Over 50 UR student-led start-ups win Mastercard Foundation Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund grants to scale innovation

Fifty-two student-led start-ups at the University of Rwanda have each secured $5,000 in funding to turn their innovations into real-world, social-impact solutions. The competition is part of the Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund, an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation implemented under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda. The initiative aims to equip young innovators at the University of Rwanda with the skills and support needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive, solutions-driven world. The awarding ceremony was held alongside the University of Rwanda Career Forum Network on Friday, March 27, at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV). The winners were selected from over 740 student teams, each composed of three to five members, representing more than 3,000 applicants. The competition aims to champion UR students’ innovations by supporting student-led solutions that address critical community and national development challenges. The supported projects span diverse sectors, including agricultural technology, climate change mitigation, environmental protection, information technology, and mental health support, among others. Speaking at the event, officials said it created a dynamic platform connecting students with opportunities, partners, and industry leaders, and that the strong participation highlights the creativity, innovation, and impact potential of student-led initiatives. Associate Professor Anne-Marie Kagwesage, Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda, said the initiative implements a full-round knowledge and skills acceleration approach to empower young Africans, develop their entrepreneurship skills, and prepare them for impactful transitions. “We appreciate you students for thinking beyond yourselves and working to impact communities. Your ideas are not just innovative; they are transformational, creating jobs, building business ventures, and developing projects that bring new solutions to community and societal problems,” she said. Dr. Raymond Ndikumana, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Strategic Planning and Administration at UR, stated that the initiative is growing, with 583 participants registered last year compared to 740 this year. This increase shows that there are many ideas and a strong need to support them, which is why sponsors like the Mastercard Foundation have come on board. “Some have already started earning from their start-ups while still being good students. It is possible to run a business and still pursue education,” he said. “There are projects that deal with greenhouses. They started with $5,000 but have generated up to $30,000 in sales. That is among many success stories pushing us to do more,” he added. Dr. Ndikumana explained that such preparation for the real world is crucial and that this is just the beginning. Monitoring will continue, and the wave of inspiration should spread across all UR campuses, with innovation and incubation hubs already set up in those schools. “We made them work in groups because they need to learn from each other. They are between 19 and 24 years old, which is the best stage to learn teamwork. Some of them will become leaders, and a selfish person cannot be a leader,” he said. Innovators weigh in The Kigali Urban Brain team, one of the winning teams, said that the project’s concept is a smart traffic and mobility system with an integrated mobile app that uses AI, cameras, and detectors to provide information to drivers and guide them toward preferable routes with lower traffic. This will help prevent congestion, as drivers will use alternative routes, thereby improving road safety in a growing city like Kigali. In agriculture, the Smart Manure Project team explained that their system regulates the quantity of manure a farmer can apply to specific crops based on nitrogen and phosphorus levels. They have introduced a machine programmed with sensors that measure and control the amount applied, ensuring it matches the crop’s needs. “It is currently a prototype, and we are working to complete the project for effective use and immediate impact. Farmers will benefit from it, and we are ready to serve as many as possible,” they pointed out. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF 2.0) competitions are organised for the second time. Last year, 27 projects were also awarded and have started generating income. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda is a 10-year partnership between the University of Rwanda and the Mastercard Foundation. It aims to support academically talented students with limited access to financial and social opportunities.

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Over 50 UR student-led start-ups win Mastercard Foundation Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund grants to scale innovation