Orange Corners is a global organization managed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency at the request of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has teams in twelve countries working to support young entrepreneurs, and each regional program has a local coordinator. In Ghana, the initiative is managed by MDF West Africa and based out of the Ghana Innovation Hub. It was launched in July 2019 with a three-year plan. The organization supports thirty businesses in the growth stage each year through two components: a six-month accelerator program, and the Orange Corners Innovation Fund, which is managed by Fidelity Bank. 

Orange Corners Ghana works with youth-led businesses that have been operational and making sales for at least a year, and it focuses on supporting each startup’s whole team. The overall aim is to help young entrepreneurs who have impactful ideas to scale and succeed. The acceleration program includes ten days of workshops and weekly coaching sessions. Participants learn about topics including financial management, preparing for market growth, employee engagement and identifying potential export opportunities. The initiative also provides working space, networking events and masterclasses, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to use the opportunity to make connections and immerse themselves in the local ecosystem. 

Businesses that complete the program are eligible to apply for a low-interest loan of up to €50,000 ($56,000) from the Orange Corners Innovation Fund. The organization also has an extensive private sector network that includes Fidelity Bank, Emergent Payments, Friesland Campina, Vivo Energy Ghana, Meridian Port Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Allianz. These partners are on hand to offer mentorship and advice to selected companies and sometimes become customers.

Be aged eighteen to thirty-five. 
Only entrepreneurs within this age range will be considered.

Have an operational business for over a year. 
You need to be able to show how your business works currently and provide evidence of generated revenue for over a year to qualify.

Be able to attend workshops in Accra.
Your team can be located anywhere in Ghana, but should be able to attend the workshops in Accra.

Showcase a sustainable and impactful idea.
Your business needs to have a significant positive effect on the local community, environment or economy.

Have a team with multiple members.
Your business should be larger than a single entrepreneur or be ready to hire its first employees, and your whole team should be able to commit to the program.

orangecorners.com/ghana

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