Online IEEE Entrepreneurship Africa Workshop
An online workshop with multiple sessions spread over a four to six-week period, organized by IEEE Entrepreneurship, IEEE Smart Villages, Power Africa, and the IEEE Kenya Section, will be conducted during September / October. Participants will be introduced to the basics of entrepreneurship – seeking opportunities for innovative technical solutions to the needs of the society and taking these ideas to the market by developing a viable business model, a sound business plan, and a commercialization strategy.
Topics covered
- Scientists and engineers as entrepreneurs
- Opportunity and value assessment
- Intellectual property (IP)
- Business Model and Business Plan fundamentals
- Marketing and Value Proposition for Customers
- Technology readiness levels
- Invention to product: timelines and processes
- Tools for financial estimations
- Pitching
- Networking, communication, and presentation skills
- Access to finance
- Case studies and group projects.
Workshop Timeline
- 03 September 2021 – Participant Pre-Workshop Meeting
- 07 – 30 September – Tuesday / Thursday evening meetings from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- 07 October – Winning Team Announced – Feedback session
Workshop Information
This workshop will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays (5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Kenya time) from 03 September 2021 – 07 October 2021. Each session will be approximately 2.5 hours in duration and you should expect to spend 1 – 2 hours per week meeting with your assigned team and mentors to create a final business pitch video presentation. Please know that this is a time-intensive activity that will require around 40 hours of attendance and teamwork.
Participation Eligibility Information
This workshop will be in English and is open to all young engineers, science graduates (all college levels), and young researchers from Africa. This event is for those who have a high motivation for becoming technical entrepreneurs (technopreneurs). Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
The selection of candidates will be based on their technology background and also their strong motivation to become entrepreneurs. Applications for participation in the workshop can be found at https://entrepreneurship.ieee.org/application-online-africa-workshop/.
Only those participants who can commit to devoting the above-said effort are encouraged to apply.
Application / Registration Deadline for application: 06 August 2021.
For further information contact: Ken Stauffer / Surya Raghu.
Organizing team: Janati Nakimera, Mercy Chelangat, Ken Stauffer, Surya Raghu, Tom Monaco.
