Jasiri Talent Investor Programme (Cohort 9) for Young East African Entrepreneurs 2026
Brief Description
The
Jasiri Talent Investor Programme (Cohort 9) is a
fully funded,
13-month venture creation program designed to back battle-tested African talent before a business venture even exists. Backed by the
Jasiri Talent Investor Programme, this initiative bets on individuals at the pre-idea, pre-team, and pre-venture stages, offering founder-friendly capital, infrastructure, and expert guidance from initial formation all the way to market validation. If you are ready to commit full-time to building a new venture in
food systems, this is your chance to step up. Whether your background is in engineering, science, finance, or operations, you can bring your strongest edge and co-founder a high-impact business with ambitious peers from across
East Africa.
Name of Host Institution
Jasiri Talent Investor ProgrammeRequirements/Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a Kenyan, Rwandan, or Ethiopian citizen, living at home or in the diaspora.
- Ready to pursue entrepreneurship full-time as a career.
- Able to relocate to Kigali for the three-month Residential Intensive.
- Committed to building a new venture in food systems.
- Eager to co-found from scratch with equally ambitious peers.
- Open-minded and ready to validate your idea and pivot based on evidence.
Funding and Support
- Living support: USD 250 per month for 3 months during the Residential Intensive.
- Fully covered residence: Travel to and from Rwanda, accommodation, meals, transport, and health insurance.
- Market validation funds: Up to USD 3,000 per team for prototyping and testing.
- Venture creation grant: USD 28,000 per venture, disbursed in three milestone-gated tranches.
- Additional perks: USD 30 communication support, partner credits (AWS, Notion, Perplexity, HubSpot), and shared workspaces in Kigali, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa.
Deadline
October 12, 2026Apply Now
💡 Quick FAQ & IntelligenceTap to Expand
Q: What specific sector must participants in Cohort 9 focus on?
Participants in Cohort 9 are committed to building a new venture in food systems.
Q: Where is the three-month Residential Intensive hosted?
The Residential Intensive takes place in Kigali, Rwanda.
Q: How much financial support is available as a venture creation grant?
The program offers up to USD 28,000 per venture, disbursed in three milestone-gated tranches.
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