a Demo Day will be held at the end of the accelerator programme which will provide a platform for the entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative agribusiness solutions and pitch to key funding partners.
End of Programme: The programme will close out with the official graduation and presentation of certificates at the FATE Annual Celebration on Thursday, December 3rd, 2020.
Application opened on Friday, March 13, 2020 and closes at 11:59 midnight WAT on Sunday, May 30, 2020.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicant must
- Be a Nigerian citizen (male or female).
- Be between ages 21-45 as at April 10th, 2020.
- Be Founder,Owner manager or CEO of a growth stage agribusiness venture. (Only one applicant per business will be accepted).
- Be operating a CAC registered agribusiness ventureat growth stage, currently in operation and generating income.
- Have minimum annual turnover of Fifteen Million Naira (₦15,000,000) only.
- Have minimum three (3) full-time highly skilled staff in managerial capacity (excluding part-time staff and low/semi-skilled staff).
- Available to participate FULL-TIME in the one-week virtual boot camp and ALL other activities required throughout the duration of the programme.
- Able to attend all classes and participate in all activities of the programme virtually.
Programme Flow
- Call for Application
- Shortlisting & Enrolment of 20 Agribusiness Entrepreneurs
- Agribusiness Boot camp
- Gap Assessment:
- Product/Service Development & Sustainability
- Business & Operating Model
- Access to Market
- Financial Management
- Develop Growth Plan of Individual Participants
- Implementation of Accelerator Support in line with Growth Plan
- Demo Day & Business Pitch Competition
- Graduation of Fellows
When can I apply?
Application opened on Friday, March 13, 2020 and closes at 11:59 pm WAT on Sunday, May 30, 2020. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Be a Nigerian citizen (male or female)
- Be between ages 21-45 as at April 10th, 2020.
- Be Founder,Owner manager or CEO of a growth stage agribusiness venture. (Only one applicant per business will be accepted)
- Be operating a CAC registered agribusiness ventureat growth stage, currently in operation and generating income.
- Have minimum annual turnover of Fifteen Million Naira (₦15,000,000) only.
- Have minimum three (3) full-time highly skilled staff in managerial capacity (excluding part-time staff and low/semi-skilled staff)
- Available to participate FULL-TIME in the one-week boot camp in Lagos between (Monday, June 22, 2020 – Friday, June 26, 2020) and ALL other activities required throughout the duration of the programme from Wednesday, July8, 2019 – Saturday, September 5, 2020.
- Able to cover all personal, transportation or communication costs.
- Available to participate FULL-TIME in the one-week boot camp and ALL other activities required throughout the duration of the programme.
- Able to attend all classes and participate in all activities of the programme virtually.
Can I apply even if my business is not based in Lagos?
Yes, all eligible applications will be accepted and evaluated regardless of your location within Nigeria. Finalists will be selected based on merit.
Are Foundations, Non-profits or NGOs eligible?
The programme supports only for-profit and social-enterprise agribusinesses.
Is there a fee to participate?
There is no fee to apply or participate in the Agribusiness Accelerator Programme.
If I have two agribusinesses, can I apply with both?
Only one application will be accepted per person, so we advise that you present your stronger business.
Can I apply if my business is not within the agribusiness sector?
Only businesses in the Agribusiness value chain (Input supply, crop/animal production, processing, packaging, logistics & distribution, trading & retailing, etc.) are eligible to apply.
Can I apply even if my business is not registered?
Unfortunately, we will only consider registered businesses and we will request for a copy of your CAC certificate if shortlisted.
If I became 46 years old in April 2020, am I eligible?
No, only applicants who are 45 years old as at April 10th, 2020 are eligible to apply.
Is my company eligible if I founded it with someone else?
Yes, your company is eligible but only one participant per business will be accepted into the programme.
How do I know that my application has been received?
You will get a confirmation email upon successful application. Candidates who are shortlisted for the next stage will be contacted via email.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
What do I need for my application?
- Complete the online form
- Be prepared and available for your interview session (physically or virtually)
- You will be required to present supporting documents if shortlisted.
Can I make changes in my application after I have submitted it or can I do a fresh application instead?
No, once you have submitted it is final and you will not be able edit the application. Also, multiple entries will be disqualified. So we encourage you to verify your application carefully before submitting.
How will I know if my application is accepted for participation in the programme?
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email.
Will applicants receive personal feedback about their application?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide personalised feedback on your application.
Where should I send my questions?
If you have any questions that were not included in this section, please email [email protected] with the subject line “Agribusiness Accelerator Enquiry”, or call 0813-187-8271.
2019 Faculty
African Farmer Mogaji, Owner, X-Ray Farms Consulting, Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI (Agribusiness) & Course Director, ScaleUp Agribusiness 2019
Wendy Emesie, Administrator, African Capital Alliance (ACA) Foundation
Edobong Akpabio, Chief Marketing Officer, Organic Green Animalia Farms
Olusegun Alimi, SCALE Lead, FATE Foundation
Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director, FATE Foundation
Bayo Adeyemi, Principal, Absa Capital
RonkeAkinluyi, Senior Manager, Business Development, Bank of Industry
Sadiq Usman, Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc. & Deputy COO, Agro-Allied
TaiwoOyaniran, Associate Director, PwC Nigeria
DejiAdebusoye, Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Limited
Richard Ogundele, Founder/CEO, JMSF Agribusiness Nigeria
Kayode Oyewole, Head, Investment and Portfolio Support, Ventures Platform
Olumide Lawson, Partner, Sahel Capital Agribusiness Managers Limited
Ayo Olajiga, CEO, FoodPro Limited
Tosin Oni, Principal, Echo VC Partners
Ruth David, Partnerships Coordinator, WAVE Academy
Tolu Adesalu, Manager Sourcing -North, South & West Africa
Sadiq Usman, Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc. & Deputy COO, Agro-Allied
IkennaNwosu, Nigeria Stock Exchange
Pradeep Pahalwani, Founder & MD, Securisk Ltd.
Femi Alabi, Partner, EY Nigeria
Elias Abdelahad, General Manager, Premium Cassava Products Limited
LanreOlapoju, Associate Director, KPMG Nigeria
Usman Imanah, Corporate Communications Manager, Stanbic IBTC
Marian Olaiya, Principal, Marian’ FunmiOguntona& Co
TinuolaIpadeola, Head, Corporate Services & Development, MainOne
Ayodeji Balogun, Regional Director, Africa Exchange Holdings Limited
Kola Adeniji, Group Managing Director, Niji Group
FataiOlayemi, Lead, Growth Support Services, FATE Foundation
UwaOsa-Oboh, Head, Corporate Development, African Capital Alliance
Kunle Amida, Deals Advisory, PwC
2020 Faculty
Our 2020 Faculty comprises experienced facilitators, advisors and mentors who are accomplished business owners and senior level professionals andare passionate about positioning agribusinesses to scale. Details will be provided soon.