Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation has announced the opening of call for applications for the 2024 KIC Business Booster program. The call for application which commences on 13th June 2024 will run till 31st July, 2024.

Under its Business Booster program, KIC supports agri-MSMEs and Farmer Based Organisations to build capacity to scale-up. The program is designed to accelerate the growth of participating Agri-MSMEs by improving their investor readiness and connecting them to potential funding. It is structured to improve the business operations of participating MSMEs, while mitigating their financial constraints and appropriately preparing them to engage with potential investors. This year’s program will include tailor-made robust training for the Agri-MSMEs based on their business profiling and categorization.

Describe the format of your programme.:

The Business Booster is a five-month growth and acceleration program run by the Kosmos Innovation Center.
The program targets Ghanaian-owned agri Micro, Small, and medium Enterprises (Agri-MSMEs) and farmer-based organizations including associations and cooperatives.
The program is an accelerator program seeking to strengthen and spur the growth of the above-listed organizations in Ghana’s agriculture and adjacent sectors.

Targeted MSMEs and FBOs must demonstrate potential and be ready to scale. After completing our investor readiness program, the business booster program would expose all participants to potential funding sources.
Applications from all sixteen regions of Ghana will be accepted.

To be eligible to apply, the MSME or FBO must:
1. Be a Ghanaian-owned business, meaning at least 1 founder must be Ghanaian.
2. Be a registered business with a tax identification number (TIN).
3. Businesses must operate for at least three years with a proven business model.
4. Have gained traction and are looking to expand, i.e., further, seeking growth capital and the ambition to want to grow and scale.
5. All value chains within the agriculture sector are encouraged to participate.
6. You must be able to attend our entire program and be willing to work with our team of trainers, mentors, and coaches in person and/or remotely.
7. Commit to completing our impact measurement and growth surveys for the next 36 months.
8. Females-owned businesses are encouraged to apply
9. FBOs must have at least 100 members
10. a strong working relationship with smallholder farmers is encouraged for MSMEs.
11. The business must create jobs or have the potential to create jobs.

Brief detail of instructors used:

Implemented with: Mastercard Foundation

Other partners and funders: Mastercard Foundation

Non Financial Support Provided: Accelerator

Financial Support Provided: None