The AMPION Venture Bus will this year makes its debut in Rwanda and the other East African countries; Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
AMPION is a non-profit entrepreneurs support organisation that brings together budding young African Information Communication Technology (ICT) entrepreneurs and tech experts from all over the world whose aim is to turn business ideas into real projects.
Throughout the tour, teams are formed and products developed. During a five-day competition and road trip, the groups have shots at creating start-ups and developing innovative solutions to local challenges. The inaugural bus journey last year went through Zimbabwe and South Africa under the name ‘StartupBus Africa’.
According to Fabian Guhl, the AMPION Venture founder, Ampion is a catalyst for entrepreneurs. “We put together teams of developers, designers and business people to build great startups in emerging markets. We want all the great African ICT sector talent to go from huge potential to successful businesses,” he said.
From that inaugural trip, three standout start-ups successfully launched their operations: Sterio.me, an e-learning system; Workforce, a platform through which job seekers and potential employers interface and Bribed, an application designed to battle corruption via crowd-sourcing.
AMPION’s Rowan Emslie encouraged the youth to embrace ICTs to spur their entrepreneurial dreams.
“ICT can expand the impact and reach of small businesses all over the world. For young entrepreneurs, the ability to utilise newer technology can be what makes them stand out,” he said.
Between September and November, four buses will travel through 15 African countries, covering all the regions of the continent.
This year, the bus journeys will focus on solutions to Africa’s challenges in healthcare, energy and education.
The top three startups in each bus will get the chance to be incubated for free by leading African startup incubators during a period from six to 12 months.
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