Free Money for Your Business: The Truth About Grants and Equity

I just received a message this morning from one of my former mentees, Tej, and it reminded me why I do this. Tej is an everyday Nigerian business person just like me—no big connections, no special clubs—yet she just qualified for the Jerry Eze Foundation business grant.I’m writing this because many of you hear about grants, incubators, and accelerators and think, "Na dem dem! It’s for other people." I’m here to tell you it is for you. People are using these tools every single day to move their businesses forward, and you should be one of them.Here is the truth about what’s available:Grants: This is money "dashed" to you. Unlike a loan, you don’t pay it back with interest, and unlike equity, you don’t have to give up a share of your business or deal with a partner "chooking mouth" in your decisions. However, it comes with reporting and eligibility criteria.Incubators & Accelerators: If you are at the "embryo" or ideation stage, an incubator (like the Fate Foundation programs) helps you validate your idea. If you already have some traction (customers or users), an accelerator helps you scale from 5 customers to 50 etc.Networking: Beyond the money, these programs give you access to a network of collaborators and mentors that is immeasurable.Tej’s journey in cyclical fashion (sustainable, recycled Afrocentric style) wasn't easy; she had to juggle classes, tests, and running her business. When we started, she was overwhelmed, but we focused on narrowing down her ideas. You cannot push many things at once—pick one and "blow the hell out of it."Stop complaining about a "lack of finance." Finance is often just a symptom of a sales and marketing problem. Use the tools on your phone—AI like ChatGPT or Gemini—to research opportunities like the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) or the Jerry Eze grant.The opportunities are real. I know one person who got in, and there are 239 other spots. Why shouldn't the next one be you?