Application Deadline: August 19 2013
Are you an entrepreneur and/or an innovator?
The I2I2 programme (Village Capital / GrowthAfrica 2) addresses the issues of moving from having a proof of concept for a product or service, to building a business to support the effective and continuous delivery of it to the identified target segment(s). 12-15 start-ups will participate in the programme, which relies heavily on peer-to-peer support as well as mentor interaction during the process of launching the product/service into the market. Business and financial modeling are key components in understanding how best to go to market for these entrepreneurs.
In partnership with GrowthAfrica and Village Capital, The GrowthHub is looking for Kenya’s top innovators who are using their ideas to create growth and address societal and environmental challenges. The programme will begin in September and participants will be taken through a variety of workshops and activities that will facilitate a more rapid growth of their start-ups.
The programme consists of five 2-day workshop training sessions all of which are more experiential based than theoretical so that the entrepreneur is able to immediately apply the concepts being taught and shared immediately into their startups. The workshops also expose the entrepreneur to a carefully selected group of mentors, experienced entrepreneurs, speakers and trainers who offer them the opportunity to sharpen their skills in managing and running their startups while maintaining innovation.
The programme will culminate in December with 2 peer selected start-ups receiving a total investment of $75,000 investment from both GrowthAfrica and Village Capital. Also there will be a pitch fest that enables the start-ups to showcase to potential investors and partners the progress they have made so far.
We are looking for innovators targeting the following verticals:
- Affordable basic services for the poor (Base of the Pyramid)
- Agriculture, and agriculture technology (with a high level of positive social or environmental impact)
- Education
- Energy/environmental sustainability (e.g. green technology, clean technology, sustainable materials, renewable energy, waste management)
- Financial services for low income populations
- Healthcare
- Water and Sanitation
- Urban Challenges
- Mobile/ICT tackling all the above
Criteria for Selection;
As an innovator we would like you to have:
- Achieved customer validation and proof of concept of your product (post-revenue preferred).
- Not yet raised major venture financing, but are seeking to raise at least $500,000 within 24 months.
- You and your team members must be working full time on this venture
- You are a registered for profit company or intend to be
Key Dates
| Activities | Start | End |
| Applications Open | June 03 2013 | August 19 2013 |
| Information Sessions* | August 01 2013 | August 08 2013 |
| Selection Conference | September 06 2013 | September 07 2013 |
| Initial Workshop | September 13 2013 | September 14 2013 |
| Workshop # 2 | September 27 2013 | September 28 2013 |
| Workshop # 3 | October 18 2013 | October 19 2013 |
| Workshop # 4 | November 01 2013 | November 02 2013 |
| Workshop # 5 | November 15 2013 | November 16 2013 |
| Pitch Fest | December 6 2013 | December 6 2013 |
*There will be four information sessions during the period within which we are accepting applications.
Still have unanswered questions? See FAQs
If you fit the above criteria or know of anyone who fits this criteria and would be interested in participating in this programme, please ask them to APPLY HERE and they can also contact us on I2I@thegrowthhub.com for more information.
