The Innovators Sprint Up Programme, an initiative under the dSkills@EA project, is reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape for East African youth. With its reach spanning the EAC Partner States Burundi, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda—the programme has empowered over 1,000 young people, equipping university students and graduates with essential skills to scale their innovations and to attract potential investors to support their initiatives.
Driven by the need to enhance digital skills and create employment opportunities, the three-month incubation programme immersed participants in robust training workshops as well as mentorship and coaching sessions led by experienced professionals, including successful founders and venture capitalists.
Further, participants engaged in hands-on modules covering topics like design thinking, business model canvas, marketing, financial planning, and investor readiness, providing them with practical exposure. “The marketing module has made me visualise my business from a more detailed perspective,” shares Derick Kainan Omona from Uganda, reflecting on the programme's profound impact on his approach to business.
This initiative not only addresses the skill gap but also fosters an enabling environment for business growth, ensuring that young innovators can effectively navigate the entrepreneurial landscape and gain access to the innovation ecosystem network. Moreover, it equips them to address local challenges and contribute to their communities.
At the heart of the programme were the National Pitch Competitions held in the EAC Partner States, where young innovators presented their ideas and solutions before a panel of potential investors and industry experts, who evaluated their business models, scalability, and community impact. According to research, startups that engage in pitching competitions often secure funding, with about 90% of those who pitch successfully obtaining investment within a year.
The national pitch competitions kicked off on 26 September 2024, being implemented across seven EAC Partner States, providing the platform to showcase the best viable and scalable innovations from the top 11 young innovators. From Uganda to Tanzania, these events highlighted innovations addressing health, i.e., software platforms for early breast cancer detection, agriculture and eco-initiatives, food security, sustainability, and more, with winners like Kirabo Zeridah Sarah and Natukunda Amanda Ethol in Uganda, Branice Otiende in Rwanda, and Tanzania’s Ibrahim Msangi leading in impactful initiatives.
Victor Materanya, Director General Umoja Sarl from DRC, appreciates this opportunity presented to young innovators like himself, sharing that “I have gained valuable insights into commercialising and marketing my business, and I am confident it will play a role in reducing unemployment in my country and beyond.”
These competitions are not only contests; they are transformative experiences, where participants have received critical feedback and established connections with investors and industry leaders.
Following the national competitions, the programme's top two winners from each Partner State will participate in a regional innovation tour, the grand finale, in Kenya and Rwanda, where they will be exposed to regional markets, connect with industry leaders, ideate with fellow entrepreneurs, and explore successful business models. This tour serves as a powerful platform to broaden their entrepreneurial perspectives, encouraging a collaborative vision that transcends national boundaries.
The success of the Innovators Sprint Up Programme is grounded in collaboration, with strategic support and partnerships with Entrepreneur Support Organizations in the region like the E4Impact Foundation and the Association of Startups and SME Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK), as well as with universities across the region, including the Universities of Rwanda, Lubumbashi, and Juba. This collaboration fosters a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem that links academia with the industry.
To further enhance a vibrant ecosystem, jointly implemented by GIZ and the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) as part of the German Development Cooperation’s commitment to EAC regional integration, the initiative collaborates with entities such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), and other GIZ projects in Tanzania, South Sudan, and Burundi, who are committed to empowering young people, innovations, and digital transformation in the region.
“Addressing the critical skills gap in innovation for young people in the region is very crucial for promoting digital transformation.” Noted Julia Schappert, Head of the Digital Transformation Center Tanzania.
To date, the programme has empowered over 2,000 young people, building on a similar successful initiative in 2022, strengthening East Africa’s future through entrepreneurship and innovation. The Innovators Sprint Up Programme continues to lay the groundwork for a future defined by young, impactful, and innovation-driven entrepreneurs across the region.
Find more information on the dSkills@EA project here.