Monrovia, Liberia – Jewel Starfish Foundation (JSF), SATEC Liberia, and the Center for Public-Private Development (CEPDEV), in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), have successfully hosted an intensive Entrepreneurial Readiness & Grant Access Support Initiative (TEF Application Session).
The initiative was held at the Jewel Starfish Foundation Head Office in Congo Town. The four-hour, hands-on session brought together 30 female-led businesses from across Monrovia, all determined to access the prestigious Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme — a flagship continental initiative empowering African entrepreneurs with funding, training, mentorship, and global exposure.
Opening the session, Pekay Nyepon, Executive Director of Jewel Starfish Foundation, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of the initiative in advancing economic independence for young people — particularly women and girls in Liberia.
“This program is not just about funding,” he emphasized. “It is about building sustainable businesses that transform families, communities, and the nation.”
Providing an overview of the event, Elkana Vah, Head of Communication at CEPDEV, highlighted the power of collaboration among local institutions to unlock global opportunities for Liberian entrepreneurs.
The technical session was led by John McCauley Jr., Founder and Team Lead of SATEC Liberia and a TEF Alumnus. Drawing from firsthand experience, he delivered a comprehensive walkthrough of the TEF application portal, breaking down:
• Core eligibility criteria and selection processes
• Key application sections: Personal Information, Business Profile, and Core Proposition
• The top five mistakes Liberian entrepreneurs often make — and how to avoid them
• Practical strategies for crafting competitive and compelling proposals
Participants also engaged in breakout mentoring sessions focused on:
• Concept & Impact Development – Clarifying scalability and societal relevance
• Financial Projections & Business Viability – Simplifying numbers and presenting realistic forecasts
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme annually selects thousands of entrepreneurs across 54 African countries, providing:
• US$5,000 non-refundable seed capital
• 12 weeks of intensive online business training
• One-on-one mentorship from experienced business leaders
• Access to global networking opportunities
• Ongoing support through the TEFConnect digital platform
The programme supports ventures across agriculture, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, creative industries, services, and more — sectors that are critical to Liberia’s economic growth. Throughout the session, participants expressed gratitude for what many described as “timely and practical support.” For many startups in Liberia, access to seed capital remains a major barrier to growth. The mentorship session not only demystified the TEF process but also boosted participants’ confidence to apply competitively. “This is the kind of guidance we have been searching for,” one participant noted during the interactive Q&A segment.
Delivering the closing remarks, Abraham Varney, Founder and Team Lead of CEPDEV, praised the commitment and engagement displayed by participants. He encouraged young entrepreneurs to embrace collaboration, using the partnership between JSF, SATEC Liberia, and CEPDEV as a model for collective progress. “Growth happens faster when we work together,” he stated.
At the conclusion of the session, participants received certificates of participation and engaged in vibrant networking exchanges aimed at fostering long-term business partnerships and peer support. The Organizers are calling on: Female entrepreneurs across Liberia to connect and prepare for future sessions; Private sector actors to support women-led enterprises, and Development partners to strengthen grant-access ecosystems across the country.
