Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub & Seed Financing Facility Incubation Programme

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Applications are open for Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub & Seed Financing Facility Incubation Programme. Are you an innovative entrepreneur ready to scale your business and create a lasting impact? The future of business in Lesotho is YOU! If you plan to and have potential, or are a high-growth, high-impact innovative SME or startup, this is your chance to take your enterprise to the next level.

The Government of Lesotho has received a loan from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank to implement the Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) Project. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to “increase access to business support services and financial products targeted at MSMEs and entrepreneurs, especially women and youth”.

The Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub and Seed Financing Facility (LEHSFF) under the CAFI Project invites innovative SMEs and startups to apply for the 4th Incubation Cycle, to run from May 2025 to November 2025.

This program, a key component of the CAFI Project, is designed to empower entrepreneurs already in, or are planning to build their businesses for high-growth and high-impact, particularly in tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, creative industries and technology & innovation, in alignment with the Second National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II).

Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub & Seed Financing Facility Benefits

This six months incubation program will benefit selected enterprises as they will receive:

Needs assessment for tailored mentorship, coaching, and industry expertise
Product or service refinement for market readiness
Business model refinement and technical assistance
Networking opportunities with investors and market stakeholders
Digitization support for enhanced efficiency
Capacitation on areas like financial management, marketing, human resources, compliance, operations, etc.
Facilitation of access to finance and investment opportunities for the enterprises by linking them with potential investors and other sources of financing
Assistance in developing a scalable two-year business plan

Eligibility Criteria

Enterprises with high growth potential and are innovative
Operational businesses with market-ready products
Full-time entrepreneurs committed to the six-month incubation
Businesses demonstrating scalability and job creation potential
Enterprises addressing developmental challenges through technology, science, or innovation
Enterprises ready to abide by environmental and social safeguards