Your Funding Journey: APGB Funding & Growth Programme
Designed for ambitious female entrepreneurs and SME founders expanding between the UK and Portuguese- & English-speaking African markets (e.g., expanding a UK SME to Cabo Verde, Angola, or Mozambique). We prepare your venture to pitch with authority and secure institutional growth capital.
How We Work With You
We connect UK businesses with companies across Portuguese- and English-speaking African markets, helping founders attract capital, scale into new territories, and foster meaningful bilateral exchange.
Over the course of 4 to 9 months, our executive team works side-by-side with you to ensure your business is fully investor-ready. We bridge the gap between entrepreneurial vision and the stringent financial, legal, and governance metrics required by global angels, venture debt funds, impact investors, and development finance institutions.
By combining strategic foresight with local, in-market expertise across London, Luanda, Maputo, and Praia, we deliver customized advisory guided by discretion, cultural intelligence, and long-term value creation.
Program Snapshot
- Duration: 4 to 9 Months (Intensive hybrid model)
- Target Cohort: Ambitious Female Founders & Cross-Border SME Leaders
- Focus Markets: United Kingdom, Cabo Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe
- Delivery Languages: Bilingual (English & Portuguese)
- Eligible Sectors: Agribusiness, Renewable Energy, Fashion & Textiles, Education, Digital Services, and Sustainable Consumer Products
- Cap-Table Support: Cap-table structuring, term sheet negotiation, and valuation defense
The 10 Core Value Deliverables
What every participating founder achieves through the APGB Funding & Growth Programme.
Holistic Business Evaluation
A comprehensive 360-degree review of your corporate business model, operational workflows, unit economics, and market positioning to identify hidden bottlenecks and immediate growth levers.
Strengthened Financial Literacy
In-depth coaching from senior CFA asset managers on financial metrics, cash-flow modeling, sensitivity analysis, and investor return hurdles to bolster decision-making confidence.
Legal Risk Mitigation
Comprehensive corporate compliance audits ensuring full alignment with local African statutory codes and international standards (including UK Bribery Act 2010), de-risking investor scrutiny.
Tailored Funding Strategy
Bespoke capital formation architecture aligned with your stage and sector—whether structuring equity rounds, venture debt, trade finance, or blended concessional funding.
Professional Investment Documentation
Hands-on drafting and refinement of institutional-grade pitch decks, dynamic three-statement financial models, executive summaries, and data-room materials that meet VC standards.
Enhanced Investor Engagement Skills
Intensive pitch coaching, defensible valuation storytelling, and rigorous Q&A simulation rounds to sharpen your clarity, executive presence, and persuasive authority.
Direct Access to Investor Networks
Curated, qualified introductions to active angel syndicates, venture funds, family offices, and development finance institutions with specific mandates for Lusophone Africa and UK SMEs.
Hands-On Deal Facilitation
Senior executive advisory throughout the term sheet negotiation, valuation debate, due diligence review, and legal closing stages to ensure fair terms and founder equity protection.
Post-Funding Growth Support (Optional)
Ongoing executive mentorship, advisory board participation, and governance structuring to help you deploy capital efficiently, recruit leadership, and achieve expansion milestones.
Empowerment & Peer Community
Lifelong membership in an exclusive network of like-minded female founders, cross-border executives, and mentors for ongoing international collaboration, co-investment, and peer support.
The 12-Week Hybrid Curriculum
Presented by Alice Santos at Africa Women in Trade (AWT): "Winning Investor Trust & Positioning African SMEs for Global Scale".
Business Assessment & Strategy
Baseline audit of operations, revenue models, market validation, and definition of strategic growth milestones.
Financial Health & Valuation
Standardizing accounts, financial forecasting, working capital optimization, and defensible pre-money valuation.
Pitch Development & Storytelling
Crafting institutional investor decks that convey authentic market traction while addressing risk mitigation.
Legal & Governance Structuring
Cross-border entity setup, intellectual property registration, cap-table governance, and compliance certifications.
Mock Pitch Defense & Refinement
Live simulation panels with seasoned venture capitalists, testing unit economics, exit scenarios, and resilience.
Investor Showcase & Demo Day
Direct presentation before vetted angel syndicates, institutional funds, and international trade partners.
Apply for the APGB Funding & Growth Programme
Transform your business into an institution that commands investor trust and scales across borders.
We accept a limited cohort of founders each cycle to ensure personalized, one-on-one executive mentorship from Alice Santos, Liliya Dorozhovets, Rasin Yang, and Bridget Buckman.
Development Organization Partnerships
We actively welcome co-sponsorships with international development finance institutions, DFIs, trade missions, and accelerators interested in sponsoring seats for eligible Lusophone SMEs.