Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF) Application

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST invites applications from Scholars and Scholar Alumni within the Scholars Community at KNUST for the Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF).  

What is the Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund?

The Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund is an initiative by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to support scholars in their transformative leadership exercise. This initiative provides support for scholars who have;

1. Demonstrable entrepreneurship qualities
2. Promising social ventures or community projects geared towards community change while creating economic opportunities for themselves and others.

About SEF

SEF Support

The support offered by the SEF includes the following;

1. Training Workshops
2. Business Advisory Services
3. Admission into the Kumasi Business Incubator
4. Networking opportunities with businesses in the sector
5. Mentorship by experts in the sector
6. Grant (In-cash/ In-kind)

The SEF Process

1. Call for Application
2. Screening
3. Pitching Session
4. Award of Funds
5. Training Program and Mentorship
6. Project Execution
7. Periodic Reporting and M&E (Including site visits)
8. Exit Strategy

 Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicant must be a scholar/ scholar alumnus of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST
2. Applicant must have a track record for undertaking community initiatives.
3. The business, invention, or social project can be in any field or industry (agriculture, manufacturing, science and technology, civil society, arts and culture, sports, etc.). All kinds of ventures are welcomed for consideration.
4. For Group projects, scholar(s) who apply must be one of the founding members of the business (where there are 2 or 3 co-founders who started the business together). Additionally, the scholar must be the lead or one of the leads of the project.
5. The project must have the potential to be expanded (scalable)
6. The project must be a legal venture.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria would include the under-listed.

1. Market Availability
2. Technical Feasibility
3. Degree of Innovation and Creativity
4. Sustainability
5. Employment Creation
6. Teamwork

How to Apply

Download and complete the form below

Submit the completed forms and all relevant documents to the MCFSP at KNUST Secretariat at the Impact Building or send via email to sec.mcf@knust.edu.gh with the focal person in copy – snash.mcf@knust.edu.gh.