Dimewise Africa Catalyst Program (DACP)

About the program

Structured incubation, mentorship, and business development support to help founders validate, grow, and scale sustainable ventures, access to market opportunities, ecosystem partnerships, peer learning, and pathways to investment readiness and capital access.

Participation in specialized innovation tracks:

  • AfyaSprint — Health Innovation
  • Circular Stitch — Fashion, Circular Economy & Sustainable Creative Enterprises targeting women and youth

Access to the Bridge for Billions incubation platform, practical venture-building tools, and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem

What are the requirements to join as an entrepreneur?

  • Must commit to dedicating 5-7h of work per week over the course of the program
  • Must apply in the same language that they would like to collaborate with their mentor in
  • Should be the founder of an early-stage project in the tracks provided
  • Should be serious about their venture
  • Should want to participate in a community of entrepreneurs and startup mentors actively

 

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

  • Personalized Mentoring: Receive one-on-one guidance from experts in entrepreneurship and social impact to address specific challenges.
  • Practical Training: A methodology designed to validate, structure, and grow your business with a focus on rapid diagnostics.
  • Networking: Access to a network of allies, mentors, and other entrepreneurs to create synergies and a community.
  • Ongoing Support: Close support throughout the incubation process to identify and address critical moments.
  • Funding Opportunities: Strategic connections with seed capital and financing options for your expansion.
  • Leadership and Decision-Making: Strengthening your management skills and abilities for strategic decision-making.
  • Local Visibility: Positioning your venture within the regional ecosystem to attract new opportunities.
  • Visible goals: A system geared towards rapid achievements with clear and measurable monthly objectives.
  • Intelligent flexibility: A design that allows you to adapt your learning to the daily operations of your business.
  • Recognition and incentives: We reward your commitment and concrete progress in implementing what you’ve learned.
  • Technical support: Hands-on assistance in using the Academy platform to ensure you get the most out of it.

 

Sign up

Deadline: 2026-06-24

Days
Hours
This program is no longer accepting applications.
Organizer
Dimewise Africa
Town / Region
Kenya
Sectors accepted for this program

Join as a mentor and help entrepreneurs in Africa achieve success!

We are looking for mentors who are committed to joining our incubation program. If you have a passion for entrepreneurship, have at least 5 years of professional experience and are committed to reviewing and monitoring your entrepreneur’s work before mentoring meetings, we want you to join us! We envision a fair, efficient and meritocratic society where innovation belongs to everyone. Sign up today and help Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs succeed!

What requirements must you have to mentor?

  • 3–5+ years of practical experience in any area of the health value chain: clinical practice, public health, pharmaceutical supply chains, health financing, digital/mHealth, WASH, nutrition, maternal & child health, SRHR, NCDs, or climate-health.
  • Open to: medical professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists), public health practitioners, health administrators, NGO/development professionals, health-tech founders, policy and regulatory professionals, nutritionists, WASH engineers, community health specialists, and medical supply chain professionals.
  • Willingness to engage with early-stage founders. Prior mentoring experience is a plus, not a requirement. The mentor must be genuinely curious and supportive — not just expert.
  • Able to communicate practically with entrepreneurs at varying levels of business sophistication. Comfortable giving honest, constructive feedback. Good listening is essential.
  • Minimum 2–4 hours/month over the incubation period (4–5 months). Sessions are virtual.
  • Participation is on a volunteer basis — no compensation is expected or required.
  • Priority to professionals with direct experience in the Kenyan and/or Nigerian health ecosystem.
  • Diaspora professionals with active Africa engagement are welcome.
  • English proficiency required. Swahili speakers particularly welcome.
  • Clean professional record. No conflicts of interest with any incubated cohort company or competing accelerator.

 

Mentor Benefits

  • Generate real impact
    Support entrepreneurs in growing their businesses.
  • Clear methodology and training
    Mentor with a guided, easy-to-follow, and results-oriented structure.
  • Expand your network
    Connect with other mentors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem stakeholders.
  • Develop new skills
    Strengthen your leadership, active listening, and strategic thinking.
  • Flexibility
    Deliver value with sessions tailored to your availability.
  • Continuous learning
    Exchange knowledge and stay connected to new ideas and business models.
  • Recognition
    Receive certification and become part of an international community.

Program Timeline

Pre-Program Phases

  • 8 Aug – 5 Sep 2025 → Scouting Phase (Ms&Es)
  • 8 Aug – 5 Sep 2025 → Application Phase (Ms&Es)
  • 8 Aug – 10 Sep 2025 → Shortlisting

Onboarding & Matching

  • 10 Sep 2025 → Onboarding Entrepreneurs (Zoom, 1h 30m)
  • 11 Sep 2025 → Onboarding Mentors (Zoom, 1h 30m)
  • 11 Sep – 30 Sep 2025 → Matching Phase (B4B Incubation Platform, Ms&Es)
  • 1 Oct – 8 Oct 2025 → Matching Phase Analysis (Platform)
  • 8 Oct 2025 → Kick Off Call (Zoom, Entrepreneurs + Mentors)

Core Modules

  • 8 Oct – 28 Oct 2025 → Module 1: Value Proposition
  • 29 Oct – 11 Nov 2025 → Module 2: Competitor Map
  • 12 Nov – 25 Nov 2025 → Module 3: Stakeholder Map
  • 26 Nov – 9 Dec 2025 → Module 4: Business Model & Marketing
  • 10 Dec 2025 – 6 Jan 2026 → Module 5: Pricing & Business Viability
  • 22 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026 → Holidays (pause)
  • 7 Jan – 27 Jan 2026 → Module 6: Financial Projections
  • 28 Jan – 10 Feb 2026 → Module 7: Impact Plan
  • 11 Feb – 24 Feb 2026 → Module 8: Growth Plan

Closing Phase

  • 8 Oct – 28 Oct 2025 → Module 1: Value Proposition
  • 29 Oct – 11 Nov 2025 → Module 2: Competitor Map
  • 12 Nov – 25 Nov 2025 → Module 3: Stakeholder Map
  • 26 Nov – 9 Dec 2025 → Module 4: Business Model & Marketing
  • 10 Dec 2025 – 6 Jan 2026 → Module 5: Pricing & Business Viability
  • 22 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026 → Holidays (pause)
  • 7 Jan – 27 Jan 2026 → Module 6: Financial Projections
  • 28 Jan – 10 Feb 2026 → Module 7: Impact Plan
  • 11 Feb – 24 Feb 2026 → Module 8: Growth Plan

Program Timeline

Apply to participate in the program
Until September 15, 2025
Tell us more about yourself and your project by submitting your application. Our team will evaluate all applications from entrepreneurs and mentors who apply to the program.
Confirmation of selected profiles
Until 17 October 2025
We will review the completed applications through a selection process and select the participants for this edition of the programme.
Participate in the welcome session
18 and 19 January 2024
You will be invited to participate in an information session to welcome you to the incubation programme. In this session we will cover the programme schedule, your role, the role of mentors, the use of incubation tools to help you work on your business and much more.
Matching
Training of work pairs for entrepreneurs/mentors - 19 January - 31 January
Take part in our matching process! You will have the possibility to meet with the volunteer mentors from our Community that you think will be the best match for you and your project. Once you have met several mentors, both you and they will send us their preferences to let us know who they want to work with and we will make the best teams.
Start the incubation program
February - June 2024

Start the hybrid incubation experience with mentoring sessions, working tools and structured development. You will have 5 months to complete the incubation cycle and develop your validated business plan.

  • You will work weekly with your personal mentor in one-on-one sessions to go through the 8 business modules.
    You will have the incubation team on hand at all times to answer any questions you may have.
  • You will finish the programme developing a business plan and executive summary ready to present to potential investors.
Completion of incubation program
June 2024

Do you have any questions about the program?

Contact Kelvin Irungu, Incubation Manager of the program to answer all your questions.

This program is part of 

About