Strengthen your ESO. Scale your impact. Build lasting credibility

Conecta Africa brings together a select community of Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) committed to strengthening their institutions, delivering high-quality incubation programs, and collectively raising the standard for entrepreneurship support across the continent

Partners

WHAT IS CONECTA?

Empowering those closest to entrepreneurial talent

Our approach begins by strengthening the organizations that are closest to entrepreneurial talent: Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs). Through a structured, collaborative, and place-based model, we help these organizations expand their impact, strengthen their capabilities, and lead more sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Our model is built around three core pillars: specialized training for ESOs (Conecta Academy), locally co-designed incubation programs, and a regional community that fosters collaboration among key ecosystem stakeholders.

Backed by Bridge for Billions

Bridge for Billions is a global organization with a strong local presence, dedicated to strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems across Latin America, Africa, and Europe. We work alongside public institutions, private partners, and support organizations to deliver more inclusive, sustainable, and effective entrepreneurship programs.

We believe that empowering the organizations supporting entrepreneurs is the most effective way to create opportunities, stimulate local economies, and build a more inclusive and sustainable future across Latin America.

ESOs we worked with in the past and strategic partners

Our network of local ESO partners

Our impact numbers in other regions so far

Since 2020, Bridge for Billions has worked alongside worldwide 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 Caribbean. 

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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

Join the Conecta Community.

Benefits for member organizations

1. Institutional Diagnostics

An assessment of your ESO’s current operations, financial model, team, and incubation approach — helping define strengths, growth areas, and a support path for your growth.

2. Capacity-Building for Your Team

A custom training path for you and your ESO leaders, combining expert sessions, 1:1 mentoring, applied learning, and peer exchange to strengthen program delivery, team management, revenue growth, and impact.

3. Incubation Methodology & Technology

Leverage Bridge for Billions’ internationally recognized incubation technology to run your programs with consistency and confidence — trusted by UN agencies, foundations, and public institutions. [learn more]

4. Impact Measurement Framework

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

5. ESO Network for Collaboration & Visibility

Become part of a curated community of ESOs from South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria , where peer learning, cross-country collaboration, and shared opportunities strengthen visibility and credibility

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.

The 3 components of your membership

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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
01 Dec. to 30 Jan. 2026
Call for Applications

We are opening the call to welcome new ESOs.

Phase 2
01 Jan - 27th Feb 2025
Selection

Evaluation and formation of the new cohort.

Phase 3
April 2026
Training & In Person ESO Retreat
Phase 4
May 2026 - Dec 2025
Incubation Programs Launch
Phase 5
January 2026
Scouting Entrepreneurs, Mentors + Matching

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet our team

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

Victor
Program Manager. Kenya

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.

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

Eager to speak about Conecta Africa?

Contact our team to get to know each other.

Liliosa, Program Director

Desmond, Sr. Program Manager

Would you like to be part of the Conecta 2027 community?

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.