The “MalawiUP! Startup Connect Week” is slated to take place from the 13th-16th December 2022 in Lilongwe. It endeavors to bring together local and national innovation enablers and digital visionaries in Malawi to stimulate closer collaboration to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. The event series is hosted by Mzuzu E-Hub in partnership with Make-IT in Africa, a project implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
The week starts with an event by the Mzuzu E-Hub titled “hub-COLLAB” in collaboration with Make- IT in Africa. In this context, Make-IT in Africa will be launched as a project in Malawi by representatives from Namibia and Botswana. This event marks the starting point for the implementation of the project in Malawi – after the project has already successfully strengthened innovation ecosystems in Western and Eastern Africa.
The goal of the MalawiUP! Startup Connect Week is three-fold:
- Connect & Network: Bringing together relevant stakeholders and reducing fragmentation in the innovation ecosystem.
- Tackle Challenges Together: Providing a week of networking events, discussion formats, workshops, etc. to identify solutions to joint problems (i.e. lack of hub collaboration, access to finance, capacity building, fostering innovation etc.).
- From Competition to Collaboration: Fostering mutual learning, building bridges and enhancing collaboration between relevant stakeholders in the Malawi innovation ecosystem.
Various events are planned across Lilongwe by innovation hubs such as Mzuzu E-hub, Status Tech Hub, mHub, NxtGen Labs and Synergy. Please note that some events are open to the public and others are by invite only. Prior online registration is essential and can be done via the Mzuzu E-Hub social media channels.
Below is a comprehensive overview of the events:
Hub-COLLAB: Aims to bring together Innovation Hub Managers and support entities to enhance synergies and collaboration towards developing a sustainable innovation ecosystem in Malawi through facilitated group conversations, inspirational storytelling and one-on-one sessions.
Hack the Gap: Will equip young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders with knowledge and skills in Design Thinking through a HCD Masterclass and crash course. Furthermore, attendees will learn from other innovators and entrepreneurs in the ecosystem through a panel discussion titled “Innovation, Entrepreneurship + Digitization” and close off with a tech startup expo.
Clicks and Startups: A roundtable discussion under the theme “Investment readiness for the Malawi early-stage entrepreneur” followed by networking, building up from the Investor Meetup event that mHub hosted a few weeks prior.
Tech-It-Out: A gathering of tech or digital startups and enthusiasts to engage innovation enablers through fireside chats, a tech talk and panel discussion centered on entrepreneurship and innovation.
We are excited for the MalawiUP! Startup Connect Week! We look forward to learning more about the innovation ecosystem, networking and being inspired as we close off the year in the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.
About Make-IT in Africa
Make-IT in Africa believes in the catalytic power of African innovation and digital technologies for green and inclusive development. In close collaboration with digital visionaries like start-ups, innovation enablers and political partners, we empower African innovation ecosystems. Together, we aim to strengthen an environment in which the full potential of African digital innovation can unfold. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements this project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). For further information visit our website: www.make-it.africa
About Mzuzu E-Hub
Mzuzu E-Hub is a social enterprise registered under the company’s incorporation Act TMBRS 1010145 based in Kwawala House, Mzuzu City, Malawi established in 2017 with a core mission to provide capacity building, linkages and networks for youth led start up and early-stage businesses to amplify their growth and success. Mzuzu E-Hub envisions young people at the center of private enterprise driving social and economic development in Malawi.
As Mzuzu E-Hub, we believe that growth in the number of small businesses will create sustainable incomes and foster a healthy and diverse entrepreneurial environment in Malawi. With five years’ experience in running business development support services in Malawi we facilitate skills and knowledge transfer, information sharing, access to resources, opportunities and networking through implementing business incubation programs(Bizcubation, Women in Biz, Hatch Start, COVID19 Youth Challenge Incubation), digital technology skills transfer(Media information literacy and education-MILE program, Digital Bar), hosting networking events (physical and virtual), providing co-working and meeting/conference facilities, technical assistance (business advisory, legal advisory, coaching and mentoring, market linkages) and seed capital financing ranging from USD500 to USD2000 through grants under the Youth and Women in Biz Challenge Competition.
Please, find the programme below.
