Uganda is often called a small market. Despite having a population of over 40m, the purchasing power is relatively low. As a result, it is imperative for startups and other businesses to have expansion strategies on their mind. One of the most popular destinations when Ugandan companies are expanding in Kenya due to its similar culture and its relatively bigger spending power.
As a result, AVODA Institute has launched the Business Growth Accelerator Program (BGAP) to help startups and businesses expand regionally in association with Strathmore University.
“A lot of Kenyan companies have expanded into Uganda, but only a handful of Ugandan businesses have expanded into Kenya,” says Joshua Pi’Rwot, a co-founder of Avoda. “I think one of the most recent attempts was SafeBoda which withdrew for various reasons to concentrate on Uganda. But this is what the program will be about. To equip business executives on what it takes to make this leap.”
In order to pull this off, AVODA Institute has signed a memorandum of Understanding with Strathmore University’s Business School, which is well known in the region for its business school. Joshua explains why this partnership is perfect. “Strathmore has a network of alumni that have established businesses in Kenya. So our cohort one members will be able to tap into this network as a benefit of the program.”
The program has two modules. The first module will run in Uganda. It will be once a week for four weeks on Thursdays in the morning hours while the second module will be in Kenya and will start on the 20th of November, it will be a week-long boot camp with facilitations and workshops interspersed with trips to Kenyan businesses that want partnerships and collaborations.
“Avoda and Strathmore University will give certificates at the end of this program. However, our major goal for this program will be for at least more than 30% of partnerships to be struck as a result of participation in this program. We also want to see numerical evidence of cost reduction and revenue increment over the next 18 months on the participant’s businesses”
The program is targeting business owners who employ at least three people with an annual turnover of at least $50,000. Each business owner will have to part with $1350 for the program with some additional fees incurred for travel and lodging expenses to Nairobi for module two.
AVODA is a Ugandan ESO that was started by Jun Shiomitsu & Joshua Pi’Rwot. It has worked with organisations like JICA to build an incubator. It also runs the AVODA Blue Program which is a year-long accelerator which usually leads to investment. It also runs some other custom programs for startups.
“I want to create an army of business people who will be able to expand and negotiate globally. Through our work with JICA / JETRO, we have encountered lots of Japanese companies that want to partner with businesses here. But the businesses are not ready. We will start with Kenya. This is a long-term thing and we hope it pays off!” Joshua concludes.