BUSINESS REPORTER
Eight2Five Innovation Hub, the business incubator powered by Old Mutual Zimbabwe on Thursday unveiled a start-up entry to market event for its four startup partners.
The Hub Incubation Programme is an intensive and inclusive process that offers early-stage startups and entrepreneurs support. Startups with high growth potential had the opportunity to enrol in the business incubation process and it prepared them for launch and market entry.
The four startups span diverse sectors such as education, finance, e-commerce, and construction.
“At Eight 2 Five, we encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage our strong in-house expertise and a network of partners powered by Old Mutual Zimbabwe. The programme was birthed early this year under the hub’s mandate to support innovative startups that provide sustainable solutions to economic and environmental challenges in Africa,” Lillian Mbayiwa, the marketing, public affairs and sustainability executive at Old Mutual Zimbabwe said.
The launch event saw E-Exam, graduating. Its an Edutech Swiss Army Knife for every student. It simplifies revision for exam classes and everything in-between. The Tax Pal Zimbabwe, an online tax calculator helps SMEs, individuals & foreigners to calculate & file taxes easily.
Another startup, Everything Zimbabwe, is a one-of-a-kind, one-stop-shop, for the Zimbabwean entrepreneur and discerning customer.
Lastly, Zezuru is a design consultancy that specialises in digital design techniques and computation methods to provide design solutions in the context of developing nations.
“It’s great to witness the growth of startups with different founders in different industries throughout the incubation period. This highlights the role of the Eight2Five Innovation Hub as an equitable partner to nurture entrepreneurship in the region. We create a modern, professional, and energetic work environment to stimulate the creativity and productivity of innovative and entrepreneurial businesses and their teams,” she added.
Through the programme and the Value Creation challenge, the Hub has been carefully curated and supports innovative startups that provide sustainable solutions to economic and environmental challenges in Africa.
The support offered include financial support, such as seed funding and co-funding opportunities a strong knowledge and support network, including strategic mentoring by a pool of world-class industry experts who are successful in their respective industries and market linkages, regular mentoring, and regulatory compliance checks to guide and refine startups product on moving the company forward.
