Interested African diaspora entrepreneurs and starters can submit their project until 31 January. Twelve projects will be selected and will have a chance of extensive knowledge transfer and a social loan of up to 50,000 euros. Sustainability, innovation and social impact are the key words.
For our SusTech4Africa campaigns we can always count on the support of the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, in short VITO. But the organisation also helps Belgian start-ups with innovative ideas, for example as a partner of the Start It @KBC platform.
With a loan from Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs (OVO), Imani Academy is building new classrooms for 300 students in a slum in the Ugandan capital Kampala. "Without affordable quality education, children remain trapped in poverty," says founder Ivan Agaba.
As a laureate of the Ugandan SusTech4Africa campaign 2019, the start-up Rena Beverages is no longer unknown in OVO circles. But also the members of UNIZO were recently introduced to 'Mama Hibiscus'.
OVO has won the European Business Award for the Environment 2020-2021. This is a recognition from the European Commission for companies that play a pioneering role in the transition to a sustainable economy.
“Meeting the right people at the right time, that's what matters." Speaking is Maureen Duru, born in Nigeria, but living in Belgium for more than 20 years. Maureen has been present at the inception of SusTech4Africa, the campaigns within which OVO supports African entrepreneurs to compete for a start-up loan to support their sustainability projects subsequent to an intensive coaching program.
In April 2019, the OVO Acceleration Fund was launched. A year and a half later, we proudly present the African start-ups that were able to start up and grow thanks to the fund.
Akaboxi, a project on financial inclusion, wins the 'Digitization for Development' award." It is an initiative by and for the local population", the jury praises the winner, who is financed and supported by Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs and Close the Gap.
In September a container with 15.9 tons of Indonesian coffee entered the port of Antwerp. What makes this coffee so special? Not only did it win several awards, but thanks to an ingenious business model the coffee also contributes to the recovery of the rainforest on the island of Sumatra.
Giving local entrepreneurs an income and at the same time
giving 4,500 adults and school children access to decent
sanitary facilities. That is the purpose of the “Flower Toilets”
project of the ONG Join For Water.
Thanks to a loan from OVO, entrepreneur Leonard Shayo can start producing pre-cooked beans in Tanzania. "It's fantastic to help develop a project like this," experienced Hugo Van de Voorde, the volunteer who prepared the investment for OVO.
More than double your turnover in four years and employ seven times as many employees. You just have to do it. EA Fruits was able to count on financing via OVO in 2015, much needed to get the business going. Perseverance and passion for the profession did the rest.
In 2019, OVO supported entrepreneurship in developing countries more than ever. With thanks to our volunteers, sponsors and (core) members. We collected our specific impact in our annual report. Here we would like to share some key figures.
The combination of financing and coaching of starting entrepreneurs. This is what distinguishes OVO from other organizations that want to stimulate economic development in Africa. This vision is best expressed in the SusTech4Africa competition.
Flemish companies, not-for-profit organizations, higher education institutions and local authorities committed to sustainable procurement or management of ICT equipment can register for the Fair ICT Awards until 14 November 2020.
Dealing creatively with challenges is second nature to entrepreneurs. But how do African entrepreneurs deal with a global crisis such as the corona epidemic? We asked CropTech, a Rwanda based manufacturer of solar-powered drying systems.
Dealing creatively with challenges is second nature to entrepreneurs. But how do African entrepreneurs deal with a global crisis such as the corona epidemic? We asked Akaboxi, a Ugandan company that a company that develops software that allows local farmers to save money safely.
Dealing creatively with challenges is second nature to entrepreneurs. But how do African entrepreneurs deal with a global crisis such as the corona epidemic? We asked Innovex, a Ugandan company that uses solar energy via IoT, Internet or Things.
Dealing creatively with challenges is second nature to entrepreneurs. But how do African entrepreneurs deal with a global crisis such as the corona epidemic? We asked Trautbuck Energy, a renewable energy start-up based in Kampala.