Apply for funding in the second phase of the Economic Recovery Fund (Hatana2)
Apply for funding in the second phase of the Economic Recovery Fund (Hatana)
Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) and Business Development Fund (BDF) invite applicants for Hatana, the second phase of the Economic Recovery Fund. The Fund was launched on 18 May 2022 by the Government of Rwanda to support economic recovery for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through increased access to finance.
Through BRD, Hatana will provide much-needed funding to businesses that drive innovation, create employment opportunities, and prioritize Made in Rwanda in construction, agro-processing, textiles, and light manufacturing. The Fund is also expected to provide working capital loans to businesses that had at least a 20% reduction in sales for the past 12 months compared to pre-COVID-19.
The Fund will provide affordable financing through three windows:
- Investment (worth Rwf 150 billion)
This window will support businesses looking to expand or start a high-growth potential manufacturing business. Financing will be provided for fixed assets acquisition, operational expenditure related to building scale, and working capital.
- Working capital
This window is open to all sectors and will support your business in paying your employees and operating/fixed costs. It is meant to jumpstart production/operations after the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.
- Refinancing (Rwf 37.5 billion)
This window will support the refinancing of existing loans in priority sectors determined by the Government of Rwanda via the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN).
For more information on the fund, eligibility criteria, and application details, visit: Hatana (ERF2)
Apply for the GAIN-AFREXIM Masterclass on Entrepreneurship and Intra-African Trade before 31 July 2022
Apply for the GAIN-AFREXIM Masterclass on Entrepreneurship and Intra-African Trade before 31 July 2022
Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN), a non-governmental pan-African organization, in partnership with Africa Export-Import (AFREXIM), invites applicants for the GAIN-AFREXIM Masterclass on Entrepreneurship and Intra-African Trade. The masterclass is a program aimed at unlocking the potential of young African entrepreneurs to benefit from the opportunities in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) comprising more than 1.2 billion people and to promote intra-African trade.
The program is designed to equip 200 young entrepreneurs from across Africa with skills to build and scale their businesses across the continent and beyond, leverage partnerships, attract more significant trade volumes/revenues, and explore new opportunities.
Upon successful completion of the program, applicants will be able to:
- Grow and position their business favourably in the global market
- Identify new and exciting business opportunities
- Build partnerships in Africa and beyond
- Expand business and revenues
- Take payments and manage trade finance
Interested applicants should fulfill the following to qualify for the program:
- Be an African business owner under 40 years of age
- Have a registered business
- Be at a stage where the business is already generating revenue
- Demonstrate interest in scaling their business
To apply for the program, visit: GAIN AFREXIM Applications
Are you interested in onboarding your business onto an e-commerce platform? Apply for the E-Commerce Boosting Program before 31 July 2022
Are you interested in onboarding your business onto an e-commerce platform? Apply for the E-Commerce Boosting Program before 31 July 2022
The E-Commerce Center (ECC), a Public Private Partnership infrastructure set up to enable the e-commerce ecosystem, invites applicants for the E-Commerce Boosting Program. The program is a series of practical and technical trainings meant to prepare Rwandan small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to list their products and services on RwandaMart, Rwanda’s leading e-commerce platform. The program is supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Government of Rwanda as part of the initiative “Rwanda: Enabling the Future of E-Commerce”. The initiative aims to set up infrastructure and support mechanisms for Rwandan SMEs to sell goods via an online business-to-consumer e-commerce marketplace for trading products and services both domestically and cross-border.
Successful applicants will receive training in the following:
- Introduction to e-commerce
- Inventory management
- Engineering
- Marketplace store setup and configuration
- Business compliance
- Online marketing
Additionally, successful applicants will be offered an opportunity to be listed on RwandaMart, access to local and international sales events, a seller certification from RwandaMart, and a chance to apply for a low-interest loan offered by Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development.
Interested applicants must fulfill the following criteria to apply:
- Be registered with RDB
- Use Electronic Billing Machines for receipts
- Be an actively running business, with quality products/services already available on the market
To apply for this program, visit: Applications
For any inquiries about the program, reach out to contact: 0791345390 or send an email to info@ecc.com.
Are you an early stage or growth stage e-health company interested in funding? Apply for the Investing in Innovation (i3) program before 5 September!
Are you an early stage or growth stage e-health company interested in funding? Apply for the Investing in Innovation (i3) program before 5 September!
With support from the Gates Foundation, the Investing in Innovation (i3) program, a pan-African initiative, invites applicants to register for the 2022 cohort. The program seeks to support 30 e-health companies in Africa solving supply chain challenges with data-driven solutions with funding. Companies should be in the early or growth stages and address challenges such as:
- Health product availability
- Accessibility to health products
- Health product quality
- Health product affordability
- Visibility of health product movement
Through the program, successful applicants will gain access to a grant of USD 50,000, regional events providing market access, and networking connections to stakeholders in the e-health ecosystem.
Interested applicants must fulfill all the following eligibility criteria to apply:
- Serve Africans
- Be owned, led and, operated by Africans
- In the early or growth stage
- Offer services in health product distribution or plans to provide services in the short term (2-3 months)
- Business model demonstrates improvements in one or more of the following public health impacts:
- Quality
- Availability
- Affordability
- Accessibility
- Visibility of key health products in Africa
To apply for this program, visit: i3 Application
Urashaka gutangiza ikigo cy’ubucuruzi? Hitamo imiterere y’ikigo yemewe n’amategeko ikwiye
Urashaka gutangiza ikigo cy’ubucuruzi? Hitamo imiterere y’ikigo yemewe n’amategeko ikwiye
Ikintu cy’ingenzi gikwiye kwitabwaho iyo umuntu atangije ikigo cy’ubucuruzi ni imiterere y’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi yemewe n’amategeko aba agenga ubwo bucuruzi. Mu Rwanda, ikigo cy’ubucuruzi gishobora kuba ari umutungo bwite w’umuntu ku giti cye, cyangwa kiba ari sosiyete. Imiterere y’ikigo yemewe n’amategeko umuntu ahitamo igira ingaruka ku byerekeranye n’ubwoko n’umubare w’abanyamigabane ( ba nyirisosiyete) icyo kigo kiba gishobora kugira, uburyozwe bw’umuntu ku giti cye ku byerekeranye n’imyenda y’ikigo, no ku kiguzi cyo gutangiza no gufata neza ikigo cy’ubucuruzi cye.
Dore imwe muri iyo miterere n’ibyiza n’ibibi byayo.
- Umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye:
Iyi miterere kenshi na kenshi iba myiza kurusha iyindi iyo rwiyemezamirimo umwe atangije ikigo cy’ubucuruzi. Ku byerekeranye n’ibyiza, biroroha gutangiza no kwandikisha ikigo cy’ubucuruzi cy’umuntu ku giti cye. Kandi, nk’umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye, umuntu akomeza kugira ububasha busesuye bwo kugenzura ibikorwa by’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi. Ikindi kintu cyiza kiba gihari ni uko inshingano zihoraho zo kubahiriza ibisabwa ziba nkeya kuberako umuntu aba adasabwa gukoresha inama rusange, gukora amaraporo, gukora raporo z’umwaka, cyangwa kugaragaza inyungu za buri mwaka. Ikintu kibi cy’ingenzi cyo kuba ikigo cy’ubucuruzi runaka ari umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye ni uko nyiracyo aryozwa we wenyine ibyo ikigo cy’ubucuruzi cye kiba kigomba abandi, harimo n’imyenda ishobora gushyira umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye mu ngorane iyo icyo kigo cy’ubucuruzi gihuye n’ingorane zo mu rwego rw’imari.
- Ikigo cy’ubucuruzi cy’ubufatanye:
Ubu bwoko bw’imiterere y’ubucuruzi bwemewe mu rwego rw’amategeko mu Rwanda kuva muri 2021. Ni ubufatanye buba hagati y’abantu babiri cyangwa barenga bemera gukorera ubucuruzi bwabo hamwe. Buri wese ku giti cye ashora amafaranga, umutungo, imbaraga, n’ubuhanga bwe mu kigo cy’ubucuruzi noneho agateganya uruhare azagira ku nyungu no ku bihombo. Ibigo by’ubucuruzi by’ubufatanye bitangiza amafaranga macye, biroroha kubishinga, kandi ababigize bakagabana inyungu. Ba nyirabyo batanga imisoro ku nyungu bwite gusa. Iyo umwe mu banyamuryango ashatse kuva mu kigo cy’ubucuruzi cy’ubufatanye, ashobora kukivanamo inyungu ze.
Ku ruhande rw’ibibi, uburyozwe bw’umuntu ku giti cye bukomeza kuba ikibazo. Biragora kandi kwegeranya amafaranga kandi kubona abafatanyabikorwa bakwiye rimwe na rimwe biba ari ingorabahizi.
- Sosiyete
Sosiyete ni ikigo cyemewe n’amategeko gifasha rwiyemezamirimo gutandukanya umutungo we bwite n’uw’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi. Ibi bishaka kuvuga ko abantu bashobora imari muri sosiyete ( abanyamigabane baryozwa gusa imyenda y’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi kugeza ku gaciro k’amafaranga baba barayishoyemo. Kubera iyo mpamvu rero, ni uburyo bwiza cyane bwo kureshya ishoramari budashyira umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye mu ngorane. Ariko, ni bwo bwoko bw’imyubakire y’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi bwemewe n’amategeko butwara amafaranga menshi mu kugihanga, buragenzurwa cyane, kandi bukenera kubika inyandiko cyane. Bwanyuma, isoreshwa rikorwa inshuro ebyiri. Habaho umusoro ku nyungu za sosiyete n’umusoro ku nyungu bwite.
Iyi nyandiko igaragaza mu magambo macye imiterere y’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi yemewe n’amategeko iba iri imbere yawe iyo ugiye gutangira ikigo cy’ubucuruzi. Ukeneye andi makuru, washaka umunyamategeko cyangwa inzobere mu bijyanye n’imisoro mu gihe waba ufite ibibazo runaka.
Sura urubuga rwa Rwanda Development Board kugirango umenye ibijyanye no kwiyandikisha mubucuruzi
Launching a Business? Choose the Right Legal Structure
A major factor to consider when starting a business is the legal structure. In Rwanda, your business can be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation. The structure you select will impact the kind and number of shareholders (co-owners of the firm) you can have, your personal accountability for business debts, and the costs of beginning and maintaining your business.
Learn more about these structures and their advantages and disadvantages.
- Sole proprietorship:
This structure is usually best when a single entrepreneur launches a business. On the plus side, it is easier to set up and register a sole proprietorship, and as the sole proprietor, you retain complete control over the business’s operations. A major plus is that ongoing compliance responsibilities are limited since you are not required to have general meetings, submit yearly reports, or file annual returns.
The primary drawback of being a sole proprietor is that you are personally accountable for all business obligations, including debts, which can put your personal assets at risk should you find your business in financial trouble.
- Partnerships:
This form of legal structure has only been allowed in Rwanda since early 2021. It is an alliance of 2 or more people who agree to conduct a business together. Each individual invests money, property, effort, and expertise in the firm and anticipates a share of the gains and losses.
Partnerships have low startup costs, are simple to create, and members share the profits. Owners are taxed only on their own personal income. If a partner wants to leave the partnership, they may withdraw from their corporate interests.
On the downside, personal liability may still be an issue. Raising more funds and finding acceptable partners are also sometimes challenging.
- Corporation
A corporation is a legally recognized entity that enables the entrepreneur to separate personal assets from your business. This means that people who invest in the firm (shareholders) are only liable for the business’s debts up to the value of their investment. As a result, it is a highly effective method of attracting investment without risking your personal wealth. However, it is the most expensive legal business structure to form, is highly regulated, and requires considerable record keeping. Finally, there is double taxation, first on company profits and then on your personal earnings.
This is a quick review of the legal structures available to you when starting a business. For more advice, seek a legal or tax specialist if you have any specific concerns.
Apply for the Survive to Thrive Programme
Are you a member of KCB Bank Rwanda Biashara Club or a client of Bank Populaire Rwanda? Apply for the Survive to Thrive Programme
KCB Bank Rwanda, in partnership with ConsumerCentriX and the African Management Institute, invite their SME clients to participate in an exciting 4-month entrepreneurial journey with online courses, virtual learning labs, and practical tools.
The Survive to Thrive Programme will allow an entrepreneur and one (1) senior staff from their business the opportunity to learn how to set SMART growth goals and implement new business habits and tools to support business growth. Upon completing the programme, participants will have access to AMI’s Growth Network, an exclusive community of ambitious African entrepreneurs who have successfully graduated from AMI programmes. Participants will gain access to premium services such as AMI’s Finance Link for funding opportunities, mentoring and coaching networks, exclusive networking events, and continued access to AMI’s world-class business tools, courses, and resources.
New deadline: June 7th, 2022
Apply here: https://bit.ly/AMI-CCX-Entrepreneurship
Are you a startup in the tourism sector with a solution to the UN SDGs? Apply for the Awake Tourism Challenge before 30 June 2022
Are you a startup in the tourism sector with a solution to the UN SDGs? Apply for the Awake Tourism Challenge before 30 June 2022
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, invites applicants for the Awake Tourism Challenge. Through the Challenge, UNWTO seeks to support the most innovative startups working to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Challenge seeks solutions to six challenges: local and community involvement, green and blue economies, ecological and sustainable capita creation, tourism tech for good, tourism education, and women empowerment.
Successful applicants will benefit from the following:
- Pitch at a UNWTO Demo Day
- Curated mentorship programme including one-on-one and in-group sessions focused on Intellectual Property (IP), sustainability, business, and leadership
- Connection to the UNWTO Innovation Network for meeting public and private stakeholders to explore funding and piloting opportunities
- Potential matchmaking with partners to scale up the startups, including investors, corporations, and governments
The Challenge targets startups that meet the following criteria:
- Innovative in nature, providing value-added solutions
- Sustainability-driven
- Scalable potential for international growth or to be applied by corporations and in other countries or regions
- Early-stage or series A startup
- Introduction or adoption of digital and technological elements
- Have a tested pilot and business plan
- Have been accelerated before
- Have a full-time team including at least 2 members under 35 years; gender balance will also be considered.
Applicants will be subject to further evaluation to assess their contribution to SDGs, potential business impact, maturity of the product or technology, team and organisation maturity, and partnership readiness.
To apply for this Challenge, visit: Applications
For more information on the Challenge, visit: UNWTO Awake Tourism Challenge
Are you an innovative women agripreneur? Apply for the AGRA VALUE4HER Women Agripreneur of the Year Awards before 31 May 2022
Are you an innovative women agripreneur? Apply for the AGRA VALUE4HER Women Agripreneur of the Year Awards before 31 May 2022
AGRA, a farmer-centered, African-led, and partnerships-driven institution that catalyzes inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa, invites applicants for the VALUE4HER Women Agripreneur of the Year Awards (WAYA 2022). The award recognizes African women agripreneurs who have excelled in the agricultural value chain and have demonstrated exceptional innovation that addresses food security, climate resilience, and women and youth empowerment.
The WAYA awards recognize established and emerging women agripreneurs in three categories: young female entrepreneur (rising star), outstanding value-adding enterprise, and female agriculture technology innovator. Winners of each category will receive a cash prize of USD 20,000.
Women agripreneurs interested in participating must fulfill the following criteria to apply:
- Be operating in agriculture/agribusiness value chains
- Have an innovative product/service
- Be a national from one of the 54 African countries
- Have a solid digital footprint and be a VALUE4HER member
- Be a remarkable community leader actively amplifying the voice of women.
To apply for the WAYA awards, visit: WAYA Application
Are you an impact-driven company with a focus on solving unemployment? Apply for the Future to Work program before 29 April 2022
Are you an impact-driven company with a focus on solving unemployment? Apply for the Future to Work program before 29 April 2022
Village Capital, an impact investment company in partnership with Moody’s Foundation, invites startups across Sub-Saharan Africa to apply for the Future to Work 2022 program. Future to Work supports impact-focused startups leveraging highly sensitive data to improve quality and access to digital, financial, and healthcare services. Venture Capital aims to help entrepreneurs with investment readiness training through the program.
Successful applicants will benefit from the following during the program:
- Networking with fellow impact-driven founders in their cohort
- Mentorship from investors
- Interactive, tailored training sessions to support startup companies identify early milestones and preparing them for the next round of capital
- Coaching from an investment analyst on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and using financial metrics
- Feature on Village Capital’s program website and other collateral
Interested applicants must have ventures addressing unemployment through the following:
- Technical, professional, upskilling, or reskilling programs
- Testing and credentialing programs
- New approaches to apprenticeship or employment matching, such as gig, job matching, and distributed manufacturing platforms
- Financial health for informal workers and/or
- Edtech for post-secondary and tertiary institutions
To apply for this program, visit: Future to Work Applications
Are you a tech startup interested in scaling up your business? Apply for the Microsoft for Startups challenge before 23 May 2022
Are you a tech startup interested in scaling up your business? Apply for the Microsoft for Startups challenge before 23 May 2022
Microsoft for Startups, a global program supported by a team of startup veterans and industry experts, invites applicants for the Microsoft for Startups Challenge. Microsoft for Startups aims to provide a customized set of offerings and resources to support tech startups grow from ideation to scale.
Through the challenge, participants will gain:
- Opportunity to unlock up to $150,000 in free Azure credits (a perk offered by Microsoft to save money on your cloud bill)
- Access to robust development and productivity tools, including GitHub and Microsoft 365
- Mentorship guidance from business and technical experts
- Startup-friendly offers from Microsoft partners
- Access to VivaTech onsite event (annual networking event for tech entrepreneurs)
Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have a startup engaged in developing a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of your current or intended business – this software must be owned, not licensed
- Have a startup that has not already received more than a total of $10,000 in free Azure
- Have headquarters residing in the countries covered by our Azure global infrastructure (including…[insert ones relevant to us in Africa])
- Have a startup that has not gone through a Series D or later funding round
- Have a for-profit business that is not an educational institution, government entity, personal blog, dev shop, consultancy, agency, bitcoin or crypto mining company
To apply for the Microsoft for Startups Challenge, create an account at Challenge Signup