Controlled submission and founder-rights documentation
Designed as a connected component of the programme pathway, with defined responsibilities, evidence and participant support.
Venture-building initiative
Co-Build for Africa
A founder-conscious pathway for evaluating, validating, co-building, launching and growing African innovations.
CoBAConnected to the I-FEEDIA framework
01
Programme purpose
Why it exists
A founder-conscious pathway for evaluating, validating, co-building, launching and growing African innovations.
A founder-conscious mechanism for securely evaluating, validating, co-building, launching and growing socio-economically viable African innovations.
CoBA combines controlled idea evaluation, founder-rights documentation, market validation, collaborator verification, venture agreements, customer development and investment preparation within a trusted venture-building process.
The programme is coordinated within the wider CIE Africa ecosystem and implemented through appropriately defined chapter, institution and partner roles.
02
Programme components
The capabilities assembled around this programme.
Specific cohorts and country applications may adapt delivery while preserving the programme’s mandate and safeguards.
Problem, solution and market validation
Designed as a connected component of the programme pathway, with defined responsibilities, evidence and participant support.
Verified collaborator and venture-team formation
Designed as a connected component of the programme pathway, with defined responsibilities, evidence and participant support.
Transparent venture agreements, build support and investment readiness
Designed as a connected component of the programme pathway, with defined responsibilities, evidence and participant support.
03
Participation pathway
A transparent route from programme fit to measurable outcomes.
Entry does not guarantee funding, employment, investment or commercial partnership; progression depends on evidence, readiness and the opportunity available.
Expression and fit
Participants or partners enter through an application, call, referral or institutional engagement and are assessed against transparent programme criteria.
Assessment and preparation
Needs, capability, risks, rights, responsibilities and readiness are clarified before substantive programme participation begins.
Structured participation
Participants progress through practical activities, expert support, evidence requirements, reviews and agreed milestones relevant to the programme.
Opportunity connection
Where readiness is demonstrated, participants connect with suitable employers, customers, partners, institutions, markets, infrastructure or capital.
Outcomes and follow-through
Results, lessons and continuing needs are documented to support accountability, improvement, alumni engagement and responsible scale.
04
Who participates
Designed for the actors required to make the pathway work.
Participation and partnership roles are assessed according to relevance, capability, integrity and contribution.
01Founders, innovators and research teams
Explore the appropriate application, partnership or institutional engagement pathway.
↗02Verified professional and technical contributorsExplore the appropriate application, partnership or institutional engagement pathway.
↗03Customers, industry experts and institutional partnersExplore the appropriate application, partnership or institutional engagement pathway.
↗04Funders and responsible venture-building partnersExplore the appropriate application, partnership or institutional engagement pathway.
↗05
Intended outcomes
What successful delivery should make possible.
Targets and indicators are defined for each cohort, country application or implementation partnership.
Protected and better-validated innovations
Measured through relevant participant, enterprise, employment, institutional, market or community evidence.
Stronger founding and execution teams
Measured through relevant participant, enterprise, employment, institutional, market or community evidence.
Credible products, ventures and customer evidence
Measured through relevant participant, enterprise, employment, institutional, market or community evidence.
Fair, transparent pathways to funding and growth
Measured through relevant participant, enterprise, employment, institutional, market or community evidence.
Programme safeguards
Clear participation without automatic transfer of rights.
Application, screening, training or general programme support does not by itself create employment, investment, equity, ownership or commercial rights.
Transparent criteria
Selection, progression, support and decisions follow documented programme requirements.
Data and confidentiality
Participant and institutional information is handled for legitimate purposes with appropriate access controls.
Founder and IP protection
Ownership remains with its lawful holder unless a separate transparent agreement provides otherwise.
Partner accountability
Delivery, funding, representation and decision responsibilities are defined and monitored.
Engage with CoBA
Apply, partner or contribute relevant capability.
Explore current opportunities or discuss a country, institutional, delivery, knowledge, technology, market or funding partnership.
Explore Opportunities