Inclusivity
Key Developments in 2022

Inclusivity
Key Developments in 2022

The Hi-Innovator Programme

Creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.

Participants of the Hi-Innovator programme who pitched their businesses to the panel of judges

The Hi-Innovator programme – entrepreneur support programme

NSSF and Mastercard Foundation kicked off the second phase of the entrepreneur support programme, which aims to create new work opportunities for youth and women in Uganda. The Hi-Innovator programme is a two-phase initiative that was officially launched in May 2021. The first phase consisted of self-directed online learning via a platform providing foundational business knowledge to entrepreneurs to enable them to address gaps in their businesses.

The second phase is a six-month business support process where entrepreneurs have an opportunity to receive grant funding, technical assistance, business development and market development support to enable them to scale their businesses.

136 businesses in total completed the first phase and 42 were selected to pitch their business ideas to an investment committee consisting of seasoned entrepreneurs in Uganda.

The Fund and Mastercard Foundation have given 27 Ugandan entrepreneurs USD30,000 (about UGX116M) each to enable them to grow their businesses. The 27 Ugandans (11% women) were selected from about 890 applicants for the USD10,000 pilot project.

The programme will see 132,000 new work opportunities for youth and women in Uganda over the next five years. The fund will contribute UGX 1M and the Master Card Foundation UGX 1M. After receiving the grant of USD30,000 each, the entrepreneurs’ businesses are supported by the project implementing partner, Outbox, and other partner incubation hubs.

The next cohort of beneficiaries will be in August and the money is going to be for women in the agriculture and beauty industry. The Funds are for any Ugandan who is an entrepreneur. The Fund also established an academy for teaching entrepreneurship.

The Hi-Innovator Programme

Creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.

Participants of the Hi-Innovator programme who pitched their businesses to the panel of judges

The Hi-Innovator programme – entrepreneur support programme

NSSF and Mastercard Foundation kicked off the second phase of the entrepreneur support programme, which aims to create new work opportunities for youth and women in Uganda. The Hi-Innovator programme is a two-phase initiative that was officially launched in May 2021. The first phase consisted of self-directed online learning via a platform providing foundational business knowledge to entrepreneurs to enable them to address gaps in their businesses.

The second phase is a six-month business support process where entrepreneurs have an opportunity to receive grant funding, technical assistance, business development and market development support to enable them to scale their businesses.

136 businesses in total completed the first phase and 42 were selected to pitch their business ideas to an investment committee consisting of seasoned entrepreneurs in Uganda.

The Fund and Mastercard Foundation have given 27 Ugandan entrepreneurs USD30,000 (about UGX116M) each to enable them to grow their businesses. The 27 Ugandans (11% women) were selected from about 890 applicants for the USD10,000 pilot project.

The programme will see 132,000 new work opportunities for youth and women in Uganda over the next five years. The fund will contribute UGX 1M and the Master Card Foundation UGX 1M. After receiving the grant of USD30,000 each, the entrepreneurs’ businesses are supported by the project implementing partner, Outbox, and other partner incubation hubs.

The next cohort of beneficiaries will be in August and the money is going to be for women in the agriculture and beauty industry. The Funds are for any Ugandan who is an entrepreneur. The Fund also established an academy for teaching entrepreneurship.
The Hi-Innovator Programme is an innovative initiative, aimed at creating an ecosystem where the innovation of Small and Growing Businesses in Uganda can be harnessed and supported to mature into viable businesses, providing a pathway to the creation of work opportunities for women and youth in Uganda. 

The programme focuses on women and youth businesses specifically to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit for which young Ugandans are known. In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and with support from other partners, we hope to bring new economic opportunities through thousands of work opportunities over the next five years.

To qualify for grant funding, and technical and market development support, the 42 businesses selected, were subjected to a strict criterion that assessed their readiness to expand their operations and potential to create work opportunities.

The businesses were evaluated by seasoned entrepreneurs in Uganda. They assessed their ability to profitably scale if provided with the right technical and financial assistance, the potential to create work opportunities for young people and the competency of the management teams over some time.

One of the winners of the Hi-Innovator Programme →

The Hi-Innovator Programme is an innovative initiative, aimed at creating an ecosystem where the innovation of Small and Growing Businesses in Uganda can be harnessed and supported to mature into viable businesses, providing a pathway to the creation of work opportunities for women and youth in Uganda. 

The programme focuses on women and youth businesses specifically to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit for which young Ugandans are known. In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and with support from other partners, we hope to bring new economic opportunities through thousands of work opportunities over the next five years.

To qualify for grant funding, and technical and market development support, the 42 businesses selected, were subjected to a strict criterion that assessed their readiness to expand their operations and potential to create work opportunities.

The businesses were evaluated by seasoned entrepreneurs in Uganda. They assessed their ability to profitably scale if provided with the right technical and financial assistance, the potential to create work opportunities for young people and the competency of the management teams over some time.

One of the winners of the Hi-Innovator Programme →

“The Fund specifically targeted businesses in the agriculture value chain such as agro-processing, agro-industry, and service support. We chose agriculture specifically because the sector employs about 73 per cent of the population and has the potential to create more jobs for youth and women.” 

Patrick Ayota, Deputy Managing Director

“The Fund specifically targeted businesses in the agriculture value chain such as agro-processing, agro-industry, and service support. We chose agriculture specifically because the sector employs about 73 per cent of the population and has the potential to create more jobs for youth and women.” 

Patrick Ayota, Deputy Managing Director

Endorsements

The Mastercard Foundation Lead Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises for Uganda, Arnold Byarugaba,  said that the Foundation’s vision is to support highly impactful and scalable small and growing businesses to access seed capital and technical support for their businesses while creating a collaborative, sustainable and efficient business ecosystem.

 

Businesses that pitched their ideas, were selected to enter the second phase and will be supported by the project implementing partner, Outbox and other partner incubation hubs in the next six months. These include; Makerere University Innovation and Incubation Centre (MUIIC), MUBS Entrepreneurship Innovation and Incubation Centre, Stanbic Business Incubator, and Shona in the Central Region.

 

27 Ugandan entrepreneurs received  USD30,000 (about UGX 116M) each to enable them to grow their businesses. The 27 Ugandans (11% women) were selected from about 890 applicants for the USD 10,000 pilot project.

 

Budget: USD 1,087,157

Spend: USD 732,468

Endorsements

The Mastercard Foundation Lead Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises for Uganda, Arnold Byarugaba,  said that the Foundation’s vision is to support highly impactful and scalable small and growing businesses to access seed capital and technical support for their businesses while creating a collaborative, sustainable and efficient business ecosystem.

 

Businesses that pitched their ideas, were selected to enter the second phase and will be supported by the project implementing partner, Outbox and other partner incubation hubs in the next six months. These include; Makerere University Innovation and Incubation Centre (MUIIC), MUBS Entrepreneurship Innovation and Incubation Centre, Stanbic Business Incubator, and Shona in the Central Region.

 

27 Ugandan entrepreneurs received  USD30,000 (about UGX 116M) each to enable them to grow their businesses. The 27 Ugandans (11% women) were selected from about 890 applicants for the USD 10,000 pilot project.

 

Budget: USD 1,087,157

Spend: USD 732,468

Success stories

Below are some of the winners of the Hi-Innovator programme with successful business stories.

Play Video
Play Video
Play Video
Play Video

Success stories

Below are some of the winners of the Hi-Innovator programme with successful business stories.

Play Video
Play Video
Play Video
Play Video
Feedback from participants on the programme
Feedback from participants on the programme

Quick Contact

Head Office

Main Links

Ⓒ 2022 - All rights are reserved. NSSF Integrated Report. Created by Joshero (Pty) Ltd.