Call for Pitchers – BlueInvest Africa 2025: (Deadline 14 April, 2025)

Calling Pitchers! Apply now for the BlueInvest Africa 2025. The BlueInvest Africa is specifically designed to target registered African businesses already engaged in various sectors of the blue economy, including start-ups. It also aims to engage African Small, Micro, and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) officially established in an African country that possess innovative ideas with potential for further commercial development within the African market. The event anticipates the participation of around 250 on-site attendees, along with remote participants from both Africa and Europe, including investors and entrepreneurs.

BlueInvest Africa’s primary goals include fostering valuable business connections, creating opportunities to establish a network of potential partners, showcasing real-world business projects from the field, and facilitating the exchange of best practices and innovative ideas.

The event has a clear objective. It seeks to spotlight the largely untapped potential in Africa, promote entrepreneurial initiatives, and encourage active participation from both the public and private sectors in the rapidly expanding blue economy of the continent. Additionally, the event is geared towards promoting forward-thinking and sustainable solutions. Up to 30 pitchers will be selected for participation in this event.

Benefits

The selected pitchers will benefit from the following:

• The opportunity to deliver their pitches, presenting their projects, business ideas, products, or services on the stage in Lomé,Togo during the aforementioned event.
• The chance to engage in face-to-face interactions with both public and private investors with the objective of securing deals and obtaining financial support for their businesses or projects.
• Access to coaching and mentoring sessions, either in group settings or on an individual basis, tailored to prepare them for their pitch.
• A unique opportunity to connect with fellow African project holders actively engaged in blue initiatives.
• Access to a range of side events covering topics related to financing opportunities.
• Direct access to development banks and other financial institutions.
• Promotion of their stories and projects through various media outlets and social media platforms, before and during the event.

Eligibility

• The pitching company must be legally registered and actively operating in an African Union member country. The organizers will make a concerted effort to ensure a balanced representation across diverse regions within Africa.
• Applications from women, people in need and young entrepreneurs are highly encouraged, fostering inclusivity and diversity.
• The company’s head office or registered office must be located in an African country, and its primary business activities should be conducted within the continent.
• It is imperative that the pitching company possesses intellectual property rights over the product or service proposed by their project. A self-certification guaranteeing that the company is the owner of the intellectual property (IP) or exclusive licensees is required.

Pitch Presentation

• The selected pitcher is required to be physically present in Lomé, in the event venue, and deliver a presentation on behalf of his/her company, business, or project.
• The designated pitcher can be a founding member, director, CEO, or any individual closely involved in the decision-making and management of the company or business.
• Alternatively, a staff member designated by the company may also present the pitch.
• The pitching company is responsible for appointing a backup person who will stand in for the designated pitcher in the event of an emergency, such as illness or accidents. The backup person’s details must be provided in the application, along with an indication of their availability to step in. Proficiency in both French and/or English is a requirement for the backup person.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Status

• The company or business must qualify as a Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (MSME), adhering to the definition outlined in the EU Recommendation 2003/361. Determining factors for MSME status will be assessed based on established criteria.
• It is essential for all applicants to fully align with the criteria hereunder to ensure their eligibility for participation in this opportunity. To be eligible, companies must meet the following criteria regarding the number of customers and either turnover or annual growth rate (CAGR).
  • Number of customers
  • Either turnover or Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)

Assessment Criteria

The assessment will be fair, transparent, and based on the following criteria:

• Compliance with specified guidelines and criteria.
• Demonstrated capabilities to meet project requirements.
• Technological innovation
• Business model
• Social innovation
• Team

Application

Applications must be submitted by April 14, 2025 at midnight CET. Any applications received after this date will not be accepted.

Click here to apply

For more information, visit BlueInvest Africa.