MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda) and Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development have announced the six finalists to undergo incubation in the annual Level Up Your Biz Initiative.

The program aims to empower young entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on providing essential skills and knowledge to youth-led businesses. In this season, the initiative has expanded into 3 different cohorts, focusing on Startups, Youth-Led SMEs and MTN Agents, demonstrating a commitment to fostering the growth of a broader range of youth-led enterprises in Rwanda. The expanded Level Up Your Biz initiative will run for a period of one year, with the first cohort dedicated to Startups, having commenced on 5 October 2023.

The first phase involved vetting startup applicants, resulting in the selection of six finalists who will undergo a three-month incubation period. During this time, the entrepreneurs will receive business acumen training, mentorship, digital skills training and the opportunity to promote their businesses through MTN Rwanda’s extensive network of customers and partners.

The six finalists are diverse, representing various sectors:

1. Ingoga Auto Ltd: A retail business selling car spare parts online, offering delivery services, and providing car repair services.
2. Cover Soko Ltd: A financial service business facilitating quick and easy quotation, customization, and purchase of motor insurance packages through their website.
3. Inzora Agrotourism: A tourism/agricultural company offering Farm Tours (Agrotourism) to provide tourists with an enriching and educational experience while benefiting local communities and promoting sustainable farming practices.
4. Urugero Fashions Ltd: A fashion-based industry producing made-in-Rwanda clothing and selling it online through their Instagram account.
5. Examira Group Ltd: A tech business with an app and website providing access to past papers, online courses, quizzes, and mock exams for Rwandan students.
6. Rainbow Health Food Ltd: An agro-processing business producing high-quality baby porridge from cereals to fight against malnutrition and stunting in children under the age of five.

Saint Hilary Doe-Tamakloe, MTN Rwanda Chief Consumer and Digital Officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering the youth and cultivating a generation of leaders driving positive change in Rwanda. He highlighted the innovation, resilience, and dedication of the finalists as exemplary of the entrepreneurial spirit that comes with running a successful Start-up business.

During the incubation period, the six entrepreneurs will present their business plans to a panel of judges, with the top three receiving a prize of Rwf 2,500,000, and the other three finalists receiving Rwf 1,000,000 each.

MTN Rwanda’s commitment to community upliftment is evident through initiatives like “Level Up Your Biz.” The company believes that by investing in the potential of youth in Rwanda and supporting diverse business sectors, they are contributing to the overall development of the community and sowing the seeds for a prosperous future.

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About MTN Rwandacell 

MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, we have continuously invested in expanding and modernising our network and leading digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress. As the country’s No 1 network, we offer various services to subscribers, including innovative propositions such as personalised voice and data offers for individuals and corporates with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world to our customers because we believe everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life.

For more information, please contact:

MTN PR Desk

Ndabaga Y. Shumbusho

pr2.rw@mtn.com

www.mtn.co.rw

About Inkomoko

We are a consulting firm that supports micro and small enterprises across Africa so that they can grow to create jobs, improve livelihoods, and create thriving communities. We started our work in Rwanda eleven years ago and have now opened offices in Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

We provide entrepreneurs with business development services, including sales and marketing, branding, bookkeeping, inventory management, taxes, etc. We offer them one-on-one consulting so that they can put these lessons into practice. Through our in-house investment fund, we offer financing to grow these businesses. Ultimately, our work is to help some of these entrepreneurs throughout Africa improve their lives, create jobs for others in their communities, and be strong economic contributors to their communities. For more information about Inkomoko, visit: www.inkomoko.com

For more information, please contact:

Emmanuel Gashagaza

Sr. Business Development Advisor

Email: emmanuelG@inkomoko.com

Phone: 0788699256