Programme
General information
Are you an ambitious safe water enterprise creating an impact in terms of service improvements in Uganda? You have a sound business model and track record, as well as first sales under your belt? Join us for capacity building, networking, and financing opportunities to elevate your business to new heights.
What´s in it for you?
- Receive technical assistance to improve your business model, internal structure, governance, and SDG-related impact management with top sector-leading experts and trainers.
- Benefit from a €10,000 catalytic micro-grant to enhance your scaling capacities and test your implementation performance.
- Develop sustainable financing models to become (impact) investment-ready and ensure long-term operations.
- Connect with peers and investors, unlock impact capital and receive facilitation support and technical backstopping during the process.
- Scale your business and and improve water services for millions of people across Uganda and beyond.
Implementation Mode
| Face to face | Meet and work with us face-to-face during the programme’s bootcamps in Uganda.
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| Online | Work online with us on specific tasks of the acceleration programme and join us on Zoom for key input sessions.
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| Hybrid | Receive individual coaching, focused training, and networking as well as peer-learning opportunities both off-/ and online.
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| On site | Develop and implement business transformation projects with our technical and financial support.
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Timeline
| Submission deadline | 6 May 2025 Submit your application before 6 May 2025 |
| Interviews of pre-selected entrepreneurs | 7 -12 May 2025 Online interviews will be conducted with shortlisted candidates |
| Program kick-off | 28 May 2025 Attend the online program kick-off session (ONLINE) |
| Enterprise diagnostic (virtual and field visits) | 9 June – 6 July 2025 Benchmark your business and establish your acceleration objectives with customized coaching support |
| 1st Acceleration bootcamp | 9 – 11 July 2025 A 3-day in-person training to develop your financial model and project your growth path over the next 5 years |
| 2nd Acceleration bootcamp | 1 – 5 September 2025 Strategize to scale your market potential and design your investment projects with experts and peers during a 5-day in-person training (F2F) |
| Transformation project | September – October 2025 Demonstrate your ability to deliver by converting a USD 10,000 catalytic grant into a successful business transformation project (ON SITE) |
| Financial Modelling | September – October 2025 Ongoing Support to improve your financial model |
| Investor matchmaking | December 2025 – onwards Consolidate your business data room as a solid basis for investor engagement and long-term partnerships (ONLINE) |
| Continuous follow-up support | January – June 2026 Receive dedicated, tailored coaching support from globally experienced and locally embedded sanitation business development experts (HYBRID) |
| Program closure | July 2026 Reflect on lessons learned and become part of a global network of innovative sanitation businesses (ONLINE) |
Categories
We invite companies that identify with one or several of the following product or service categories to apply. Please make sure to indicate the focus of your business clearly in your application.
- Water filter model
- Water kiosk model
- Piped water model
- (Hand-pump) maintenace model
- Supporting technologies and solutions to increase efficiency, affordability and access to water supply services
Eligibility
To apply, you should comply with the following conditions:
- Maturity: Your product/service should be developed and tested, and you should have existing paying customers.
- Registration type: Your company should be duly registered in Uganda.
- Solution: Your focus should be directly related to water supply (see categories), and your solution shouldn’t create or contribute to environmental problems.
- Business & revenue model: You should be able to demonstrate a clear customer focus, not just a dependency on philanthropic or development grants.
- Impact potential: Your solution should showcase a clear potential to achieve or contribute to the SDG 6.1 target extending water services at the base of the pyramid.
- Team: Your company should be locally grown and led.
- Growth plan: Show us through your application that you have an appetite for risk, want to grow and create impact, know your gaps and have reasonable investment needs.
FAQ
How much time do I have to commit to participating in the programme?
Participation in the Safe Water Accelerator is a time-intensive endeavour and will require an average dedication of 4 hours per week. However, during peak moments throughout the programme, such as the transformation project and technical assistance, the time commitment may be much higher. Additionally, participants must be fully present for all programme components, including the face-to-face bootcamps, which will last for 5 consecutive full days. Availability to travel for these trainings is a prerequisite! The programme starts in May 2025 and ends in june 2026.
What does the participation cost?
Participation in the programme itself is free of charge. This means that all direct costs related to participating in the acceleration programme, including trainings, networking events, coaching sessions, etc., are covered by us. However, a symbolic fee of 150 USD will be collected per person for the face-to-face bootcamps. The rest of the bootcamp expenses (travel, accommodation, meals, etc.) will also be covered by us. Please note that only one person per company will be covered to attend these events, but you have the option of one additional team member attending at your own expense. Participants also can access a catalytic grant of up to USD 10,000. This fund is to be used exclusively for the transformation project developed during the programme.
Who from my team should participate?
Working with us requires intense collaboration, and we require either the CEO or an appropriate representative (e.g. co-founder, business development director, etc.) to participate as the single point of contact throughout the entire duration of the programme, particularly for key events such as bootcamps, and pitching events.