After the launch of the Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP) on the 16th of September 2021 and the virtual Bootcamp for the selected startups on the 11th of October 2021, the SCIP Africa team will host a physical Bootcamp for the selected startups in Kigali, Rwanda on the 22nd of November to 26th of November, 2021.
As part of the Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP), the 31 selected startups will have access to tailored group and individual mentoring and training sessions to help scale and grow their business to compete globally. Top industry experts from multiple local and international partners, including Siemens, Volkswagen, Amazon Web Services, Jasiri, Viktoria Ventures, and more will be available to support each founder on their journey.
The Smart Cities Innovation Programme is part of the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation – also operating under the brand Invest for Jobs – and the Tech-Entrepreneurship Initiative “Make-IT in Africa” implemented by GIZ on behalf of BMZ. The Programme’s implementation is supported by Luvent Consulting, Afrilabs, and MEST.
For six months (June – December 2021), the Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP) supports selected African start-ups to scale innovative products which can boost the potential of urbanization, ensuring smart cities achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By scaling innovations for smart cities, the program concretely contributes to Africa’s urban transformation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The SCIP uses Rwanda’s pilot initiative towards green urbanization, Green City Kigali, as an application case for smart city solutions in Kigali. By testing and adapting their solutions under realistic market conditions start-ups work on a viable business opportunity and explore the potential of the Rwandan market.
Prior to this BootCamp, 31 start-ups were selected out of more than 300 innovators that responded to the call for applications issued from April to May. The selected start-ups are grouped in three tracks addressing common topics of smart cities: Cleantech & Smart Housing, Smart Mobility, and Fintech for Affordability. They had participated in a Virtual Bootcamp in October as part of the program. Know more about the participants here.
About GIZ:
As a service provider with worldwide operations in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ works with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions. GIZ is a public-benefit federal enterprise and supports the German Government and a host of public and private sector clients in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
About the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation:
Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts, and financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to team up with companies to create good jobs and training opportunities in the partner countries, of which there are currently eight, and to preserve them during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim is also to improve local working conditions. The Special Initiative is implemented by GIZ and KfW, among others. Further information is available at www.invest-for-jobs.com.
About Make-IT in Africa:
Make-IT in Africa believes in African innovation and digital technologies for green and sustainable development. In close collaboration with start-ups, local innovation enablers, and political partners, it empowers entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems. Together it aims to strengthen an environment in which the full potential of digital innovation can unfold.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements the project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
About AfriLabs
AfriLabs is a network organization supporting Innovation Centers across African countries since 2011, founded upon the mission of building a community around the rapidly emerging technology hubs in Africa. These hubs serve as centers that provide support to African entrepreneurs, innovators, developers, and youths. By providing physical co-working and dedicated office spaces, as well as inclusive training and business, legal and financial support, we play an active role in helping to raise successful entrepreneurs who will create jobs and develop innovative solutions to African problems.
About MEST
MEST is an Africa-wide technology entrepreneur training program, internal seed fund, and network of hubs offering incubation for technology startups in Africa.
For young aspiring and established African entrepreneurs, MEST Africa provides the skills, mindset, and experiences to build a globally successful tech company. Beyond tech and entrepreneurial skills training, MEST Africa provides a real-world advantage to entrepreneurs through funding, business incubation, and access to a global tech network.
About Luvent
Luvent Consulting is an economic development consultancy with headquarters in Berlin, Germany, and regional offices in Asunción, Dushanbe, Nairobi, Windhoek, and Yangon. They are committed to providing quality solutions to the challenges of sustainable economic, social and environmental development. Their Credo guides us in our daily work, in our quest for excellence and innovation, in our communication with clients, and within our own teams. We believe in the power of development consulting and support our own charity projects around the world through Luvent Cares.
