Access to funding remains one of the biggest challenges for founders in Nigeria and across Africa. While venture capital and angel investors often get the spotlight, grants remain one of the most underutilised funding sources, especially for early-stage, impact-driven, and youth-led businesses.
The truth is simple: many founders overlook grants because they assume they are too competitive, too complex, or only meant for NGOs. In reality, dozens of reputable organisations are actively looking to fund entrepreneurs solving real problems in health, education, agriculture, energy, technology, and social development.
Below are 22 legitimate grant opportunities many founders ignore—but shouldn’t.
1. D-Prize
Funding: $20,000 – $50,000
Who it’s for: Founders tackling poverty in health, energy, education, agriculture, and livelihoods
D-Prize supports entrepreneurs with proven solutions that can scale to reach people living in extreme poverty.
2. Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme
Funding: $5,000 seed capital + training + mentorship
Who it’s for: Early-stage African entrepreneurs
One of Africa’s most popular entrepreneurship programmes, offering capital, business training, and access to a powerful pan-African network.
3. Echoing Green Fellowship
Funding: $80,000 – $90,000 seed funding + mentorship
Who it’s for: Social impact founders worldwide (including Africa)
Ideal for founders building bold solutions with strong social impact.
4. GSMA Innovation Fund
Funding: Up to €250,000 (equity-free)
Who it’s for: Startups using mobile or digital technology for impact
Focuses on fintech, climate tech, agri-tech, and digital inclusion.
5. Anzisha Prize
Funding: $2,000 – $15,000
Who it’s for: Young African founders aged 15–22
One of the few grants designed specifically for teenage and youth entrepreneurs in Africa.
6. Global Innovation Fund (GIF)
Funding: $50,000 to $15 million (grants, equity, or debt)
Who it’s for: Startups with scalable social impact
Supports innovations that improve lives in developing countries.
7. Innovating Justice Challenge (HiiL)
Funding: Up to €20,000 + acceleration support
Who it’s for: Justice, legal-tech, and governance startups in Africa
Perfect for founders rethinking access to justice and legal services.
8. Open Society Foundations (Africa)
Funding: Varies
Who it’s for: NGOs, grassroots organisations, and social enterprises
Supports civic tech, human rights, media freedom, and social justice initiatives.
9. Google for Startups Black Founders Fund (Africa)
Funding: $100,000 equity-free cash
Who it’s for: Black-led tech startups in Africa
Also includes mentorship and Google Cloud support.
10. Villgro Africa
Funding: Grants + incubation support
Who it’s for: Health and life science startups
Strong focus on affordable healthcare innovations.
11. Hivos – Voice Fund
Funding: €5,000 – €200,000
Who it’s for: Marginalised groups and social innovators
Supports inclusion, governance, and citizen engagement.
12. African Innovation Foundation – Innovation Prize for Africa
Funding: Up to $100,000 + global exposure
Who it’s for: Innovators in health, agriculture, energy, and ICT
Highly competitive but powerful for credibility and visibility.
13. UNDP YouthConnekt Africa
Funding: Grants, mentorship, and networking
Who it’s for: Young founders building scalable businesses
Operates across several African countries.
14. Stephen Lewis Foundation
Funding: Community-based grants
Who it’s for: Organisations fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa
Strong focus on grassroots and community-led initiatives.
15. Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK)
Funding: $300,000 over three years
Who it’s for: Early-stage social enterprises
Offers long-term support beyond just funding.
16. Orange Social Venture Prize (Africa & Middle East)
Funding: Up to €25,000
Who it’s for: Socially responsible startups
Focuses on digital solutions with measurable impact.
17. Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
Funding: Grant support + acceleration
Who it’s for: African EdTech startups
Ideal for founders improving access to quality education.
18. African Development Bank – Youth Entrepreneurship Fund
Funding: Small grants (varies)
Who it’s for: Youth-led businesses in Africa
Often overlooked due to limited publicity.
19. Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF)
Funding: Pilot grants
Who it’s for: Innovators in health, education, and WASH
Designed for testing and validating new ideas.
20. Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
Funding: Grant support
Who it’s for: Youth employment initiatives (mainly South Africa)
Targets job creation and employability solutions.
21. Brenthurst Foundation
Funding: Policy and research grants
Who it’s for: Organisations focused on governance and economic growth
More suitable for think tanks and research-backed initiatives.
22. UnLtd South Africa
Funding: Seed funding + mentorship
Who it’s for: Social entrepreneurs
Supports early-stage founders with hands-on guidance.
Final Thoughts: Why Founders Should Pay Attention to Grants
Grants are not “free money”—they are strategic capital for founders building solutions with real impact. Unlike loans or venture capital, grants often require no equity and no repayment, making them ideal for early validation and scaling.
If you are a Nigerian or African founder working in tech, agriculture, health, education, climate, or social innovation, there is likely a grant designed specifically for you—you just need to look beyond the obvious options.
At Naijapreneur, we believe access to the right information can change the trajectory of a business. Bookmark this list, track application deadlines, and start positioning your venture for opportunities many founders ignore.
