Opportunities
Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.
Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.
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Varies ($50K–$5M+ depending on instrument)
The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and its affiliates — including the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM), Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), and Tourism Promotion Services (TPS) — promote private-sector development across Africa and Asia. AKFED operates 70+ project companies employing over 60,000 people, investing in banking, energy, agriculture, hospitality, aviation, media, and telecommunications. AKAM provides financial services to over 50 million people. AKDN's annual non-profit development budget exceeds $925 million.
Microfinance and credit facilities through AKAM
Equity investment and debt financing through AKFED
Technical assistance and capacity building
Access to AKDN's global network of enterprises and partners
Peer learning and knowledge sharing across AKDN project companies
Financial Inclusion
Agriculture
Energy
Tourism
Manufacturing
Media
Telecommunications
Small and medium enterprises in AKDN service areas with clear social impact, operating in sectors like agriculture, energy, financial services, or manufacturing. Emphasis on enterprises that create jobs and improve quality of life in underserved communities.
Reporting support, capacity building, peer learning network, access to AKDN's global infrastructure of enterprises, technical assistance through AKDN agencies.
Website URL changed from akdn.org to the.akdn. Not a direct startup grant program — primarily institutional economic development through project companies and microfinance. Review specific agency (AKFED vs AKAM) for relevant instrument.
AKDN's field presence is its biggest asset — local offices in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar) are the real entry point, not the website. Building relationships with AKDN country teams and attending AKDN events is the best pathway. The network values long-term partnerships over one-off grants.
1957
Active Since
Yes
Deploying
AKFED operates project companies across Africa including banks (Diamond Trust Bank, Habib Bank), hotels (Serena Hotels chain), media (Nation Media Group in Kenya), telecommunications, and agro-processing. Over 70 project companies globally.