Uganda National Pitch Competition: Innovators Sprint Up Programme Showcases Youth Entrepreneurship Potential

The Innovators Sprint Up Programme has benefited over 300 young innovators across East Africa through bootcamp training, industry mentorship, peer-to-peer learning, and cross-border knowledge exchange.

KAMPALA – The Uganda National Pitch Competition under the Innovators Sprint Up Programme highlighted the innovative potential of young entrepreneurs, featuring 11 finalists who presented groundbreaking business ideas.

The programme is part of the East African Community (EAC) initiative, “Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Industry” (dSkills@EA).

It is jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) across seven EAC partner states.

The initiative aims to equip young innovators and budding entrepreneurs from universities and recent graduates in Burundi, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

It features critical skills in innovation management, startup venture development, and sustainable business model creation.

By enhancing the capacities of young innovators, the programme seeks to promote regional employment opportunities, knowledge exchange, and digital innovation growth.

Programme Overview

Launched in March, the Innovators Sprint Up Programme has benefited over 300 young innovators across East Africa through bootcamp training, industry mentorship, peer-to-peer learning, and cross-border knowledge exchange.

The programme is supported by a regional cooperation network of innovation support organisations, including the E4Impact Foundation, Ennovate Ventures, Aclis, and Koneta Hub, in collaboration with ASSEK (Association of Startups and SMEs Enablers of Kenya).

In Uganda, 30 promising students participated in an intensive entrepreneurship and digital skills training at the E4Impact Entrepreneurship Center.

The curriculum covered seven critical modules: Design Thinking, Business Modeling, Sales & Negotiation, Financial Accounting, 360 Digital Marketing, Commercialization, and Intellectual Property Protection.

Through coaching and mentoring sessions, participants were able to develop innovative digital business solutions in areas such as agri-tech, e-learning, and digitized real estate tracking.

**Demo Day and Finalists**

During the Demo Day event, the top 11 innovators presented their business ideas to an enthusiastic audience.

The three standout ventures selected to participate in a business ecosystem tour in Kenya and Rwanda are:

Myco-Hill Organic Farms – Led by Kirabo Zeridah Sarah, this venture focuses on organic farming and sustainable agriculture.

Go Farm – Charles Rubangakene’s agri-tech solution that connects farmers with vital agricultural services.

Eco-Erudits Uganda – Founded by Natukunda Amanda Ethol, this startup focuses on eco-friendly educational solutions.

These finalists will gain valuable exposure to the dynamics of the innovation ecosystems in Kenya and Rwanda, enabling them to scale their ventures and support their commercialization efforts.

Partnership Support

The event was graced by key figures from GIZ and IUCEA, including Akot Lillian (GIZ) and Prof. Philippe Tunamsifu (IUCEA), who emphasized the importance of continued support for youth entrepreneurship and digital innovation.

Their remarks underscored the role of development partners in nurturing a vibrant ecosystem that empowers young entrepreneurs and fosters regional cooperation across East Africa.

As the Innovators Sprint Up Programme continues to pave the way for young innovators, the future of digital entrepreneurship in East Africa looks promising, with a strong focus on collaboration, skill-building, and sustainable growth.