Projects, Programs, Hubs, and Incubators
250startups
250STARTUPS is a multi‐partner incubation and acceleration hub enabling tech startups at an early stage to develop a proof of concept while also supporting operating startups to be investment ready through a tailored program.
The hub equips these startups with the tools to be competitive on the market after the program through product development, financial and legal support, mentorship, exposes startups to investors through a variety of events, and builds capacity through a multitude of training in business, technical and soft skills among others.
Incubation
Our incubation program offers startups various services including the following:
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Market Intelligence
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Product Development
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Financial and legal support
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Local and international exposure
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Mentorship
Accelerator
Our acceleration programs are tailored to the needs of the supported startups. We start by conducting a needs assessment that informs the design of an appropriate program to support the startups’ growth.
- Capacity building for fresh graduates in finance, law and Information technology to help them to gain hands-on skills.
- Incubation and accelerator program
Consultancy
- Project Design & Planning
- Capacity Building
- Product Development
- Business Processes Development
- Event Management
- Go-To-Market Strategy
- Mentorship And Coaching
kLab Rwanda
kLab is a unique open technology hub in Kigali where students, fresh graduates, entrepreneurs, and innovators come to work on their ideas/projects to turn them into viable business models.
kLab STARTUPS Academy/ Talents Program
The talents program offers capacity building to Tech talents with updated programming languages with the aim of helping them get employment. We offer project-based learning strategies where participants learn skills by implementing projects.
kLab Freelancers program
This program aims at allowing young individuals with multiple skills to connect with businesses worldwide to work on freelancing projects both with local companies and on digital platforms like Upwork and Fiver.
kLab STARTUPS Academy/ Entrepreneurs program
In the entrepreneurs & innovator program, we have young tech entrepreneurs working on their business projects and nurturing them from the ideation stage to marketable prototypes.
Mentorship program and Training of Managers
The mentorship program and Training of Managers aims at equipping other trainers and hub managers by transferring our knowledge through other young people so that we can extend our training in other centers
FabLab Rwanda
It was established in May 12th, 2016, by ICT Chamber in partnership with Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ministry of Education, SolidWorks Corporation MIT-CBA, and Gasabo3D who followed through taking lessons learnt from efforts of supporting Software Innovators (at KLAB) to execute on His Excellency’s recommendation to put in place a Fabrication Laboratory (FABLAB) to support Hardware Innovators in Rwanda.
Services
We providing quality of training, access to high standard digital facilities and excellent quality services to our primary beneficiaries who are engineering graduates, educational institutions, non-profit and community organizations and creating an enjoyable working environment for our employees.
- Digital Manufacturing training
- Prototyping & product Development
- Digital Fabrication Lab setting up
- Fab Café and Event Space
- 3D Printing,3D Designing and 3D Scanning
- Laser cutting and Engraving
- Computer Controlled maintenance and repair
- CNC cutting and Machining
- CNC, Laser and 3D machine maintenance
- PCB Design and Printing
- Interior design
Programs
FabLab program support innovators, entrepreneurs, young graduates and individuals in advancing their knowledge by equipping them with the latest knowledge related to digital fabrication and use of machine.
- IoT & Embedded sytem training
- Solidworks
- Capacity building
- Research and Innovation
- Fab Academy
- Fab Digital fabrication
- Fab Accelerator program
- Fab Wood Initiative
Access International Partnership in IT - AIPI
Access to International Partnerships in IT (AIPI) is a partnership project between Rwanda ICT Chamber and the Germany-based Bundesverband IT-Mittelstand e.V. (BITMi)
Our Mission
Our common goal is to strengthen the Rwandan as well as the German ICT sector and to enable cooperation at eye level.
Services
- Training, Mentorship & Certification
- Mentoring with German IT experts
- Quality Seals
- iSQI
- Hidden Talents Project,
- internships
- B2B
- Outsourcing
- Market Entry
- Proof of Concept
- Study Tours,
- SGS1
- Chamber Partnership:
- Knowledge Exchange
- Events
FintecHub
FinTecHub is a 6-month acceleration program dedicated to supporting selected Rwandan fintech startups to scale by addressing their needs for skills, partnerships, access to capital, and navigating the regulatory environment. FinTecHub is an initiative of UNCDF in partnership with the ICT Chamber, Kigali Innovation City, MINICT, and MINICOM.
Key Outcome for the Second Cohort
Following the successful completion of the first cohort, FintecHub started its second cohort in September 2021 with three start-ups namely FoodBundles Ltd, Uplus Mutual Partners, and Urid Technologies Ltd. Below is the support that hub has offered to them so far.
Legal Advisory Support
FintecHub serves as a central contact point to streamline queries and provide support, guidance, and relevant toolkits to start-ups, helping them navigate the regulatory environment.
Tailor-made Techincal Assistance
Every startup received up to 4.5 million RWF to address specific needs identified during the diagnostic risk analysis
Milestone-based Grant
In addition to the funds provided as technical support, every startup received seed capital of up to 15 million RWF in form of a milestone-based grant.
Ihuzo Project
The project aims at accelerating the growth of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by expanding the e-commerce sector in Rwanda to spur the growth of livelihoods and employment opportunities through e-commerce and promote an enabling market system for e-commerce by onboarding MSEs into the digital economy at the core.
Mastercard Foundation. The project aims at accelerating the growth of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and stimulating more employment opportunities through e-commerce and digital transformation.
Projects Outcomes
- Training of MSMEs ad iWorkers on digital trade
- Onboarding of MSMEs onto E-commerce Platforms
- Acceleration program for E-commerce companies
EdTech Mondays Program
The EdTech Monday Rwanda is a Mastercard Foundation and ICT Chamber initiative that aims to spark the EdTech Ecosystem in Rwanda. The show occurs every last Monday of the month, and it airs from 6 PM to 7 PM on KT Radio and on Kigali Today YouTube Channel. The show airs in Kinyarwanda and it focuses on leveraging technology to advance education and learning in Rwanda.
Since 2019, the program has been driving remarkable impacts and enhancing EdTech innovations. As of now, more than 50 EdTech companies are benefiting from the program, and the number is still growing. The companies provide EdTech solutions in different components including e-learning platforms, content development, school management platforms, and after-school programs.
Digital Business Institute
DBI is The Digital Business Institute, a trade and investment support institution (TISI) and a capacity building arm of the Rwanda ICT Chamber Aiming at the Acceleration of Digitalization of Rwandan Businesses; Expanding Rwanda’s Digital Exports as well as Increasing Competitiveness of Rwandan ICT Companies.
What we do
DBI aims at providing the required tools, standards and capacities for Rwandan ICT and non-ICT companies towards the international market place. DBI is providing a certification program (DBI Trust Seal) for E-Commerce, Software development and Fintech companies in Rwanda. Hand in hand we are providing advisory and capacity building services to ICT Companies in Rwanda as well as developing a competitive workforce for the Ecosystem
Vision
DBI’s primary objective is to support the development of the Rwandan ICT sector/companies in generating increased revenues, exports and investment readiness through upgrading the capacities of entrepreneurs and business leaders to create new products and services, access new digital markets and grow successful businesses while developing a globally competitive technical workforce.