Deadline: 27 March 2025
Applications are now open for NOWEDIF’s (North West Development and Investment Fund) Digital Entrepreneurship Program 2025.
Looking for 100 youths passionate about digital entrepreneurship and 25 startups to drive the North- West Region’s transformation into a fast-growing digital economy.
Focus Areas
- Looking for high potential youths and startups building the future of:
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Vertical farming, food preservation and transformation, farm to market solutions, genetically engineered pestresistant crops, precision agriculture, Al pest control, smart irrigation, agricultural drones, automated livestock monitoring, sustainable aquaculture, food traceability
- Natural Resources & Mining
- Smart mineral exploration, automated mining operations, Al safety monitoring, environmental rehabilitation, carbon offsetting, waste management in mining, water purification technologies, blockchain-based resource tracking, sustainable resource extraction.
- Manufacturing
- Al production lines, industrial robotics, additive manufacturing, automated quality control, smart materials, digital twins for factory simulation, predictive maintenance, autonomous supply chain systems, decentralized manufacturing.
- Construction & Infrastructure
- Smart buildings, digital twins for urban planning, public-private partnership management, modular and prefabricated housing, co-living solutions, blockchain land registries, Al infrastructure monitoring, 3D printing in construction, Al data centers
- Energy & Utilities
- Renewable energy solutions, decentralized energy grids, smart meters, Al grid optimization, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen fuel cells, waste to energy systems, energy efficiency analytics, microgrid solutions, Al electricity demand forecasting, small modular reactors
- Wholesale & Retail Trade
- E-commerce, supply chain optimization, smart warehouses, trade finance, augmented reality shopping, automated checkout systems, personalized customer analytics, digital trade platforms, last mile delivery optimization.
- Financial Services
- Digital banking, stablecoin-based payments, Al lending, alternative credit scoring, crowdfunding platforms, blockchain for cross-border payments, fraud detection, RegTech solutions for compliance, decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure, Al insurance, Al asset management.
- Real Estate & PropTech
- Al property valuation, smart property management, co-living solutions, digital real estate transactions, blockchain- based property registries, Al rental pricing models, smart home automation, real estate investment analytics.
- Professional Service
- Al-powered legal research, automated accounting, digital tax advisory, Al HR and recruitment solutions, Al business consulting, corporate governance automation, compliance and risk management tools, Al client relationship management
- Transportation & Logistics
- Autonomous delivery vehicles, drone logistics, Al fleet management, smart warehousing, supply chain visibility solutions, automated freight matching, low-altitude transportation, Al ports and airport optimization, digital visa processing solutions.
- Tourism & Hospitality
- Al travel recommendation engines, smart hotel automation, travel identity verification, augmented reality tourism experiences, dynamic pricing models for travel, personalized digital concierge services, Al language translation.
- Education & Training
- Al personalized learning, virtual reality education, blockchain-based credential verification, skills assessment automation, digital vocational training, Al tutoring systems, smart classrooms, immersive training programs.
- Healthcare & Pharma
- Al medical diagnostics, automated clinical trials, smart electronic health records, telemedicine, drug discovery using machine learning, healthcare digital twins, wearable health monitoring, predictive analytics for disease prevention, Al mental health support
- Media & Entertainment
- Al content generation, automated news writing, Al music and video production, esports analytics, gaming, virtual reality experiences, personalized media streaming, Al video editing tools.
- Government Services
- Al e-governance, digital public service automation, blockchain-based voting systems, Al regulatory compliance, automated tax collection, smart city governance platforms, data-driven policymaking solutions, Al legislation.
- Defense & Security
- Cybersecurity, autonomous drones, Al surveillance, identity management solutions, spacetech, satellite communications, national security analytics, Al-driven threat detection, air defense systems, biometric security solutions
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Funding Information
- Capital
- Startups will receive equity funding between $10k-$100k to develop launch, and scale their businesses. This investment aims to grow innovative companies from the region, creating jobs and economic impact in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
Additional Benefits
- Acceleration
- Selected youths and startups get hands on training in building AI first products, and market access. Participants will gain access to regional and national mentors, as well as business introductions and market opportunities to help scale their
- U.S. Immersion
- Top startups will be immersed in the U.S. from October to December 2025, gaining access to global investors and business networks. The objective is to secure follow-on capital for their startups.
Eligibility Criteria
- High Potential Youths
- Graduates from any field, young professionals, innovators, startup founders, and researchers passionate about digital entrepreneurship. No technical background is required
- Stage
- Whether you have an idea or an existing startup, you are eligible to apply if your solution can drive digital transformation and create jobs in the North-West Region
- Geography
- Applicants from anywhere in the world are encouraged to apply, as long as their idea or startup is focused on creating jobs and economic opportunities for youths in the North-West Region of Cameroon
For more information, visit NOWEDIF.