Professionalize your ESO. Strengthen your operations. Build lasting credibility.

Conecta Africa works with ESOs supporting early-stage entrepreneurs to strengthen the systems behind their work — enabling them to move beyond donor-dependent delivery and operate with the systems and consistency required to support entrepreneurs at scale and shape stronger ecosystems together.

Partners

Build real institutional growth and impact.

Across Africa, many ESOs are doing critical work for early-stage entrepreneurs while operating in survival mode. Programs are delivered under pressure, funding cycles are short, and internal talent often inconsistent

The risk is not a lack of impact — it’s the long-term sustainability of the organizations behind the work.

Conecta exists to change that.

By supporting organizations to build strong internal systems, organizations deliver programs more consistently, collaborate more effectively, become more visible to funders & partners while raising the standard of entrepreneurship support in their regions.

Active across Latin America, Spain, and Italy, Conecta has worked with dozens of ESOs supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs. In Africa, our first year brought together ESOs supporting more than 500 entrepreneurs.

Impact of Conecta ESOs

Since 2020, Bridge for Billions has worked alongside African actors, local teams and grassroots organizations to implement incubation programs for early-stage entrepreneurs. We’re proud of the impact achieved and excited to go much further with Conecta Africa. 

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They develop collaboration skills.

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Organizations increased the effectiveness in monitoring their programs

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They formed both national and regional alliances.

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They increased diversity in their programs.

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The leaders of these organizations felt more prepared to lead others

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Alumni Entrepreneurs
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Mentors

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ESOs we worked with so far
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women entrepreneurs
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youth entrepreneurs
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of MSMEs still active 1 year after
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revenue increase after the program

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more funds raised after the program
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new jobs created after the program

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Join the Conecta Community. Benefits for member organizations

Collaboratively run one of Africa’s largest incubation program

  • 500 entrepreneurs supported simultaneously
  • With a proven methodology 
  • Leveraging Bridge for Billions’ digital platform

Boost your ESO capacity and financial stability

  • Tailored trainings
  • Peer learning
  • Leadership development

Join Africa’s top ESO leaders

  • Build real connections and exchange knowledge
  • Unite your voices and secure more funding together
  • Gain global recognition

1. Institutional Diagnostics

A structured assessment of your ESO’s institutional health, program quality, and sustainability — providing a clear baseline and a custom learning pathway tailored to your organization’s needs.

2. Capacity-Building for Your Team

Develop ESO leaders and incubation managers through Conecta Academy — a hands-on learning journey combining expert sessions, 1:1 mentoring, coursework, and peer insight to strengthen program delivery, revenue growth, team management, and results measurement.

3. Incubation Methodology & Technology

Access the Bridge for Billions’ internationally recognized incubation framework & platform to implement your programs — used by the UN, major foundations in Latin America, and EU

4. ESO Network for Collaboration & Visibility

Membership in a curated community of ESOs across Africa — enabling peer learning, cross-country collaborations, shared opportunities, and increased credibility .

5. Impact Measurement Framework

Clear metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to track program quality, monitor entrepreneur progress, and communicate your impact confidently to donors and partners

6. Advocacy & Ecosystem Visibility

Gain visibility with funders, partners, and ecosystem actors through collective positioning and shared initiatives — as part of a community of ESOs shaping the future of entrepreneurship support.

Meet the program managers

Book a call to learn more about Conecta Africa and whether it’s the next big opportunity for your ESO!

Liliosa
Program Director. Rwanda

Desmond
Sr. Program Manager. Kenya

Damilola
Program Manager. Nigeria

What we’re looking for in membership organizations

1. Incubation Commitment: Organizations supporting early-stage entrepreneurs or preparing to implement structured incubation programs.

2. Engaged Leadership: A founder or senior leader committed to participating in all core components of Conecta Africa, including the institutional strengthening journey (Conecta Academy)and community activities.

3. Dedicated Program Manager: An Incubation Manager to complete the incubation training and run the annual incubation program .

4. Alignment with Inclusion & Impact: A clear commitment to supporting women, youth, or healthcare entrepreneurs.

5. Co-Investment Capacity: Willingness and capacity to co-invest in institutional growth and team development through the Conecta membership fee.

Project timeline

Phase 1: Selecting Conecta Africa ESOs

We are looking for 25 pioneering ESOs who share our purpose in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Nigeria

January-April 2025

Phase 2: Conecta Africa Summit

A Retreat for ESO Leaders to connect, learn and collaborate, followed by an ecosystem-wide event with public and private actors.

May 27th-30th 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya

Phase 3: Conecta Academy

Receive capacity building to enhance your organizational capacity, efficiency, and sustainability and get ready to launch the incubation program.

June 2025 – September 2025

Phase 4: Incubation Program

October 2025 – February 2026

Phase 5: Celebration event and Impact Reporting for Y1

February – April 2026

Project timeline

Phase 1
01 Nov. to 28 Dec. 2025
Call for Applications

We are opening the call to welcome new ESOs.

Phase 2
January 2026
Selection

Evaluation and formation of the new cohort.

Phase 3
February - March 2026
Program Design

Co-design of the incubation program, entrepreneur profile, mentors, etc.

Phase 4
March -April 2026
Leadership Retreat and Academy Kick off

Regional gathering to connect and co-create the vision, plus the start of the training and support cycle.

Phase 5
April 2026
Scouting Entrepreneurs, Mentors + Matching

Engagement with entrepreneurs and mentors.

Phase 5
May - December 2026
Incubation + Demo Day

Implementation of programs 

ESOs we worked with in the past and strategic partners

Our network of local ESO partners

Frequently Asked Questions

Eager to speak about Conecta Africa?

Contact our team to get to know each other.

Liliosa, Program Director

Desmond, Sr. Program Manager

Conecta is an initiative led by Bridge for Billions that seeks to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem worldwide through the training of incubators and the support of industry leaders.

About

Entra a far parte di una comunità di Organizzazioni di Supporto all’Imprenditoria e acquisisci nuove competenze per supportare l’imprenditoria migrante in Italia.