Kigali, Rwanda – September 13, 2021 – Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Hanga Ahazaza initiative has launched their fifth call for applications for eligible businesses to join Tourism Inc.’s incubation program. This interactive program serves as a full-service incubator for start-ups in the tourism and hospitality sector. Tourism and Hospitality is a priority sector in Rwanda’s development agenda. Yet, the economic effects of managing the spread of COVID-19 have deeply distressed the sector. It is against this backdrop that Tourism Inc. continues to support the future leaders of the industry. It is more important than ever to invest in these youth-led businesses to ensure they have the tools needed to develop their businesses and thrive in a post-COVID world. For its fifth cohort, 25 young entrepreneurs will be selected to join the Tourism Inc. program; allowing them to receive the right mix of technical skills, financing, and mentorship to grow their businesses over a six-month period. At the end of this period, five of the best performing entrepreneurs will receive seed funding to grow their ventures. The program will provide the participants with industry best-practices and tools to turn their ideas and early-stage ideas into successful businesses. The participants will benefit from free workspaces and prototype incentives aimed at supporting the launch and growth of their businesses. Other aspects of the program include: Key business skills training. Coaching to enable practical application of these learnings to their businesses. Access to financing. It is this wrap-around offering that has earned Tourism Inc. a reputation of being an industry-specific incubation program that harnesses innovative ideas and instills competencies that result in market success for its participants. ESP is now accepting applications for the fifth cohort of this exciting program. Applicants who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply: A start-up (or have a start-up idea) in the tourism and hospitality value chain (i.e., including suppliers to the sector). A young person (18-35 years old). Must be based in Rwanda. Commitment to complete the program. Women entrepreneurs are highly encouraged to apply. ESP will be hosting online information sessions on September 21, 2021to provide interested Tourism and Hospitality entrepreneurs with further details on the program. Please click here to apply https://bit.ly/tourisminc5 For more information: Visit the ESPartners website: espartners.co. You can also email ESPartners using thincubation@espartners.co or call +250784053025. About Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) aims to enable innovative, scalable, and profitable enterprises to build prosperity. Our mission is “to foster entrepreneurial solutions for prosperity.” ESP enables people, firms, institutions, and nations to articulate and implement solutions to their economic challenges. ESP’s approach is to provide Intelligent Capital™—the right combination of insights and capital—to address critical societal issues. We provide consulting and strategy advisory services to diverse clients, including governments, businesses, and development partners in Africa. We support innovative models and provide leadership training and entrepreneurial boot camps. With offices in Abidjan and Kigali, ESP has been in operation since 2011. For more information, visit www.espartners.co and follow ESP at @ent4prosperity on Twitter About the Mastercard Foundation The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org Contact: Nima Yussuf nyussuf@espartners.co Snr. Project Manager Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners
