Enablis, Nethope to nuture 100 innovators in Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana

To enter the competition, aspiring entrepreneurs must submit their business ideas to Growing IT entrepreneurs at GITentrepreneurs@enablis.org before Friday 20th

Over the next year, the selected IT entrepreneurs will be trained on how to develop sustainable business plans, and how to start and run their businesses effectively.

They will also have access to platforms that create marketing linkages and funding for their startups.

The entries will be evaluated, scored, and ranked with the 100 finalists from three countries being announced in August 2012.

The winners will be accredited into the Enablis membership where they will receive personalised support for the next year aimed at empowering them to start businesses that are expected to create a combined 150 jobs.

Tech savvy youth from Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana have a chance to nurture their innovations thanks to a partnership between Enablis Network and NetHope.

The two firms aim to turn youth from universities, technical institutions and technological incubation centres into successful entrepreneurs.

They are eyeing 100 innovative technology ideas from the three East African countries.

“If they can get the necessary real-world entrepreneurial training and support, then they can start businesses that will create jobs for other unemployed youth,” Regional Director for Enablis East Africa Fredrick Kariuki said.

Speaking during the sign-off event on Wednesday, Mr. Kariuki said IT skills are currently in high demand and are generating opportunities for youth to participate in core segments of the economy.

“We want to inculcate entrepreneurship skills in local IT youth and create a fertile ground for them to develop their skills by training and funding them through loans,” he said.

The project will run concurrently in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana kicked off in Nairobi with a series of awareness sessions to be followed by the selection process where participants will be trained.

They will later present their ideas to a panel of judges, who will pick the best ideas that will be nurtured into viable businesses.

In Kenya, Enablis and NetHope target 50 entrepreneurs, 20 in Kigali and 30 from Accra. Moses Mwaura, President of Enablis Africa said that most IT innovations are created by young people who do not have the skills to transform them into successful businesses. “By bridging this gap, we believe that more young people will come up with solutions which will present thriving business opportunities,” said Mwaura.