Call for Applications for Entrepreneurs in the Wood Sector  

The National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, has established a new Incubator and Accelerator Facility (I/AF) for the wood sector. The main objective of the I/AF is to improve the competitiveness of start-ups and companies in the wood value chain. Selected applicants will participate in 7-8 months incubator/accelerator programs to support them to improve the performance of their businesses, increase their access to the market, and the ability of their companies to compete in the market. The facility will offer a general and tailored set of services for start-ups, companies, and cooperatives from the wood sector, including: 

  • Business advice 
  • Entrepreneurship and business management training 
  • Coaching and mentoring 
  • Access to technical infrastructure 
  • Technical assistance 
  • Market information services 
  • Marketing assistance 
  • Facilitation of financial and investment linkages 
  • Facilitation of linkages for technological upgrading 

The incubator program will target early-stage start-ups with less than 12 months of business operations to increase their competitiveness within the wood processing sector and established entrepreneurs who seek to diversify into the wood sector for the first time. To be eligible for this program, the business has to be new to using wood components.  

The accelerator program will target entrepreneurs, business owners, and management teams in more mature micro, small, medium-sized, or large enterprises and cooperatives in the wood sector. During the program, participants will be given general and tailored assistance to accelerate their growth, attract investors and expand into their market reach nationally, regionally and internationally. Only businesses in the wood sector with more than 12 months of business operations are eligible to apply for the accelerator program. The applications opened on 10th June 2021, and they will close on 25th June 2021, at 12 pm. 

The I/AF program seeks to support companies with the potential to grow and contribute to the development of the wood sector.  

To apply for the Incubation program, visit: National Incubation Program for Wood Sector in Rwanda 

To apply for the Accelerator program, visit: National Accelerator Program for Wood Sector in Rwanda 

For detailed instructions on how to apply, visit Guidelines for Applicants.