Kigali, Rwanda – (14/3/2022) – Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Hanga Ahazaza initiative has launched their sixth call for applications for eligible businesses to join its incubation program, Tourism Inc. This six-month interactive program serves as a full-circle incubator for start-ups in the Tourism and Hospitality sector. The Tourism and Hospitality industry was and continues to be a priority sector in Rwanda’s development agenda. Yet, the economic effects of COVID-19 have deeply affected the sector. It is against this backdrop, that Tourism Inc. continues to support the future champions of the sector. 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. The program seeks to create an engaging environment for participating entrepreneurs and ensures they receive a suite of practical support to turn their innovative tourism start-ups into sector champions in Rwanda. This support includes training on a range of key business skills, coaching to enable practical application of these learnings into their businesses, and practical resources including workspace and access to financing. It is this wrap-around offering that has earned Tourism Inc. a reputation as a top incubation program that harnesses ideas and instills competencies that result in market success for its participants. Presently, Tourism Inc. has graduated 109 businesses and 67% of them are led by female owners. Tourism Inc. is currently in its fifth edition of the cohort and will soon be recruiting its sixth edition. For its sixth cohort, 25 young entrepreneurs will be selected to join the Tourism Inc. program. They will receive six months of the right mix of technical skills, financing, and mentorship to help them grow their businesses. The participants will also benefit from free co-working space and prototype incentives aimed at supporting the launch/growth of participating businesses. At the end of the program, the top five entrepreneurs will receive seed funding to help further expand their ventures. ESP is now accepting applications for the sixth cohort of this exciting program. Applicants who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply: Must be a start-up (have a minimum viable product or be in business for less than five years) in the Tourism and Hospitality value chain (i.e., including suppliers to the sector) Must be a young person (18-35 years old) Must be based in Rwanda Must have a commitment to engage in activities and complete the program Women entrepreneurs are highly encouraged to apply ESP will host online information sessions to provide interested potential participants with further details on the program and on how to apply. For more information: Visit the ESPartners website: espartners.co or Contact ESPartners Rwanda by email at thincubation@espartners.co Application link: https://bit.ly/TOURISMINC6 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 strategic 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 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: Pius Abijuru pabijuru@espartners.co Program Coordinator Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners
