ACE SME Acceleration Program
Built for women founders ready to scale.
ASAP will accelerate 40–50 women-led Ethiopian SMEs every year through structured training, weekly mentorship, and direct investor access.
Women-owned MSMEs in Ethiopia
SMEs to accelerate annually
Training modules
Core pillars
The Problem We Solve
Women-led SMEs in Ethiopia are underserved — by design.
ASAP exists because the gap is real, the founders are capable, and the ecosystem has failed to show up for them.
Growth-stage founders have nowhere to go.
Most accelerators focus on ideation and early-stage ventures. Growth-stage SMEs — with real revenue and real teams — get almost no structured support.
The barriers are layered, not single.
Women founders face compounding barriers — limited access to collateral-based credit, narrower professional networks, and a scarcity of dedicated working space.
What ASAP Offers
Five support areas, one integrated programme.
Every ASAP offering is designed to compound — so training reinforces mentorship, networking opens investor doors, and CoLab keeps the community alive.
Structured Training
14 rigorously designed modules across 6 business pillars, delivered over 16 weeks by experienced facilitators.
Learn more1-on-1 Mentorship
Weekly sessions with a dedicated mentor from our expert network — 320 to 400 hours of guidance per cohort.
Learn morePeer Networking
Four structured events per cohort: a sensitisation workshop, monthly deep-dives, a quarterly panel, and Demo Day.
Learn moreACE CoLab Access
Full access to ACE CoLab's coworking space in Kazanchis — your training venue, workspace, and community hub.
Learn moreInvestor Matching
Direct exposure to angel investors, DFIs, and development partners through curated introductions and Demo Day.
Learn moreThe Programme
From application to Demo Day in 20 weeks.
A clear, structured journey — so you know exactly what to expect at every stage.
Phase 1: Application — 2 weeks
- Submit 5-step online application
- Upload pitch deck & financial documents
- Initial eligibility screening by case team
- Shortlist announced by end of week 2
- Submit 5-step online application
- Upload pitch deck & financial documents
- Initial eligibility screening by case team
- Shortlist announced by end of week 2
The Curriculum
Six pillars. Fourteen modules. One cohesive programme.
Every module builds toward the same goal: a business that is financially sound, operationally strong, and investor-ready.
Organizational Strategy
Clear direction, competitive edge, scalable operations
Business Strategy
Operational Strategy
+1 more
Financial Management
Sound finances, investor-ready books, sustainable growth
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
Pricing Strategy & Revenue Optimization
+1 more
Marketing & Market Development
Know your market, own your brand, grow your customer base
Strategic Human Resource Management
Ethiopian Labor Law for SMEs
Leadership & People Management
Lead with purpose, build high-performing teams
Marketing & Sales Strategy
Customer Experience Design & Management
Digital Transformation & Technology
Harness digital tools to scale faster and smarter
Data Analysis & Management
Legal, Governance & Compliance
Protect your business, earn stakeholder trust
Business Licensing & Sectoral Compliance
Legal Framework and Governance
+1 more
The ACE Ecosystem
ASAP doesn't stand alone.
Three complementary ACE offerings work together to surround our members with space, community, and inspiration — before, during, and after the programme.
Our Impact Commitment
We measure what matters.
ASAP tracks 13 KPIs across four outcome areas from day one. These are our targets for the 2024–2029 programme phase.
SMEs targeted by Q4 2029
Across 5 cohorts in the programme's first phase
Mentorship hours per cohort
Dedicated 1-on-1 time with expert mentors
Securing funding within 1 year
Of ASAP graduates accessing debt or equity financing
Full KPI dashboard with real-time progress tracking — updated each cohort.
View full impact dashboardFounder Stories
Voices from the cohort.
Real stories from the women building Ethiopia's next wave of growth businesses.
The first voices are being written.
Our inaugural cohort is in the making. The founders who join in 2026 will be the first to share their stories here.
Applications Open — 2026 Cohort
Ready to scale your business?
Applications for the 2026 inaugural cohort are now open. Join 20–25 exceptional women-led SMEs building Ethiopia's future.