Impact Hub launches entrepreneur fellowship in Burundi, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone

Impact Hub has announced the launch of a fellowship in Burundi, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, aimed at supporting impact entrepreneurs and help them make their innovations sustainable.

The Impact Hub Fellowship for Resilient Communities will identify and recognise entrepreneurs with innovative solutions for resilient communities in Addis Ababa, Bujumbura and Freetown.

Impact Hub announced the launch of its Resilience Africa initiative, which aims to launch hubs and two types of incubator in six countries – Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya and Sierra Leone, in partnership with Dutch NGO Cordaid. The fellowship is part of this partnership.

“The Impact Hub Fellowship is a topic-focused entrepreneurial idea award and a one-year incubation programme designed to attract, select and support impact entrepreneurs and help them realize their innovations for a more sustainable world,” Impact Hub said.

“The programme also aims to raise awareness in the entrepreneurial community and broader public around specific social and environmental challenges.”

Up to six entrepreneurs will be selected from each location to participate in an intensive six-week business development support programme between August and September 2016 next year, after which one Impact Hub Fellow will be selected by a jury and awarded with seed funding, business development support, full time access to a co-working space and connection to networks of investors, mentors and coaches. Two runners-up will receive seed funding and three months of business development support.

Impact Hub and Cordaid have also announced they are co-hosting a thought leadership conference in Addis Ababa, called Re-imagining Resilience. The event, which will take place on October 29-30, will explore what makes entrepreneurial ecosystems resilient.

Entrepreneurs, business leaders, social entrepreneurs, impact investors, donors and global citizens are invited to participate in re-imagining what resilience in entrepreneurial ecosystems means, and how collaboration can build resilience in entrepreneurship.

“This gathering will create spaces for engagement that will result in a portfolio of projects co-designed by participants. This will happen through provocations, participatory dialogue, interactive group work to address relevant trends and ecosystem realities, and solution oriented project development workshops,” the partners said.

“There will also be a vibrant marketplace, where participants can showcase their projects, hold pitching workshops and lead various learning labs, and dedicated time for one-on-one engagement.”