As part of the Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP), 31 start-ups from all across Africa gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, for a five-day bootcamp on 22-26 November 2021. The event, jointly hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of ICT and Innovation as well as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, offered learning opportunities to help start-ups scale and grow their business to compete across the continent.

The SCIP bootcamp brought together private and public partners of the programme, including top industry experts from Volkswagen, Angaza Capital, Viktoria Ventures, and more. Together with subject matter experts from entrepreneurship support organisations, MEST and AfriLabs, these partners offered masterclasses, co-creation workshops, pre-pitch practice and networking events that equip the supported start-ups with the needed skills and knowledge to grow and better fine-tune their solutions after the programme.

After almost two years of operating under the difficult conditions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, start-ups closed the event praising the opportunity of meeting fellow innovators and local and international partners in person again. For some entrepreneurs, the bootcamp was the first opportunity of in-person pitches and networking since they started operations only two years ago.

Since SCIP’s launch in September 2021, start-ups commenced their six-months journey to scale innovative products which can boost the potential of urbanisation, ensuring smart cities achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By scaling innovations for smart cities, the programme concretely contributes to Africa's urban transformation and the creation of new jobs in Rwanda and beyond. This is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

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 programme. Learn more about the participants here.

SCIP is part of the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation – also operating under the brand Invest for Jobs – and Make-IT in Africa implemented by GIZ on behalf of BMZ. The Programme’s implementation is supported by Luvent Consulting, AfriLabs and MEST.

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 a green and inclusive 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). Further information is available at www.make-it.africa