Who Can Participate
A key principle of the programme is providing benefits for the wider African business community. All businesses, regardless of their experience and field, can expect added value from participating in the programme.
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Eligibility criteria to enter the program.
Angola, Namibia, Botswana,Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Swaziland, Kenya, DRC
You can participate in the programme as a new entrepreneur as long as your business activities are in their early stages.
This includes:
• "Would-be" entrepreneurs, who are firmly planning to start a business based on a viable business plan;
• Entrepreneurs who have started their own business within the last 3 years.
The business can be in any sector.
As a prospective new entrepreneur, you must also meet the following criteria:
• Be a permanent resident in one of the listed African countries;
• Have a concrete project or business idea, reflected in a business plan;
• Clearly demonstrate your motivation and commitment to engage in a working relationship with an experienced entrepreneur from USA;
• Be prepared to contribute to the development of the host entrepreneur's business and make available your skills and competences;
• Be ready to raise additional funds to cover the costs of the stay abroad if these exceed the Provided Funding.
• Be ready to pay a minimum fee for your application form.
Lifelong benefits for YEP entrepreneurs
Angola, Namibia, Botswana,Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Swaziland, Kenya, DRC
Active participation in the IBA Young Entrepreneurs programme offers aspiring new entrepreneurs the chance to experience a wide range of benefits:
• Up to six weeks stay with a successful and experienced entrepreneur in USA to gain relevant business start-up knowledge in a wide range of areas such as marketing, financial accounting, customer relations, business finance etc. ;
• Practical and financial assistance such as issuing contracts, induction courses before the exchange, logistical and local support during the stay, and a grant covering the travel and subsistence costs during the stay abroad;
• Membership of an international business Academy network of successful entrepreneurs;
• Possible opportunities for collaboration and the development of cross-border business co-operation;
• Insights into different cultural and organisational settings and how companies function in different countries;
• Improved language skills;
• Understanding the regulatory framework in another country.
