The Baobab Network: funding, terms & how to apply
Africa's clearest deal — $100K for 12.5%, wired upfront in one lump sum, no fees and no board seat, for very early founders anywhere on the continent.
Investment
$100K for 12.5%
Equity
12.5% for $100K upfront; no board seat, no fees
Program length
2-week intensive + 3 months hands-on support
Format
Remote
Deadlines
Several cohorts/year; rolling applications
Acceptance rate
Not published
Facts last checked 2026-08-26. Deals and dates change — the official site is always the source of truth for the current application window.
What The Baobab Network actually is
The Baobab Network keeps its offer unusually simple: $100K invested upfront in a single payment for 12.5% equity, with no program fees and no board seat. The engagement is a two-week intensive followed by three months of hands-on venture support, run remote-first from Nairobi with a portfolio spanning 16 African countries.
The double-digit equity is the trade for writing real checks at idea/pre-seed stage across the whole continent — comparably early capital is scarce in most African markets. Founders with traction and options should price that dilution consciously against local alternatives.
What they look for
The bar you need to clear before the application is worth sending.
Very early African startups — idea to pre-seed, anywhere on the continent.
Founders who value speed and certainty of funding over negotiating leverage.
Businesses that can deploy $100K into visible momentum within months.
Teams comfortable with a remote-first program model.
Before you apply
Most rejections happen before the interview — in the application itself
Every question The Baobab Network asks — problem, traction, business model, team, market size — maps to work you can finish first. Build your startup profile in StartupKit, run the readiness score, and walk into the application with real answers instead of blank fields. Free, no card.
Build your startup profile freeApplication FAQ
What is Baobab's deal?
$100K for 12.5% equity, invested upfront in one lump sum — no fees, no board seat. The equity is higher than US-style accelerators; the trade is real capital at stages where African founders have few options.
How does the program work?
A two-week intensive sprint followed by three months of hands-on support, run largely remotely from Nairobi.
When can I apply?
Applications are rolling, with several cohorts per year.
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