Origin and Vision
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) was established in 2010 by Nigerian investor and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu. In 2015, the Foundation launched its US$100 million Entrepreneurship Programme, with the aim of empowering 10,000 African entrepreneurs over ten years. It has since evolved into the continent’s largest philanthropic initiative supporting startups.
Programme Design
TEF offers a 12‑week digital training curriculum, structured mentorship, peer networking, exposure at the annual TEF Forum, access to TEFConnect, and non‑refundable seed capital of US$5,000 per entrepreneur. The programme emphasises business fundamentals—model, market, finance, operations—before seed disbursement.
Funding Model
Each selected entrepreneur receives US$5,000 in non‑refundable seed funding. TEF does not take equity in return. Additional funds are mobilised via partner programmes such as Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A) with the EU, and collaborations with Google.org.
Scale of Impact
By 2025, TEF reports more than 21,000 entrepreneurs funded, millions trained via TEFConnect, and over a million jobs created. Cumulative revenues across alumni exceed billions of US dollars. TEF is present in all 54 African countries.
Mental Health Initiatives
In 2020, TEF partnered with Yale University to deliver a webinar series addressing mental health for entrepreneurs, covering stress, anxiety, and self‑care. This marked an expansion of support to cover both business and personal resilience.
Annual TEF Forum
The TEF Entrepreneurship Forum is billed as the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs. It has hosted thousands of participants across Africa—Lagos (2017, 2018) and Abuja (2019). The forum showcases cohorts, connects entrepreneurs with investors, and brings together policymakers and ecosystem leaders.
Partnerships
TEF leverages partnerships with institutions like the EU, GIZ, Google.org, and others to expand grants, training, and reach, especially for women entrepreneurs and underserved regions.
Alumni Outcomes, Countries Reached & Application Guide
Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF): Alumni Outcomes, Coverage & How to Apply
Executive Summary
Since 2015, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has provided US$5,000 non‑refundable seed grants, mentorship and a structured 12‑week training to early‑stage African founders. As of March 2025, TEF reports over 21,000 entrepreneurs empowered, millions trained on TEFConnect, and billions of dollars in cumulative revenue across all 54 African countries.
Geographic Coverage
TEF says it reaches entrepreneurs in all 54 African countries. Below is the full list for reference:
| Country | Country | Country |
| Algeria | Angola | Benin |
| Botswana | Burkina Faso | Burundi |
| Cabo Verde | Cameroon | Central African Republic |
| Chad | Comoros | Congo (Republic) |
| Congo (Democratic Republic) | Cote d’Ivoire | Djibouti |
| Egypt | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea |
| Eswatini | Ethiopia | Gabon |
| Gambia | Ghana | Guinea |
| Guinea-Bissau | Kenya | Lesotho |
| Liberia | Libya | Madagascar |
| Malawi | Mali | Mauritania |
| Mauritius | Morocco | Mozambique |
| Namibia | Niger | Nigeria |
| Rwanda | Sao Tome and Principe | Senegal |
| Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Somalia |
| South Africa | South Sudan | Sudan |
| Tanzania | Togo | Tunisia |
| Uganda | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
Selected TEF Alumni: Seed, Traction & Current Status
NOTE: Company valuations/net worth are rarely disclosed for SMEs. Where valuation is not public, the field is marked “Undisclosed”. Traction data reflects what has been publicly reported by TEF or credible third parties; figures are indicative, not audited.
| Entrepreneur | Company | Base (Country/City) | Sector | Cohort | TEF Seed | Post‑Seed Traction (summary) | Company Valuation/Net Worth | Key Sources |
| Momarr Mass Taal | Tropingo Foods | Gambia (Banjul) | Agro‑processing (groundnuts, mango) | 2015 | Yes (US$5k) | Operational; featured on Forbes Africa 30‑under‑30; raised equipment financing incl. World Bank support; reported turnover ≈US$1.6m (source: LinkedIn article). | Undisclosed | TEF case study; LinkedIn; Borgen Project |
| Belema Alagun | Britts Foods | Nigeria (Lagos) | Food services | 2015 | Yes (US$5k) | Scaled from a one‑room startup to owning a pickup hub; exposure at TEF Forum. | Undisclosed | TEF Alumni profile; Instagram clip |
| Mechi Amaah | Black & Natural Cosmetics | Cameroon (Buea) | Beauty/Cosmetics | 2019 | Yes (US$5k) | Headcount grew to 7; annual revenue +70%; launched two additional ventures; community training. | Undisclosed | TEF Testimonial; Guardian Post (Cameroon) |
| Olamide (AgroData) | AgroData (formerly bee farms) | Nigeria & Senegal ops | Agri‑tech (Smart Beehive; PaaS) | 2015 | Yes (US$5k) | Invented patented Smart Beehive; created Pollination‑as‑a‑Service model; 38 jobs; revenue ≈US$46.7k to date; expanded to Dakar, Senegal. | Undisclosed | TEF news story (Jul 15, 2024) |
| Elia Timotheo | East Africa Fruits (EA Foods) | Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) | Agri‑supply chain & logistics | 2015 | Yes (US$5k) | Raised US$2.05m–3.1m+ in Series A rounds (Goodwell, others); multi‑million‑dollar business; ABH 2022 Grand Prize Winner. | Undisclosed | TADB; Goodwell; Tracxn; ABH |
| Muhire Louis‑Antoine | Mergims | Rwanda (Kigali) | Fintech (diaspora prepay) | 2015 | Yes (US$5k) | Product live enabling diaspora to prepay basic needs; featured by TEF. | Undisclosed | TEF Winning Wednesday feature |
| Dr. Andrew Etuket | TIMNATH Health | Uganda (Kampala) | Health & wellness | 2016 | Yes (US$5k) | Operates 8‑week body transformation programme; frequent media features; active clinics/community. | Undisclosed | TEF East Africa alumni page; social profiles |
| Peace (surname not disclosed by TEF) | Agribusiness venture | Nigeria | Agriculture | 2019 | Yes (US$5k) | Expanded production post‑grant; featured by TEF (2024) for resilience and growth. | Undisclosed | TEF news feature (Jul 11, 2024) |
| Timothy Murithi | Seritex | Kenya | Textiles/Sericulture | 2015 | Yes (US$5k) | Trained 10+ youth and women groups in silkworm rearing; post‑Forum growth. | Undisclosed | TEF East Africa stories |
| Yvette Ishimwe | IRIBA Water Group | Rwanda | Water kiosks & services | 2016 | Yes (US$5k) | Internationally recognised; finalist/award mentions; expanding safe‑water access. | Undisclosed | TEF testimonial feature |
How to Apply for the TEF Seed Grant (quick guide)
1) Confirm eligibility: 18+, operating in any African country; idea‑stage or 0–5‑year‑old business.
2) Create a profile on TEFConnect (no fees).
3) Apply during the annual window (historically January–March).
4) Complete the compulsory 12‑week online training and mentorship if selected.
5) Submit your business plan and pitch; pass due‑diligence/KYC.
6) Seed disbursement: US$5,000 non‑refundable grant (usually in local currency equivalent).
References & Source URLs
– TEF 2025 Cohort announcement (impact metrics): https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/press-releases/the-tony-elumelu-foundation-announces-2025-entrepreneurship-programme-cohort
– TEF Programme overview & FAQ: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/tef-entrepreneurship-programme
– TEF home (coverage across 54 countries): https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/
– TEF Success Stories hub: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/success-stories
– Momarr Mass Taal case (TEF/UCT Bertha Centre PDF): https://www.gsb.uct.ac.za/Downloads/Bertha_TEFCaseStudy_Final.pdf
– Winning Wednesday with Momarr Taal: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/west-africa/winning-wednesday-with-momar-taal
– Borgen Project – Tropingo Foods profile: https://borgenproject.org/tropingo-foods-paves-way-for-modernizing-agriculture-in-africa/
– LinkedIn article citing Tropingo turnover: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rising-success-momarr-mass-taa-visionary
– Belema Alagun – TEF Alumni profile: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/west-africa/winning-wednesday-with-belema-alagun
– Britts Foods Instagram feature: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8JcMQAH73_/
– Mechi Amaah – TEF Testimonial: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/the-tef-circle/tef-testimonials/meet-2019-tef-alumni-mechi-amaah-who-is-into-production-of-organic-and-eco-friendly-cosmetics
– Guardian Post (Cameroon) – TEF 2024 portal, Mechi context: https://theguardianpostcameroon.com/post/2232/fr/turning-business-dreams-into-reality-2024-application-portal-for-tony-elumelu-foundation-entrepreneurship-programme
– Olamide/AgroData – TEF news: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/news/success-story-olamide-2015-tef-alumni-agriculture-sector
– East Africa Fruits – TADB press: https://www.tadb.co.tz/archives/1365
– East Africa Fruits – Goodwell Investments story: https://goodwell.nl/portfolio/transforming-agriculture-with-ea-foods/
– East Africa Fruits – Tracxn profile: https://tracxn.com/d/companies/east-africa-fruits/__d1Nm-mWf-TG1RJNDUEJ1ZDvX-V0mMnHTxqA76r0KWLQ
– ABH Spotlight on Elia Timotheo: https://africabusinessheroes.org/fr/the-show/newsletter/hsotm-may-2025/hero-spotlight-of-the-month
– Mergims – TEF feature: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/east-africa/winning-wednesday-with-muhire-louis-antoine-from-rwanda
– Andrew Etuket – TEF alumni page: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/alumni/east-african-alumni/tef-alumni-andrew-etuket-is-promoting-healthy-living-through-timnath-health
– Peace (2019) – TEF news: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/news/success-story-peace-2019-tef-alumni-agriculture
– Timothy Murithi – TEF success story: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/east-africa/success-story-with-timothy-murithi
– Yvette Ishimwe – TEF testimonial: https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/the-tef-circle/tef-testimonials/yvette-ishimwe-tef-alumna-recognised-as-innovative-african-business-leader
– TEFConnect (application portal): https://tefconnect.com/
Disclaimer: Valuation/net worth figures for SMEs are often private. Where credible third‑party sources provided revenue or funding amounts, these are included and cited; otherwise marked “Undisclosed.”
