Chris Koney’s column: Netherlands Embassy calls for applications for Orange Corners 2023

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Jeroen Verheul, Ambassador of the Netherlands Embassy to Ghana

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has opened applications for the 2023 edition of its Acceleration Programme, Orange Corners. Ghanaians interested in being part of the programme have until November 30, 2022 to submit their application to be considered for the programme.

Orange Corners is an initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands executed by MDF West Africa at the Ghana Innovation Hub in Accra and its regional centres in Ho, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale in collaboration with key private sector partners including Fidelity Bank, Emergent Payments, Friesland Campina, Vivo Energy Ghana, Meridian Port Services (MPS), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Allianz.

The Orange Corners Ghana programme is a six-month acceleration programme which includes access to working space at the Ghana Innovation Hub in Accra and its regional training centres in Ho, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale. The 2023 programme is scheduled to start in January 2023 to June 2023, and will be in two phases.

The first will be a three-month online component focused on the business model, where the teams will complete online e-learning modules, masterclasses, training workshops and peer-to-peer sessions.

The second phase is a Boot Camp, also for a duration of three months where smaller group of companies will receive offline or in-person workshops and individual coaching on financial management, leadership and human resource strategies, and investment readiness with the aim to apply for a growth loan from the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) – managed by Fidelity Bank Ghana – of up to €50,000 at 5 percent interest with a 2-year tenor.

To be part, you should be a registered and youth-led business with the founder being between the ages of 18 – 35 years. The business must have been in operation and making sales for over a year, and can produce organised financials for at least one year – 2022. The applicant should be located in the region of application – Accra, Ho, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale; and your business, products or service should have a clear innovation and impact along your business value chain.

Apply before November 30, 2022 (22:00 PM GMT) by filling a google form accessible at bit.ly/ORANGECORNERSGH.  Please reach out to [email protected] or call 0556959376 in case of any questions.

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