Entrepreneurs with already existing business or innovations, and
aspiring entrepreneurs with just an idea in the mentioned thematic
areas can apply.
September 2022
3rd-5th November 2022
12th-15th December 2022
16th December 2022
December 2022
December 2022 – April 2023
Call for Applications. After the application phase, the most promising applicants will go through an interview to be able to select the best 20 SMEs. The selected 20 SMEs will be invited to.
Bootcamp phase 1. Bootcamp 1 will be a high-intensity physical three days training in Gulu whereby the businesses receive in-depth support in terms of;
Understanding the target market, improving their products, understanding their business model, and going deeper into finance and sales strategies. The SMEs will leave the Bootcamp with clear deliverables and tasks to work on until Bootcamp phase 2.
Bootcamp phase 2 will take place 1 – 2 months after the first Bootcamp so that SMEs have time to implement some of the learnings. Before the Bootcamp, there will be a pre-selection based on progress, and only 15 SMEs get invited to the second phase. The second Bootcamp phase will be four days (Monday – Thursday) and go deeper into strategy, team, finance, and pitching.
Pitch Event: The day after the second Bootcamp (Friday), participants attend the Pitch Event in Gulu, where the 15 SMEs present their businesses to relevant stakeholders and the interested public. During the Pitch Event, an expert jury will evaluate all 15 teams and finally select the top 5 – 7 main winners based on the solution’s impact, business model, team, and potential for scale and job creation.
The main winners will receive a share of a grant of UGX40,000,000 plus additional five months of mentorship. In addition, 3 – 5 promising early-stage ideas will receive microgrants of up to UGX1,000,000 and mentorship.