Deadline:
October 31, 2025
Location(s)
United States of America Worldwide
Overview
We are innovators scaling ventures to unlock the full potential of our people.
We are signatories of the Harambe Declaration, who have pledged “to work together as one to fulfill the dream of our generation.
”We are visionaries who believe that “the Africa our generation desires can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible. It is ours.”
Details
BUILDING AFRICA’S FUTURE
DIVERSE.
COMPETITIVE.
IMPACTFUL.Harambeans are emboldening a generation of African innovators and developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem to transform ideas into scalable solutions across Africa.
OUR APPROACH
- CULTURE: Our culture is what binds our entrepreneurs, investors, and partners together – a meritocratic collaboration built on trust and driven by a shared desire to scale our impact. Our culture permeates every aspect of our work and is reaffirmed each year with the ceremonial signing of the Harambe Declaration.
- PROGRAMS: In partnership with a select coterie of investors, universities, family offices, and corporations, Harambe tailors programs that leverage the best practices and insights within our Alliance to address the needs of African entrepreneurs.
- SEED FUND: Over the course of our first decade, Harambeans spawned a series of tech-enabled ventures across Africa which have collectively attracted over $300 million from investors such as Google Ventures, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Alibaba. To build on this success, Cisco capitalized the Harambe Seed Fund (HSF) — a rules-based co-investment vehicle which enables Harambe to invest in high performing teams and direct global investors to the next generation of high growth African entrepreneurs.
BECOME A HARAMBEAN
If you are a young African innovator, grateful for the sacrifices of previous generations and conscious of the challenges ahead, yet eager to take your turn at Africa’s helm, we invite you to become a Harambean.Join us in Building Africa’s Future!
- Early Admission Deadline: September 30, 2025
- Regular Admission Deadline: October 31, 2025
A Brief History of our Alliance
Derived from Harambee — Swahili for working together towards a common purpose — the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance got its start in 2008. Founded by Harvard educated Okendo Lewis-Gayle, Harambe was inspired by the words of President Barack Obama, who urged Okendo at his college graduation to “hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself.” Okendo decided to take the advice and the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance was born. What began as a “Dream on a Piece of Paper” has now blossomed into an alliance of over 250 Harambeans strong.More than an organization, Harambe represents a core set of values, forever enshrined in the Harambe Declaration and reaffirmed each year, through an official signing ceremony, by Harambeans at the historic Mount Washington Hotel.Culled from a competitive applicant pool of candidates from leading universities around the world, Harambeans are spearheading social and business ventures across Africa and have raised capital from leading investors in China, Europe, and the United States. Recognized by the African Union, the Economist and the Vatican, Harambeans epitomize the can-do spirit of the new generation of African leaders.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Harambeans are young African innovators who are scaling social and business ventures across sectors, raised capital from prominent investors such as Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, and gained the endorsement of the African Union, Vanity Fair and the Queen of England among others.
Dates
Deadline: October 31, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
As Harambeans, we are establishing an ecosystem of opportunities.
In partnership with a select coterie of investors, universities, family offices, and corporations, Harambe tailors programs that leverage the best practices and insights within our Alliance to address the needs of African entrepreneurs. This is more than training and more practical than education; it’s an immersive, values-driven methodology which inspires Harambeans to fulfil their destinies. Programs include:
- Prizes
- Travel Grants
- Angel Investment Matching
- Seed Funding Co-Investment
- Harambe Bretton Woods Symposium
As Harambeans, we are investing in Africa’s future.
Over the course of our first decade, Harambeans spawned a series of tech-enabled ventures across Africa which have collectively attracted over $300 million from investors such as Google Ventures, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and and Alibaba. To build on this success, Cisco established the Harambe Seed Fund (HSF) – a rule-based, co-investment vehicle which enables Harambe to invest in high performing teams and direct global investors to the next generation of high growth African entrepreneurs. HSF’s expects to make its first capital deployment in Q3 2019. To access the Harambe Seed Fund entrepreneurs must meet following criteria:
- Demonstrate commitment to the principles and values of the Harambe Declaration.
- Be a Harambean or be nominated to Harambe by candidate’s angels or institutional investors.
- Have secured investment from a Harambean, Harambe Angel, or Harambe Co-investment Partner.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
