MUST-UCOBS Project commenced its level 2, five-day bootcamp training at Mbarara University of Science and Technology on 27th February 2024. The bootcamp was facilitated by Start hub Africa, one of the project partners.
Under the project theme, increasing youth employability through skilling innovation, experiential learning, and technology transfer, a call for application was made and selection was done by the project team and Start hub Africa, eight teams were selected under the criteria that they were women or youth who wanted to develop a viable enterprise with an already innovated idea, or a team emerged from the previous level one bootcamp training.
Training Modules
The innovators underwent training with the following modules.
- Enterprise mapping and market research where teams showcased their prototypes to the mentors.
- Market research in the field and idea refinement. Here, innovators stormed the field to get what customers feel about their product so that they can improve it to suit their needs.
- Financial feasibility and management, sales and marketing. Here, innovators were trained to forecast sales, revenues and also, crafting the right message to capture their customers.
- sales in the field and team leadership. Innovators were trained on the different team leadership roles which they distributed among themselves as co-founders. they stormed the fields and sold their products, those that did not have products came back with a waiting list of customers.
- venture development plans and pitching. Innovators formulated their plans and forecasts for the next three, six and twelve years.
Teams of innovators
Smart Kuku Brooder: the team produces an automated chicks' brooder system that supplies the brooder house with proportional heat and light, essential requirements for growth of strong and healthy birds.
Mosqull: the team produces an electronic device that attracts and kills mosquitoes, and their aim is to reduce the rate of malaria in tropical Africa.
Allie G lip balm: this team produces an organic lip therapy product for both ladies and gentlemen with a healing component for beauty, sore and cracked lips.
Bamboo pens: The team makes ink pens from bamboo, and they want to reduce the quantity of plastic waste from plastic pens used in schools and offices to conserve the natural environment.
AB Furniture: the team produces and rents out furniture that is beds, reading tables and chairs to the moving population of university students at an affordable price.
Eco Fair team: they make eco-friendly packaging bags from paper and supplies to fast food selling spots, bakeries and supermarkets. they aim at reducing the health hazards resulting from using polythene bags to human health and the natural environment.
Hospitality team: this is working on a service that supplies hotels with well trained and reliable workers and also creating employment for hospitality students that leave their institutions to unemployment hence checking the labor turnover among hotel services.
Spark herbal toothpaste: The group is currently working on a herbal toothpaste product that helps to prevent dental ailments like tooth decay and tooth ache.
Business in inspirational talk
The innovators listened from Dr. Nahurira Edward Kazire, CEO Kazire health products who shared his entrepreneurship journey and sights that got him from capital of ugx 20,000 to ugx 40 billion now. these were discipline, patience, good interpersonal relationships, installing systems, having standard operating procedures and mostly, pray to God to bless your business. Dr. Kazeire accepted to join the team of business coaches that will mentor the young innovators as requested by Dr. Manasseh, the project team leader.
Pitching and awarding of certificates
All groups pitched their ventures and got feedback from the judges on how to improve them. The table of judges included Madam Nuriat Nambogo, Manager CAM Tech innovation hub, Mr. Erastus Ahimbisibwe, MUST Alumnus and entrepreneur, and Madam Justice-an entrepreneur. The top three winners of the pitch were awarded grants of ugx 500,000 each. These were mosquil as the champion, Smart Kuku as first runners up and Spark herbal toothpaste as second runners up. However, all teams will stay under progress monitoring with the different mentors and business coaches assigned to them for the next three months. Each team walked away with a certificate of participation.
In conclusion, the entrepreneurship bootcamp provided valuable guidance, networking opportunities, grants, and certificates to innovators, equipping them with the skills and resources needed for entrepreneurial success.