Chuma Aroh, an experienced expert in grant writing, has developed the Applai platform to support African entrepreneurs in securing funding.
Inspiration behind Applai
At an event in Abuja organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), numerous entrepreneurs shared their struggles. Chuma Aroh, inspired by their stories, contemplated how to help them find suitable grants more easily, which laid the foundation for the development of the Applai platform.
Challenges for Grant Seekers in Africa
Chuma Aroh identified five key challenges faced by African grant seekers:
* **Research paralysis**: Founders often spend a lot of time searching for information online but struggle to find adequate opportunities. * **Eligibility confusion**: Founders often do not understand whether their projects fit grant criteria. * **Writing skills gap**: Grant writing is a specialized process that not everyone can learn. * **Deadline management chaos**: Entrepreneurs face multiple tasks, including grant applications, leading to chaos. * **Impact reporting struggles**: Once receiving a grant, reporting can be complex, which may lead to losing renewal opportunities.
Future of Applai and its Goals
Applai aims to shift the grant-seeking process by helping users find suitable opportunities faster and simplifying application submission. Chuma Aroh plans to establish a public database of social entrepreneurs and charitable organizations across Africa to enhance visibility and access to resources. The platform will also offer tools for impact reporting, which will foster not only funding but also trust between donors and recipients.
Chuma Aroh and his team aim to not just find grants successfully but also to create an ecosystem that fosters real impacts on communities and businesses across Africa.
