Derived from the Swahili word for ‘bold’, ‘brave’, and ‘courageous’, Jasiri is a transformative program under Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies, dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to address critical societal challenges across Africa and meaningfully improve people’s lives. We invite visionary individuals from Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, passionate about building impactful businesses from scratch to apply for the Jasiri Talent Investor Program, Cohort 8. The application is open from 13th January 2025- 5th April 2025.
Youth unemployment is one of Africa’s most pressing challenges. Jasiri rmly believes that high-impact entrepreneurship is the key to unlocking the continent’s potential for job creation. Yet, aspiring entrepreneurs often face systemic barriers that hinder their ability to bring transformative ideas to life. Jasiri minimizes these barriers with a holistic, hands-on approach to entrepreneurship, ensuring that bold innovators can build businesses that benet society while contributing to an empowered, prosperous African citizenry.
Since 2021, we have supported 227 entrepreneurs who have created 93 ventures, with 81 of these ventures still active across 42 industries. These ventures operate in Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia, addressing diverse challenges in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, waste management, and more. Collectively, these startups have generated approximately 2,035 jobs and provided solutions that have positively impacted 12,627 individuals across their industries.
The Jasiri Talent Investor Program offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to:
