Village Capital, a global firm supporting entrepreneurs solving major problems in society, and Gearbox, a unique space for inventors to build and showcase innovative ideas in East Africa, are announcing a program to support 12 hardware businesses from across Africa that are improving the lives of the underserved. With support from The Lemelson Foundation, the partnership allows Village Capital and Gearbox to provide unique capacity building to these businesses to help these entrepreneurs overcome the challenges unique to inventors in reaching scale.
ELIGIBLE ENTERPRISES
Village Capital is searching for the next generation of “invention-based businesses” hardware solutions in East Africa. We are especially interested in inventions that improve access to energy for all, and increase agricultural productivity for small-holder farmers.
Examples include:
- Affordability: inventions that radically increase affordability of energy generation or agricultural products.
- Reduced Consumption: innovations that reduce the cost of consumption for small-holder farmers
- Efficiency: technologies that increase the efficiency of energy and/or agricultural distribution systems.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
September 7, 2015
WORKSHOP DATES
Workshops to be held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Workshop 1: October 21-24
Workshop 2: January 6-9
Workshop 3: February 22-25
