Entrepreneurship organisation Startup Somali will later this year launch its accelerator programme, as the first step towards its goal of creating a strong community of tech entrepreneurs in the country.
Long wracked by internal conflict, there have been moves in recent months to establish a tech entrepreneurship ecosystem in Somalia, with Disrupt Africa reporting last year Dutch non-governmental organisation (NGO) Spark and partners had launched the Africa House business incubator and entrepreneurship development centre in Gargeisa.
Startup Somali is now taking up the mantle, with applications now open for the accelerator, which will take place from November. The organisation says this is the first part of its campaign to create a strong community of entrepreneurs in Somalia.
“With this campaign, Startup Somali aims to create more business ventures in the post-conflict nation of Somali,” the organisation said.
“Startup companies can start working towards achieving their dreams for their business ventures by first joining Startup Somali, which will support young technologically and talented people to create their own employment.”
The organisation believes there are many young, talented individuals capable of solving real world social and business problems in Somalia, but these young people are not given the support and resources they need.
“The strategy behind the acceleration programme is simple, that is by transforming the country slowly in the next few years from being technology consumers into creators of technology,” Startup Somali said.
