ELISA Business Scholars Training Session

 2025 ELISA Scholars Call for Applicants
18-21 NOV 2025 | HWANGE, ZIMBABWE

  • The 3-day business experience brings together a cohort of high potential founders of Africa focused startups and entrepreneurs or leaders with bold business ideas.

  • Each scholar is assigned a business leader as their coach for the one-year ELISA Scholars program. With their coaches, scholars attend an immersive training session led by business experts and industry leaders to advance their ideas, refine their business strategy, and create jobs.

  • ELISA Scholars are trained to manage business financials, develop an investor presentation and elevator pitch. After the training session, ELISA Scholars continue to meet virtually with their coaches once a month for a year to ensure continued refinement and implementation of a business plan. They stay connected using the online ELISA portal.

1 DEC 2024

Start of the call for applicants for the 2025 cohort of Scholars


31 JUL 2025

Application deadline
and Scholar selection period begins


15 SEPT 2025

final selection & notifications sent to the 2025 cohort


18 - 21 NOV 2025

Scholars & Coaches attend the 2025 ELISA Scholars Training Session

Who may apply
We welcome applicants of any age, sector or gender from anywhere in the world. Your business, project or idea must have a focus on Africa or operate in Africa.

How are ELISA Scholars selected?
Scholar selection for each cohort is carried out by a committee of representatives designated by the ELISA Advisory Council.

Applicants are scored using a rubric based on predetermined criteria. The final scores are used to determine Scholar selection. An interview is arranged with each of the top scoring candidates before scholarships are awarded.

Successful applicants receive:

  • 2-day training session and conference materials
  • One year of mentoring from a business coach
  • Conference accommodations and meals
  • Flights booked for you or travel costs reimbursed
  • Access to business leaders & the ELISA Business Summit
  • Lifetime membership to the ELISA business network and virtual events
  • Unlimited access to entrepreneurial content

Need more info about the event?
Visit the attendee info page here: elisanetwork.com/attend/

Be part of something bigger
ELISA is an initiative of ICPD, the International Center for Professional Development, a 501c3 non-profit organization based in the United States. The aim of the ELISA Scholars program is to embolden Africa focused entrepreneurs and leaders to advance their ideas and create jobs on the continent.

have a question?
For more information email us: scholars@icpdprograms.org

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