While all businesses start with a good idea, it is often access to start-up finance that will help you accelerate your business to the next level. Finance is not easy to access as a start-up but there are some options out there for seed funding, grants and prize money. Some business competitions award prize money to their winners as seed funding for their business. Here are some of them:

Are you ready for finance? (link to page) – find out what it takes for your business to be ready for an investment, loan or seed funding. What do investors look for when they look for entrepreneurs to support? Read this interview with three investors and find out (link to article in The Accelerator Magazine)

Getting a bank to provide you a loan is a very big challenge for any start-up business. But there are some opportunities for young businesses to be considered for a loan. Business Development Fund, BDF provides loan guarantees to start-up entrepreneurs and established business through their business fund. (link to page). Atikus is a US-based organisation that provides loan guarantees for SMEs and start-ups in Rwanda. Through partners they also deliver trainings and coaching to support the businesses to grow. (link to page)