YES-FI partners
The Young Entrepreneurs Sustainable Financing Initiative (YES FI) provides growing entrepreneurs with financing (both working capital and investments) between EUR 5 000 and EUR 50 000 in various African and Central American countries. Debt repayments are based on the entrepreneur’s monthly turnover instead of repaying fixed amounts.
The programme finances entrepreneurs to create a financing history with local financial institutions, which can then take over the subsequent financing rounds at a lower risk and without ADA’s support. In this context, ADA collaborates with several structures (incubators and accelerators) that provide training, advice and financing to young companies with a potential for innovation or social impact.
West Africa
- La Fabrique in Burkina Faso
La Fabrique is an incubator entirely dedicated to the co-construction of social and responsible enterprises in West Africa. Since 2014, it has supported social entrepreneurs with high potential in Burkina Faso and the sub-region, in order to co-construct sustainable, high-impact enterprises.
- DoniLab in Mali
DoniLab is a business incubator based in Bamako in Mali. It covers activity sectors where there is a great deal of innovation potential, namely ICT, healthcare and social innovation. DoniLab’s main mission is to support young businesses and innovative start-ups in the different project development phases, from the idea stage to the drafting of the business plan, and then the raising of capital. To succeed in its missions, the incubator works with international and local organisations to come up with programmes that aim to encourage innovation amongst young people and provide them with the necessary support in terms of entrepreneurship.
- JokkoLabs in Senegal
JokkoLabs is an international, private, not-for-profit initiative launched in Dakar, Senegal. It is an independent “action group” that aims to identify and support the innovative ideas of entrepreneurs in the digital economy, cultural industries and media to create a community of entrepreneurs and drive prosperity for all. There are now several divisions for 9 countries, the majority of which are in West Africa.
Central America
- Impact Hub Managua in Nicaragua
Impact Hub Managua is an organisation that aims to strengthen and develop entrepreneurial ecosystems and promote entrepreneurial spirit in an innovative and inclusive way. A member of the global Impact Hub network, Impact Hub Managua has been working in Nicaragua since October 2018, helping entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas through various training and coaching programmes, and by putting them in touch with other entrepreneurs, investors and relevant players in order to generate business opportunities.
- Alterna in Guatemala
Alterna is a social innovation and inclusive entrepreneurship platform established in Guatemala as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission is to help entrepreneurs in Central America increase their economic and social impact through training and consultancy services and by presenting them with additional opportunities (impact investment, access to the market). Founded in 2010, Alterna has worked with more than 2,000 businesses with different profiles and in a variety of sectors (rural, urban, start-up, growth) in Guatemala and Central America and has extensive experience with international and local cooperation organisations.