Tony Elumelu Foundation 2025 Grant – $5,000 for African Startups + What to Learn From This Year’s Winners

Tony Elumelu Foundation 2025 Grant – $5,000 for African Startups

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) continues to drive entrepreneurship across Africa with its 2025 grant program. This year, 3,000 African entrepreneurs were selected, each receiving $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, 12 weeks of business training, and mentorship from global experts.

For Nigerian founders, this is one of the most impactful grants available – and a blueprint for success in future application cycles.

2025 TEF Grant – Program Overview

Feature	Details
Grant	$5,000 non-repayable seed capital
Training	12-week business management and digital skills course
Eligibility	African citizens with early-stage businesses (0–5 years old)
Application Portal	TEFConnect
2025 Cohort Announced	March 22, 2025

Lessons From 2025 Cohort – How They Got Selected

Thousands apply, but only a few get picked. What set the winners apart?

Well-Defined Business Idea
Winners had businesses with clear goals, scalability, and real social or economic impact.

Early Registration
Most successful applicants registered their businesses early and uploaded complete CAC documents.

Impact-Driven Fields
Fields like agriculture, education, health, green energy, and tech saw more selections.

Compelling Pitch
Applicants wrote strong value propositions in their business summary.

Who Can Apply for TEF 2026?

Applications for the next cycle will likely open in January 2026. You can apply if you:

Are 18 years or older
Have a viable business idea or registered business under 5 years old
Are based in Nigeria or any African country
Can complete the training modules online

Start preparing by signing up on www.tefconnect.net

Success Stories from Nigeria (2025 Cohort)

Blessing O. (Lagos) – Founder of an agritech startup using AI to optimize crop yield.
Yusuf A. (Kano) – Built a mobile logistics platform for rural traders.
Esther M. (Abuja) – Launched a solar-powered cold storage unit for fish vendors.

All winners credit TEF for transforming their ideas into real businesses.