Seed funding
What business can you start in your country with $500?
FOUND Digital Officers train for free, build a real venture and pitch it to the community. Winning pitches receive $500 in seed funding to get started.
- Free to join — no fees at any stage
- Structured training before you pitch, so your idea is investable
- Pitch live and get funded by the FOUND community pool
- Open to applicants aged 16+ across our listed countries
- Seed funding per winning pitch
- $500
- Training and mentoring
- Free
- Minimum age
- 16+
- Countries open now
- 5
Seed funding per winning pitch
Training and mentoring
Minimum age
Countries open now
What you get
Shape the idea
Work your concept into a business you can actually run locally, with real costs and customers.
Build and test
Use your training to launch a first version and gather proof that people will pay.
Pitch to the community
Present at a FOUND pitch session and let officers and partners back your venture.
Receive $500
Funded pitches receive $500 in seed capital plus ongoing support from the network.
Free to apply. Open across Africa.
From idea to funded
Seed funding is earned, not gifted. Here is the path every officer follows.
Shape the idea
Work your concept into a business you can actually run locally, with real costs and customers.
Build and test
Use your training to launch a first version and gather proof that people will pay.
Pitch to the community
Present at a FOUND pitch session and let officers and partners back your venture.
Receive $500
Funded pitches receive $500 in seed capital plus ongoing support from the network.
Questions
- Do I need a registered business to apply?
- No. Most officers arrive with only an idea. The programme helps you shape it into something fundable.
- Is the $500 a loan?
- No. It is seed funding from the FOUND community pool awarded to selected pitches. There is nothing to repay.
- How many pitches get funded?
- Funding is awarded on a rolling basis as the community pool grows. Every officer can pitch as often as they like.
- What does it cost to take part?
- Nothing. Applying, training and pitching are all free.
Ready to start?
One short form. No fees, no experience needed.