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Young Entrepreneur Grant

Catalytic non-repayable grant of UGX 3,000,000 for visionary Ugandan youth aged 18–30 with innovative ideas, seed-stage startups, or early-stage enterprises.

Facility Size UGX 3,000,000 Non-Repayable · Not a Loan

Program Summary & Target Demographic Admin Fee: UGX 20,000

Target Group Youth innovators and entrepreneurs aged 18–30 at application. May be idea-stage, startup or early-stage.

Application Fee Character Non-refundable administrative review fee. Payment does NOT guarantee selection.

Age Requirements 18 to 30 years at time of application.

Revenue Criteria Revenue threshold waived for genuine idea-stage and early startup youth founders!

Detailed Eligibility Requirements (Spec Section 3 & 4)

Applicant age between 18 and 30 years at date of submission.
Valid national identification (NIN or Passport).
Viable business idea, innovative concept, or early-stage venture.
Revenue requirement waived for genuine idea-stage youth founders.
Evidence of market demand (surveys, pilot activity, letters of intent, pre-orders).
Demonstrated personal skills, passion, or technical competence.
Itemized, realistic budget demonstrating full utilization of UGX 3,000,000.
Adherence to applicant code of ethics and declaration.

Official 100-Point Independent Scoring Rubric

Evaluated independently by the 3 active judges under blind scoring conditions (unnecessary personal identifiers hidden; fee amount hidden as "Payment Verified").

Dimension / Criterion	Max Points	Judging Guidance
Business Idea & Innovation	20 pts	Originality, problem-solving value, uniqueness in the Ugandan market, and competitive edge.
Market Demand & Customer Evidence	20 pts	Concrete proof that customers want the solution (pilot feedback, pre-orders, testimonials).
Business Model & Revenue Potential	20 pts	Commercial viability, revenue streams, cost awareness, and long-term sustainability.
Feasibility with UGX 3,000,000	15 pts	Whether the UGX 3,000,000 is sufficient to achieve tangible, milestone-driven launch or proof-of-concept.
Job Creation for Youth	10 pts	Opportunity to employ self and additional young people in the community.
Relevant Skills & Technical Knowledge	10 pts	Founder capability, domain expertise, resilience, and readiness to execute.
Social & Economic Impact	5 pts	Positive community contribution, environmental responsibility, or youth empowerment.
Total Available Merit Score	100 pts	Minimum competitive threshold applies

Tie-Breaking Rules (Spec Section 13 & Weekly Policy Section 9)

Where two or more eligible applicants receive the same final score from the Selection Committee, published criteria are applied in strict sequential order:

Order of priority: (1) Market Demand → (2) Idea/Innovation → (3) Revenue Potential → (4) Feasibility with UGX 3M → (5) Job Creation.
If still tied: Documented finalist interview on Explanation (5), Market Knowledge (5), Use of Funds (5), Execution Ability (5) = 20 pts.
Final procedure: Documented final tie-break among finalists under legal review without preferential treatment.

Finalist Interview Stage: If still tied after substantive dimensions, an identical 20-point interview presentation is conducted on: Explanation (5 pts), Market/Customer Knowledge (5 pts), Use of UGX 3,000,000 (5 pts), and Ability to Execute (5 pts).

Ready to Apply?

Complete your application online via our responsive web portal or via our dedicated Meta WhatsApp Cloud API channel.

Start Application → Track Existing Application

Required Documents Checklist

Valid National ID (NIN) or Passport
Proof of Business Ownership / Concept Note
Evidence of Market Demand / Surveys
Itemized UGX 3,000,000 Budget Breakdown

Disqualification Warning

Under Spec Section 3, false, misleading, altered, or fraudulent documents trigger immediate disqualification and an auditable fraud-review case.