From fundraising to signed deal: the on-the-ground method for ambitious entrepreneurs
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About
Detailed Presentation
Finding funding is one of the biggest challenges facing African entrepreneurs. But beyond the search itself, the real challenge is to convince, negotiate and close a solid, balanced deal. This course immerses you in the realities on the ground: demanding investors, criteria that are often unspoken, the importance of networks, and the need to present a credible, well-structured and profitable venture. You will learn how to identify the right sources of funding (investors, funds, banks, strategic partners), put together a compelling proposal, pitch effectively and carry negotiations through to signature. Through a pragmatic approach, this course gives you a clear method for moving from a funding need to a concrete agreement, while protecting your interests and maximising your chances of success.
Overview
What this course covers
From fundraising to signed deal: the on-the-ground method for ambitious entrepreneurs is an online UpSkills course in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Startups in Africa, organised into 6 modules, 27 lessons and 4h 43m of content. Each sequence pairs theory with hands-on practice so that what you learn transfers directly to a real professional setting.
By the end of this programme you will be able to understand what investors in Africa really expect, identify the funding sources best suited to your venture, put together a solid, credible proposal (business plan, projections, pitch) and build a compelling, high-impact pitch. These skills are built up gradually across the course, consolidating the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced material.
The learning path opens with “Introduction” and closes with “QUIZ”, taking in “FINDING FUNDERS – A Reliable Method & Identification”, “STRUCTURING A CASE - Credibility & Business Model” and “COMPARING THE MODELS – Strategic Choices & Analysis” along the way. The sequence is designed so each module builds on the one before it.
This course is aimed at learners at advanced level looking to build their skills in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Startups in Africa. It suits both individual upskilling and a company-led development plan, and needs no special software or equipment to follow.
The programme is led by L'équipe d'experts Up Skills; you learn at your own pace, with no fixed schedule, from desktop, tablet or mobile; an UpSkills certificate is issued once you complete the course.
What you'll learn
Key Objectives
Understand what investors in Africa really expect
Identify the funding sources best suited to your venture
Put together a solid, credible proposal (business plan, projections, pitch)
Build a compelling, high-impact pitch
Develop a strategy for approaching investors
Master the fundamentals of deal negotiation
Understand the key terms of an investment (valuation, dilution, conditions)
Avoid the most common mistakes in fundraising
Protect your interests at the point of signature
Move efficiently from first contact to signed deal
Program
5 module(s)
MODULE 1
Introduction
1 elementIntroduction
8 minMODULE 2
FINDING FUNDERS – A Reliable Method & Identification
7 elementsMODULE 1 - Understanding the financing ecosystem in Africa
11 minModule 2: A reliable method for identifying the right funders
13 minModule 3 - Mapping the major funders in Africa Part 1
13 minModule 3 - Mapping the major donors in Africa Part 2
13 minModule 4 - Reading a funding call like an analyst
13 minModule 5 - Building your strategic alignment matrix Part 1
15 minModule 5 - Building your strategic alignment matrix, Part 2
6 minMODULE 3
STRUCTURING A CASE - Credibility & Business Model
6 elementsModule 6 - Building a fundable business model: Part 1
14 minModule 6 – Structuring a fundable business model Part 2
7 minModule 7 - Building an investor-ready business plan
18 minModule 8 - The metrics investors look at
14 minModule 9 - Building a convincing pitch deck
10 minModule 10 - Giving your project credibility: compliance and governance
8 minMODULE 4
COMPARING THE MODELS – Strategic Choices & Analysis
5 elementsModule 11 - Grant vs Investment vs Credit
6 minModule 12 - Understanding the terms of a bank loan
6 minModule 13 - How banks assess your application
7 minModule 14 - Comparing two credit offers intelligently
5 minModule 15 – Debt vs equity: which strategic choice?
10 minMODULE 5
NEGOTIATE & SECURE - Closing & Value Building
7 elementsModule 16 - Preparing for a negotiation with an investor
19 minModule 17 - Sensitive clauses you must watch closely
10 minModule 18 - Securing strategic African partnerships
10 minModule 19 - Common financing mistakes made by African entrepreneurs
5 minModule 20 - Long-term strategy: financing sustainable growth Part 1
13 minModule 20 - Long-term strategy: financing sustainable growth Part 2
16 minModule 20 - Long-term strategy: financing sustainable growth Part 3 and Conclusion
13 minMODULE 6
QUIZ
1 elementQUIZ
- Free sign-up — no payment at this step
- First capsule free, available right away
- You join this programme with your profile
4 learners have already joined
Secure payment
Requirements
Before you start
Have an entrepreneurial venture or a growing business
Have an identified funding need (or one still to be defined)
Be ready to formalise and structure your venture
No advanced financial expertise required
Access to a computer or smartphone to follow the modules