This workshop will include:

• Lecture on the elements of a successful plan and presentation that can attract funders.
• Selected entrepreneurs pitching their businesses to a panel of judges (funders, angels and individual donors) and receiving real-time feedback on how to improve their pitch and their business idea from a panel of judges. In preparation for the pitch entrepreneurs will have received mentoring for four weeks before the Conference.

Are you an entrepreneur with a business that qualifies for this great opportunity to present your business to a top-level panel?

You must submit an outline of your business by April 30 for consideration.

Criteria for selection as presenting entrepreneur:

• Clarity of business model. How does business make money?
• Clear market or impact qualified by market research.
• Quality of the founders & the management team - (solo founders do not qualify.)
• Proof of market traction - entrepreneurs who can show successful proof of concept or business growth will be preferred.

Entrepreneurs must be willing to commit substantial time to preparation of their plans during the mentoring period.

The workshop does not provide direct access to funding sources or guarantee funding.

    March 30-April 30: Submission of proposals for inclusion in Workshop closes.
    April 20: Notification to successful entrepreneurs.
    April 23-May 18: Mentoring. Dry runs on May 18.
    May 19: TANCon Conference. Presentations to panel.

Entrepreneurs wishing to be considered for inclusion in the Workshop should submit a 250-word maximum summary of their business, highlighting the above key criteria, to tancon@theafricannetwork.org by April 30 2012.

This workshop will provide a mentorship session to start-ups and entrepreneurs.

A small group will meet with a mentor for a 45-minute roundtable discussion on their entrepreneurial and business challenges.

This relationship between the mentors and entrepreneurs may continue after the conference is over and will be monitored by TAN.

At the end of this workshop session, you could expect the following:

• Communicate their business ideas or issues with your mentor
• A chance to discuss both goals and strategies with your mentor
• Explore the possibility of a long term mentor-mentee relationship

Sign up at tancon@theafricannetwork.org stating in less than 250 words the name and nature of your business, its location, number of years in business and areas of interest (business plan, funding, legal, marketing etc.)

• Mohamed Hersi, Founder and CEO, AfGlobe Communications
• Tara Lynn Gray, President and CEO, Yadari Enterprises
• Fred Jordan, Founder and Chairman, Africa Opportunity Fund
• Myles Stevens, Principal-in-Charge, Architect, Stevens & Associates
• Michael Wray, Partner, Hall Wray Consultants
• Landry Signé, Banting Fellow and Lecturer, Stanford University