Are you an early-stage fintech startup in Rwanda? Apply for Stitch fintech startup showcase before 10 February 2022
Are you an early-stage fintech startup in Rwanda? Apply for Stitch fintech startup showcase before 10 February 2022
Stitch, a South African API infrastructure live in Nigeria and South Africa, in partnership with Paystack and Disrupt Africa, are set to host a startup showcase for African early-stage FinTechs. The showcase will provide an opportunity for early-stage FinTechs to share their solutions with local and global investors and support to prepare for the pitch from the Stitch team.
The showcase will take place in Cape Town, South Africa on 25 February 2022. Interested applicants must have a FinTechor embedded finance solution based in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania or Rwanda. Selected companies will receive several benefits, including:
- Support to prepare for the pitch from members of the Stitch team
- An opportunity to pitch their solutions to an audience of global and local fintech and investors
- Access to office hours with members of the Stitch team
- Access to a 1-hour workshop with members of the Paystack team focused on fundraising and growth
- Free payment processing from Paystack for selected startups operating in Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana
- Access to the Stitch API for selected companies operating in Nigeria and South Africa for six months
Note: All applicants working in Nigeria and South Africa will receive two months of free access to the Stitch API
To apply for this showcase, visit: Stitch Startup Showcase Applications
Are you a university student or a recent graduate with an innovative digital idea? Apply for the Digital Innovations for Business Resilience in the EAC program before 21 February 2022
Are you a university student or a recent graduate with an innovative digital idea? Apply for the Digital Innovations for Business Resilience in the EAC program before 21 February 2022
Digital Innovations for Business Resilience in the East African Community, a program under Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Industry (dSkills@EA) project, seeks to support young innovators from universities from the EAC member states. Through the program, young innovators will be supported to develop and implement digital innovations for business resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dSkills@EA project is part of the technical development cooperation between the EAC and Germany.
Ten selected teams per country will be offered an opportunity to participate at the National Pitch-Event, where they will present their digital innovations to the industry, academia, investors, government representatives and the EAC entrepreneurship ecosystem stakeholders. Additionally, selected participants will benefit from the following:
- Opportunity to finetune their innovative idea via online ideathon to acquire skills in customer insights, product development and business modelling
- Access to connections from the East African Innovation Ecosystem
- An opportunity to be selected for the boot camp to receive in-depth support through mentors and trainers to shape their innovations further.
- Team winners will receive grants of a pool of USD 10,000
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Be university students or recent graduates (not more than one year in the past)
- Be from an East African University
- Be between 18 and 35 years of age
- Have fluency in English
- Possess an idea for digital innovation or are in early implementation stages.
- Have a team of a minimum of two people.
To apply for this program, visit: Digital Innovations for Business Resilience in the EAC
Are you an early-stage startup with a scalable business idea? Apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme by 31 March 2022!
Are you an early-stage startup with a scalable business idea? Apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme by 31 March 2022!
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), an African private-sector-led philanthropic foundation empowering young African entrepreneurs across 54 African countries, opened applications for the 2022 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. The programme, which started in 2015, has supported over 15,000 entrepreneurs in 54 African countries with training, mentoring, and startup capital.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is a 10-year flagship initiative with a commitment of USD 100 million to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 entrepreneurs able to change the face of business in Africa. TEF training is designed to be self-paced for each entrepreneur to allow necessary flexibility for participants to learn while managing their businesses and other responsibilities.
Through the programme, successful applicants will be offered the following:
- 12 weeks of business management training
- Seed capital of USD 5,000
- Networking with business leaders from the TEF network
- Access to business advisory services and market linkages via the TEFConnect proprietary platform
Interested applicants are required to fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Have a scalable business idea or early-stage company operating for less than five years
- Be above 18 years of age
- An application must only focus on one business entity or idea
- Business must not adversely affect the environment, lives, and property
- Business ideas must be the original work of those making the submissions
To apply for the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, visit: TEF Entrepreneurship Programme Application
Feeling stressed managing your business, family, and personal wellbeing? Try these tips!
Feeling stressed managing your business, family, and personal wellbeing? Try these tips!
Fortunately, the economy has reopened, and entrepreneurs are gradually building back. Yet, building back after a difficult time comes with its challenges, and the stress it causes can impact entrepreneurs’ motivation and productivity.
Managing stress can help entrepreneurs stay motivated and in the long run improve their productivity in running their businesses while also improving their overall wellbeing.
Gushyigikira imibereho myiza ya ba rwiyemezamirimo mu bihe bya COVID-19: Ibikoresho n’Inama zo kongera kubaka ufite ubuzima bwiza kurushaho
Gushyigikira imibereho myiza ya ba rwiyemezamirimo mu bihe bya COVID-19: Ibikoresho n’Inama zo kongera kubaka ufite ubuzima bwiza kurushaho
Kongera kubaka nyuma y’ibihe bikomeye biragorana buri gihe. Ba rwiyemezamirimo bagiye bahura n’ingorane zidasanzwe ubwo bakoraga kugira ngo bongere bafungure ubucuruzi bwabo banazibe icyuho batewe n’igihombo ari nako bafata neza kandi bakabungabunga ubuzima bwabo n’imibereho myiza yabo mu gihe COVID -19 igikomeje.
Mu kiganiro cyanyuze kuri radiyo mu minsi ishize gitanzwe na KT radio, SME Response Clinic na Geruka Healing Centre baganiriye ku buryo ba rwiyemezamirimo n’ibigo by’ubucuruzi bashobora gucunga izo ngorane n’umunaniro ukabije bakura mu mwuga w’ubucuruzi. Komeza usome niba ushaka kumenya byinshi.
Inama zihabwa ba rwiyemezamirimo n’abacuruzi bato
Iyiteho.
Umuvuduko wa buri munsi n’ubushake bwo kuguma ku isonga ku isoko n’ibisabwa n’abagemura ibicuruzwa bituma bikomerera umuntu kubona igihe cyo kwiyitaho. Birakomeye kubona umwanya kugira ngo umuntu abashe kunezezwa n’ibintu bito nko kumva indirimbo no gukora imyitozo ngororamubiri nyuma y’akazi kugira ngo ibyo bibe byabasha kugufasha gutegura umwanya w’akazi ukurikiraho. Ba rwiyemezamirimo bamwe basanze gukora imyitozo yo guhumeka cyangwa gutaha mu rugo n’amaguru nyuma y’akazi bigira akamaro. Gufata umwanya wo gutekereza cyane ari nta kirangaza nyuma y’umunsi w’akazi kenshi biba uburyo bukomeye bwo kwiyitaho.
Iyorohere.
Wikwishinja kubera ibintu utabasha kugenzura ubwawe nka gahunda za leta za guma mu rugo cyangwa kuba hariho inkingo za COVID-19. Ahubwo, kora ibintu byinshi ubasha kugenzura kandi wibande ku byo ubasha gukora mu munsi runaka. Ihe intego zishobora kugerwaho kugirango wumve ko hari ikintu wabashije gukora ukagisoza.
Imenyereze ubuzima bwiza.
Gufata indyo nziza, kunywa amazi ahagije, gutembera cyangwa kugenda n’amaguru iminota micye nyuma y’umunsi muremure bishobora gufasha umuntu cyane kugira imibereho myiza mu buzima bwe. Hari ibimenyetso bikomeye bigaragaza ko imyitozo ngororamubiri igira ingaruka zingana n’iy’imiti ikoreshwa mu kuvura indwara y’agahinda gakabije kandi gukora siporo bishobora gufasha kurwanya iyo ndwara. Kugabanya imyitwarire yo kwisanisha n’abandi yangiza ubuzima nko kunywa inzoga n’ibiyobyabwenge ni ikintu cy’ingenzi mu rwego rwo kuzamura imibereho rusange.
Hura n’abandi.
N’ubwo ingamba nk’amasaha yo kugerera no kuva mu rugo zagabanyije igihe abantu bashobora guhurira n’inshuti zabo, abantu basanze ari ingenzi gukomeza kugira imibanire bohererezanya ubutumwa, bahamagarana kuri telefoni, banakora iminsi mikuru bakoresheje ikoranabuhanga. Ibi bikorwa bituma umuntu agira aho abarizwa kandi akumva ari kumwe n’abandi mu bihe bikomeye. Shakisha uburyo wasabana n’abo mwegeranye, kandi niba ari nta bahari, fata umwanya utegure igihe cyo guhamagara itsinda cyangwa ukore itsinda uzajya uganiriramo n’abandi kuri Whatsapp.
Irinde impuha.
Icyorezo kigitangira, hagaragaye impuha nyinshi zanyuraga ku mbuga nkoranyambuga no ku yindi miyoboro y’ihanahanamakuru. Ni ikintu cy’ingenzi kuri ba rwiyemezamirimo guhora bakurikirana amakuru agezweho ku birebana n’icyorezo. Ariko, kwinaniza umuntu yumva amakuru y’ibihuha bishobora gutuma arushaho kugira impungenge. Umuntu ashobora gukura amakuru y’ukuri kuri COVID-19 ku rubuga rukurikira: https://www.rbc.gov.rw/index.php?id=707 cyangwa akareba amakuru mu buryo bwizewe kuri: https://cyber.gov.rw/updates/article/7-tips-to-be-safe-online/.
Jya urekura telefoni yawe rimwe na rimwe.
Nubwo telefoni n’ibikoresho by’ikoranabuhanga byabaye ibikoresho by’ingenzi mu gihe cy’icyorezo, kugabanya ikoreshwa ry’ibikoresho by’ikoranabuhanga mu munsi hagati bishobora gutuma ubwonko bwawe buruhuka bukanisubira.Shyiraho igihe runaka ugomba kuba utari gukoresha telefoni yawe cyangwa mudasobwa yawe kandi ufate umwanya wo kwegerana no gusabana n’abantu muri kumwe.
Saba ubufasha bwo mu rwego rw’umwuga.
Mu Kinyarwanda,baravuga ngo “Ibuye ryagaragaye ntiriba rikishe isuka,”. Nka rwiyemezamirimo, nukomeza kugaragaza ibimenyetso, by’agahinda gakabije cyangwa bigaragaza ko ufite umutima uhagaze,ni ngombwa gusaba ubufasha bwo mu rwego rw’umwuga aho utuye. Gusaba ubufasha ntabwo ari ikimeyetso kigaragaza ko ufite intege nke! Gana ikigo cya Geruka Healing Centre maze baguhe ubufasha bujyanye n’ubuzima bwo mu mutwe.
Uburyo bwo gushyira ubucuruzi bwawe mu bikorwa
Shyiraho ahantu ho gukorera ubucuruzi hatekanye kandi hafunguye.
Abakozi bagomba kubasha kuganira ku bibabaje cyangwa ku ngorane bahura nazo mu kazi. Kora amatsinda y’ubufasha ahuza abantu bakorana kandi wemerere abakozi kuganira na bagenzi babo ibijyanye n’amarangamutima n’ibibazo bibatera impungenge. Mu gihe byaba ari ibintu bishoboka,shaka umuntu wabigize umwuga maze abafashe kuganira.
Emera kandi ushimire ubwitange abakozi bagira ku kazi.
Ha agaciro ubwitange abakozi bagize kandi mu gihe byaba bishoboka ubahembere umurimo ukomeye bakoze mu bihe bigoye ubaha nk’ikiruhuko. Kubaka imibanire myiza hagati y’umukozi n’umukoresha bituma umukozi arushaho kugira umwete ku kazi ndetse bigatuma n’ingorane z’uko yagira impungenge cyangwa umunaniro ku kazi zigabanuka.
Shyiraho uburyo bwo kubona amakuru.
Ha abakozi bawe uburyo bwo kubona amakuru y’ingenzi ku byerekeranye n’uburyo umuntu ufite impungenge cyangwa umunaniro yitwara ndetse n’uburyo bw’ingenzi bwo kubungabunga ubuzima n’imibereho myiza mu rwego rwo kwiyitaho. Ku bantu bamwe, kuba bashobora kubona ubu bumenyi mu buryo bworoshye, bizazana impinduka nziza. Ubwo buryo bushobora kuba burimo kwandika ku rupapuro ibintu bigutera ibibazo n’uburyo bigutera ibyo bibazo ndetse n’igitekerezo kimwe cyangwa bibiri bijyanye n’icyo ushobora kubikoraho. Sura urubuga rwa SME Response Clinic maze ubone izindi nama zijyanye n’uburyo bwo kubungabunga ubuzima n’imibereho myiza.
Bungabunga umutekano w’amarangamutima n’uw’umubiri wawe.
Umutekano no kumva umuntu amerewe neza ni ikintu cy’ingenzi ku mibereho myiza y’abakozi. Kubungabunga umutekano no gutunganya aho akazi gakorerwa bigira uruhare mu kubaka icyizere cy’abakozi bakanumva ko ikigo bakorera ari icyabo. Shimira kandi wubahe abakozi ubaha igihe gihagije cyo kujyana n’impinduka zigenda ziboneka ku kazi kugira ngo izo mpinduka zibashe gukorwa mu buryo bworoshye hanirindwe ibintu bishobora kubangiza mu mutwe.
Kongera kubaka ufite ubuzima bwiza kurushaho
Ikintu cyiza dushobora kuba twarakuye mu cyorezo cya COVID-19 ni uko twize guhindura uburyo bwo gukora, uburyo bwo guhangana n’ibibazo byacu bya buri munsi, n’uburyo bwo kuvuga ibyo dukeneye. Turamutse dusuzumye umutimanama wacu kugira ngo turusheho kumva amarangamutima yacu, tukanagira umuco wo gusangira akababaro n’abandi, byakorohera abacuruzi n’abayobozi gukemura ibibazo by’abakozi no kubaka imbaraga zizabafasha kuzahangana n’ingorane ziri imbere bashobora kuzahura nazo. Gumya wumve ibyo SME Response Clinic ivuga kuri iyi nsanganyamatsiko!
Are you an early or growth stage startup interested in scaling your business? Apply for the THRIVE VIII Accelerator program 2022
Are you an early or growth stage startup interested in scaling your business? Apply for the THRIVE VIII Accelerator program 2022
The THRIVE Accelerator program seeks applicants for the THRIVE VIII Accelerator program 2022. The program targets and supports early and growth-stage startups active in various agriculture value chains to facilitate their business growth. The annual program offers a three month virtual and in-person training that provides investment opportunities and direct access to practical learnings from Central California’s largest agriculture companies.
Why should you join the program?
By joining the program, successful applicants will get the following benefits:
- Investment funding of up to $100,000 ($50,000 cash, $50k in program value).
- Access to an extensive partner network inclusive of over 6,000 farmers, growers, and agriculture partners for technology adoption
- Mentorship and coaching from experts and industry leaders from our extensive global entrepreneur network
- Participation in our award-winning program that will validate your startup to potential investors and give you access to THRIVE’s ecosystem
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible, applicants must have technologies that drive towards a more efficient, sustainable and secure agriculture future with a focus on:
- Supply chain management and traceability
- Big data and predictive analytics
- Biotechnology
- Indoor farming
- Animal health and livestock
How to apply
Eligible startups can apply by filling in the form here.
Application Deadline: 05th November 2021.
For more information, visit https://thriveagrifood.com/
Struggling to manage Internet costs for your small business? Here are ways to optimize your Internet usage.
Struggling to manage Internet costs for your small business? Here are ways to optimize your Internet usage.
Due to the pandemic, most businesses globally are working remotely, and as a result, there is increased demand for Internet connectivity. However, increased demand has come alongside higher costs. Internet service is an essential tool for improving competitiveness and efficiency, reaching customers, and interacting with vendors, and with the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become even more critical. Business owners in Rwanda are already struggling to maintain their businesses afloat are now also grappling with this added expense.
- Determine the data speed and reliability you need
Internet speeds are determined by how much data the connection can download or upload per second—often referred to in Mbps (megabits per second) or Gbps (gigabits per second). The speed and reliability also depend on your location and the data plan you have. Business owners must engage service providers to test data speeds at their locations; this helps you understand whether the connection will be fast enough and offer a performance quality suited for services and applications you use. It also helps you avoid overspending. Businesses can also take advantage of several tools available on the Internet to evaluate data speed needs, such as https://www.verizonwireless.com/freedom/datacalculator.html.
- Choose an appropriate Internet connection
There are different types of Internet connections, offering various performances in terms of data speed and mobility. These include optical fibre, cable, satellite, WiFi, and 3G/4G mobile networks. While the different types of connections are associated with various pros and cons, the choice of connection typically depends on your requirements. In terms of reliability and link uptime, broadband WiFi Internet and Mobile WiFi routers (Mifi) serve as a clear leader against using 3G/4G mobile networks. Mifi routers are the best option for businesses having less than five users who are working remotely. For companies with more than five workers, broadband Internet provides a suitable connection. It allows you to connect up to 10 devices at the same time.
- Reduce unnecessary streaming
Streaming of any kind (music, videos, etc.) increases data usage dramatically. Video streaming is especially something to be cautious about when you need bandwidth for other tasks such as online marketing or virtual meetings. When using apps like Facebook or YouTube, ensure to switch off ‘auto play’ and decide which videos you want to open and watch. You can also cut back on data usage from streaming by watching videos in standard definition instead of high definition. When watching a video, you can select the data usage options auto or low, which consume less data than watching in medium or high that consume more data. Businesses can also consider restricting users to limit streaming, ensuring they instead use bandwidth for more critical tasks for business operations.
- Schedule data usage according to business activities
Business activity usually rises and falls according to predictable schedules. Many companies operate on a nine-to-five schedule, while some experience peak activity when the sunsets. Scheduling activities and data usage according to this pattern allows further optimization of digital resources. Suppose your business operates on a nine-to-five basis. Here, you can limit backups and software updates until the evening when operations are done and save a particularly intensive update or backup for the weekend instead. A company that has activities concentrated in the evenings and on weekends should consider the opposite schedule. These backups and updates are critical; remember, if your software isn’t up to date, you can suffer from seriously decreased performance, and you may also risk losing important information if data backup is not done regularly.
The actions above are not exhaustive on optimizing your Internet usage, but they are a strong starting point. Let us know how they work for you via this email: smeresponseclinic@gmail.com
SME RESPONSE CLINIC ANNOUNCES BUILDING BACK HEALTHIER SERIES WITH UPCOMING RADIO SHOW
The SME Response Clinic is pleased to announce that we are launching the Building Back Healthier Series, which focuses on supporting business owners and entrepreneurs with insights to positively impact wellbeing.
The series will launch with a radio show on 18 October at 7:30 pm. Please join us for the discussion, Supporting Entrepreneurs’ Wellbeing during COVID-19, on KT Radio’s Ubyumva Ute? show.
The radio show will feature expert psychologists from the Geruka Healing Center in conversation with entrepreneurs who will share their experiences. Experts will provide insights on best practices on self-care to support day-to-day business operations as well as information on existing support services for individuals experiencing difficulties.
Join us as we work to
- Raise awareness around common wellness issues for entrepreneurs and business owners
- Identify emerging challenges for entrepreneurs and business owners resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
- Share knowledge and insights to promote personal self-care and wellbeing
- Encourage sharing of knowledge and experiences among entrepreneurs and experts in the wellness community
- Share information on existing support services for individuals experiencing difficulties
Speakers
Dr Vincent Sezibera – Clinical Psychologist & Director, University of Rwanda/Centre for Mental Health
Divine Uwase – CEO & Founder, Sharama Events & Tours
Jeannette Umutoniwase – Founder, Inzira Dreams Network
Thinking of starting a business or growing your startup but unsure of where to start? Develop a Business Model Canvas
Thinking of starting a business or growing your startup but unsure of where to start? Develop a Business Model Canvas
Are you an entrepreneur thinking of starting a business or a business owner in the startup phase with plans to take your business to the next level? The Business Model Canvas is an entrepreneurial tool that enables you to visualize, design, and reinvent your business model. Developed by Swiss business theorist and author Alexander Osterwalder, the tool can help business owners develop a clear view of their value proposition, operations, customers, and finances. As a small business owner, you can use it to identify how the different components of your business relate to each other. That’s powerful when deciding where you need to focus your time and attention as you start and grow your business.
While business plans can be helpful when starting or growing a business or necessary to obtain financing or investment, the business model canvas can provide entrepreneurs with an easier starting point. Business model canvas is precise and structures business models more quickly than developing a business plan, which can take several months to write.
The canvas includes nine building blocks with main questions for each as follows:
- Key partners —Who are the buyers and suppliers to relate with? What other alliances will help you accomplish core business activities and fulfil your value proposition?
- Key activities—What are the most important actions you must engage in to fulfil your value propositions, strengthen customer relationships, optimize revenue streams, etc.?
- Key resources—What resources do you need to optimize value for your customers and sustain your business?
- Value propositions—What products and services will you offer to meet the needs of your customers? How will your business be different from your competition? What challenges will you solve for your customers?
- Customer relationships—What types of relationships will you forge with your customer segments? What are the relationship expectations of each customer segment?
- Customer segments—What sets of customers will you serve? Which are most important to your business?
- Channels—Through what means will you reach your targeted customers and deliver your products and services to them? Which are most cost-effective?
- Cost structure—What are the essential costs your business will face? Which resources and activities will cost the most?
- Revenue streams—How much will you charge for your products and services? What are customers willing to pay for? How will customers pay?
Embracing the tool can help entrepreneurs easily identify gaps during planning, visualize what is important, and provide context for next steps.
Updated Government COVID-19 Preventive Measures
The Latest Government COVID-19 Preventive Measures
On 22st September 2021, the government reviewed and issued new COVID-19 preventive measures. The new measures issued will take effect from 23rd September and will last till 13th October 2021, where the cabinet will review them upon a health assessment.
Below are the updated government measures.
- Movements are prohibited between 11:00 pm and 04:00 am in the city of Kigali. For the rest of the country, movements are prohibited between 9 pm, and 4 am with businesses closing by 8 pm. However, for districts including Burera, Gicumbi, Kirehe, Ngoma, Nyagatare, Nyamasheke, Nyaruguru and Rwamagana where movements are prohibited between 8 pm and 4 am, and businesses close by 7 pm.
- Public and private offices will continue with essential staff but not exceeding 75% capacity while other employees continue to work from home. Private business also resumed with essential staff not exceeding 75%
- Physical conferences are allowed but should not exceed 50% of venue capacity, and event organizers must comply with all COVID-19 preventive measures, including a negative COVID-19 test results required for all participants taken within 72 hours before the meeting.
- Arriving passengers at the airport must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure.
- Public transport will continue to operate at 75% capacity with strict adherence to the health guidelines (social distancing, open bus windows for proper ventilation, and proper mask-wearing). Motos and bicycles will continue to comply strictly with the health guidelines (disinfecting passenger’s helmets).
- Malls and markets will continue to operate with only essential vendors not exceeding 50% capacity of registered traders.
- Tourism will continue with strict adherence to COVID-19 health guidelines. This includes hotels, tour operators, and transport services assisting guests.
- Individual and non-contact sports activities will continue with strict adherence to health guidelines. Gyms and fitness centers will continue progressively while adhering to detailed guidelines from the Ministry of Sports.
- Events and gatherings, including concerts, festivals, and exhibitions, will be held in designated or approved venues such as outdoor tents will continue. All participants must be vaccinated and test possess negative COVID 19 test results taken within 72 hours before the event
- Gaming activities shall resume gradually while adhering to detailed guidelines from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
These measures will be reviewed after two weeks upon a health assessment. For more detailed COVID-19 measures, visit: Office of the Prime Minister