Type of Contact

Team

Email

Telephone

DYF IPP

Innovation and Incubation Center

i2c@usiu.ac.ke

254 730116799

SEF 2.0

Billy Wadongo

Sef2.0@usiu.ac.ke

254 7314757558

Transition support

Madzo Mwadzoya

emwadzoya@usiu.ac.ke

254 730 116 581

M&E support

Sylvia Murungaru

smurungaru@usiu.ac.ke

254 730116301

Finance Reporting

Roselyne Mwasi

rmwasi@usiu.ac.ke

254 730116148

Communications

Brenda Odhiambo

baodhiambo@usiu.ac.ke

254 730116502

Key Dates of the Call for Applications

1. Information Session -March 17, 2025, March 18, 2025, March 21, 2025.
2. I2C Community Registration -Ongoing.
3. Pre-Applications Seminars and Support Every Thursday from 3 pm and Friday from 1 pm.
4. Expression of Interest 2025-2026 Opening March 25, 2025.
5. CUT OFF Expression of Interest April 07, 2025.
6. Pre-screening check March 25, 2025.
7. Eligibility and admissibility check: April 15, 2025.
8. Classification of the Pipelines April 20, 2025.
9. Communication of EOI Results -April 30, 2025.
10. Call for Applications 2025-2026 (Solicited applications on a rolling basis).
11. Evaluation of applications: April 2025 to May 2025
12. Call for Applications (CFA) Results May 5, 2025
13. Post-award Training and Capacity Building: May 10, 2025, to September 1, 2025.
14. Project implementation support from September 1, 2025, to August 2029.
15. Summative evaluation and close-up September 1, 2027
16. Expression of Interest 2026-2027 October 1, 2025.

Total estimated Funding allocated to this Call

Funding up to $5000 per project.

Link to the Expression of Interest

: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCF-Entrepreneurship_Fund

Link to the submission portal

to be provided

List of documents to be submitted during the application

• Application form available on the submission platform
• Proof of founder and co-founders as USIU-Africa Students
• Pitch deck – Link to a video recording of the pitch (Maximum 5 minutes) or Business Model Platform
• Legal incorporation documents (date of incorporation of the entity should not be more than 2 years before the date of submission of the application), patents, and intellectual property rights (If applicable)

List of documents to take into consideration

• Call Manual -link
• DYF IPP Programme
• Eligibility of expenditure
• Appeal procedure
• Project Implementation Handbook or manual
• Financial Support Agreement Template

A summary of the topics to be addressed

N/A

Pre-screening, Eligibility, and Admissibility checks

• Completeness. The submitted application is completed with all its mandatory sections and attachments, submitted in time by the applicant, and filled in English.
• Applicant registration -The applying start-up meets the requirements defined in the registration criteria and is a fully registered student at USIU-Africa.
• Applicant eligibility: The applying start-up’s founder or co-founder should be under 35 years old.

Evaluation and scoring system

All evaluation stages comprise different groups of criteria and sub-criteria, which will be assessed according to the following scores:

Score Description

0. None- None-The information requested is missing or incomplete

1. Very poor- The information provided is considered irrelevant or inadequate compared to the specific provisions in the call for applications.
2. Poor—The information provided lacks relevance and contains significant weaknesses compared to the particular provisions in the call for applications.
3. Fair- The overall information provided is adequate. However, some aspects are unclear or insufficiently detailed compared to the specific provisions in the call for applications.
4. Good- The information provided is sufficient with sufficiently outlined details, compared to the provisions in the call for applications.
5. Excellent- The information provided is outstanding in its details, clarity, and coherence compared to the specific provisions in the call for applications.

5.3 Evaluation of applications

Each application that successfully passes the eligibility and admissibility check is sent to the evaluation panel. The evaluation assesses the product & technology, market & business model, team, and impact.

Product & Technology 15 points

• Innovativeness / overall grade of the novelty of the product/service -5
• USP - Unique Selling Proposition & market advantage -5
• Fit to the market (solving existing problems/bottlenecks or contributing to the improvement of existing solutions/ services)-5

Market & Business Model 15 points

• The application presents a realistic and relevant analysis of market trends and conditions, competitors, and competitive offerings, as well as a clear identification of opportunities for market introduction-(5
• Revenue model, Pricing-5
• Sales & distribution model. And plausible go-to-market strategy-5

Team 15 points

• Technical and business-oriented co-founders, strengths, and complementary skills of the team-5
• Diversity and gender balance in the team-5
• The team adequately conveys the idea behind their business and capabilities of successfully executing the Start-up when delivering its pitch-5

Contribution to the expected Impact 5 points

• The product or service of the applicant contributes positively to at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-5

Total score: 50 points

Communication of results to applicants

The Start-up Leader will receive an email notification with the evaluation results. The applicant must acknowledge the decision within 5 days.

Appeal on Evaluation Results

The start-up of a rejected application that disagrees with the decision may appeal only if an evaluator's comment contradicts the information provided in the application. In this case, the start-up will have five calendar days after receipt of the final evaluation results to submit an appeal to the Evaluation Panel.

Financial Support Agreement

Successful startups will be required to sign a financial support agreement.

This Agreement aims to lay down the contractual arrangements between the Parties regarding their respective rights and obligations regarding the recipient's implementation of SEF 2.0 funding.

Project Implementation Handbook

This handbook covers the life cycle of the projects, including their kick-off, the completion of all contractual requirements, day-to-day implementation, management of any project changes, and final reporting. An Interim Review (IR) system is used to assess the status of the projects and ensure that they are progressing in line with their work plans and are contributing to the objectives of SEF 2.0. The key areas covered include.

1. Project kick-off

2. Communication requirements

3. Legal requirements

4. Day-to-day implementation

5. Project changes

5.1 Minor changes

5.2 Major changes

6. Interim reviews

6.1 Interim Performance Review

6.2 Interim cost reporting

7. Final reporting and review

7.1 Final performance reporting

7.2 Final cost reporting

7.3 Final Review

7.4 Post-impact assessment

8. Payments

9. Project support exit

SEF 2.0 FAQs

1. Who is eligible to apply for SEF 2.0?

To qualify for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF 2.0) at USIU-Africa, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• The founder or at least one co-founder must be a Mastercard Foundation Scholar currently enrolled in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa.
• Applicants must be 35 years old or younger.
• The applicant must be a currently enrolled Mastercard Foundation Scholar, regardless of their level of study.
• The business idea must focus on establishing a business, non-profit, social enterprise, or community-based organization.

2. What types of support does SEF 2.0 offer?

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF) 2.0 is an initiative to equip Mastercard Foundation Scholars with financial support, training, mentorship, mental health resources, and access to networking opportunities to transform their business ideas into viable enterprises.

3. Is there a maximum team size for applicants?

There is no strict limit on the number of team members; however, the team should be manageable and structured to ensure effective collaboration and decision-making.

4. Can SEF 2.0 provide funding to expand an already existing business?

Yes, existing businesses can apply if they demonstrate a clear expansion plan and align with SEF 2.0’s objectives. The start-up must be led by a Mastercard Foundation Scholar and meet all eligibility criteria.

5. Is SEF 2.0 open to businesses outside the technology sector?

SEF 2.0 supports ventures from various industries, not just tech-based businesses. All applicants must demonstrate innovation, sustainability, and/or social impact in their business models.

6. My venture is a non-profit. Am I still eligible for SEF 2.0 support?

Yes, non-profit ventures are eligible if they present a strong value proposition and a sustainable impact model as a profitable social enterprise. The selection process considers the initiative's viability and scalability.

7. I am in my final semester; can I still apply for SEF 2.0?

Yes, final-semester Scholars can apply. However, they must demonstrate a clear commitment to the venture beyond graduation and be available for program activities during implementation.

8. Does SEF 2.0 provide any support for USIU-Africa Scholar alums?

SEF 2.0 primarily targets current Scholars. However, Scholars who were enrolled in the SEF 2.0 program before graduation will still receive support for their business after graduation. Additionally, alums can explore the Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition) program, which is specifically designed to support ventures led by Alumni from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, African Leadership Academy (ALA), Anzisha Prize, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)

9. Can I form a team that includes individuals who are not USIU-Africa students or Scholars?

Yes, teams can include non-Scholars and individuals who are not USIU-Africa students. However, the founder or co-founder must be a Mastercard Foundation Scholar who plays a key role in the business's strategy and execution.