Village Capital Financial Solutions for Migrants Accelerator Programme 2023

The Village Capital Financial Solutions for Migrants Accelerator Programme 2023 is now accepting applications. Aiming to enhance the financial inclusion of immigrants, especially women immigrants, this accelerator supports impact-driven entrepreneurs that are creating innovative solutions.

The program’s objectives include providing training in investment readiness, enhancing product and service fit with the needs of women migrants, and maturing early-stage companies in MENA, South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The programme will:

• Define: Develop and refine an in-depth, contextualized understanding of financial inclusion
  challenges for migrant and particularly migrant women across Africa, the Middle East and
  South Asia. Results will be shared in a public-facing report;
• Accelerate: Identify and scale 30+ startups addressing those challenges through a
  combination of intensive in-person and virtual investment readiness training and platformbased long-term support. The acceleration will contribute to improving the ability of the
  products and services represented to fit the needs of migrant women; and
• Convene: Build and develop partnerships that drive broad awareness of the challenges and
  opportunities in this space, catalyzing investment, storytelling, and other essential support
  for these solutions.

Benefits:

• Opportunities to network and receive mentorship from investors, strategic partners, founders, and business leaders.
• Build deep connections with other founders in your track and our larger Village Capital
  investor and alumni network. Participate in mock board meetings with representatives from
  relevant institutions, corporates, and investors that can help their organization scale.
• Interactive workshop weeks tailored to help their company identify early milestones and
  prepare them for their next round of capital (if relevant). All selected companies will receive
  post-programme support from the Village Capital team
• One-on-one coaching with an investment analyst focused on building a financial model,
  identifying unit economics, and on using financial metrics to drive both their business and
  investor diligence.
• Exposure on Village Capital’s program website and other communications collateral.
  All selected companies will be screened for eligibility to receive funding from the ImpactLinked Fund for Gender-Inclusive Fintech.

Eligibility:

• Legal incorporation as a for-profit entity in an Sub-Saharan African / MENAT / South &
  Southeast Asian country;
• Market-based solution that tackles the listed challenges;
• Have at least a minimum viable product (MVP) and some traction under their belt.
  Relaxation may be made for products in development if value proposition showcased is
  considered strong;
• Have meaningful customer or business validation (not limited to revenue, can also be
  successful pilot studies, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships);
• Companies with founders of diverse backgrounds and products with a focus on women
  migrant consumers will be preferred.

Click here to apply