Nile Breweries Limited (NBL), has launched a social entrepreneurship program dubbed “100+ Accelerator,” Cohort 2023 at the NBL headquarters in Luzira, with motives geared towards the promotion of business start-ups committed to sustainability.
The program, an initiative of the parent company of NBL, AB InBev will offer a funding opportunity of up to US$100,000 (Shs370M) to successful applicants whose business ideas provide innovative solutions to eight challenge areas, including climate action, inclusive growth, smart agriculture, biodiversity, the circular economy, water stewardship, health, and wellness.
“First launched in 2018, the 100+ Accelerator seeks to assist social entrepreneurs with cutting-edge solutions to problems affecting the globe and supply chains. We support the startups by providing mentoring, funding and opportunities to pilot and scale their ideas within our business and value chain anywhere around the world,” said Adu Rando, Managing Director NBL.
“As a company we have great potential to execute transformational social impact. To us, a future with more cheers is a shared prosperity for our communities for the planet and our company.
It is growth that is inclusive and value that is shared and wins for the world that are truly worth celebrating,” he added. Now in its 5th Cohort, the 100+ Accelerator was created as an innovation-driven platform to exponentially fuel the growth of sustainability startups and to help the company reach its sustainability goals for 2025.
Starting last year, 35 Ugandan entrepreneurs had a chance to apply in the hope of joining the already over 80 companies implementing their solutions in 20 countries around the world. Former winners currently operating in Uganda under Sustainable Agriculture solutions include Oko Finance , BanQu and Agri Friend.
Franc Kamugyisha, CEO &Founder Eco Plastile, a runner up in Cohort 4 attested to the fact that much as the program did not offer funding, it clearly aided in changing and shaping the way he had looked how Ugandans take plastics and garbage. According to Kamugyisha, a lot of garbage or waste collected, ends up being dropped in the lakes and other water bodies and only 6% of it is properly managed, rather recycled.
From being just an on-looker of plastic and garbage being mismanaged rather dumped in wrong areas, to taking positive action, Kamugyisha now prides in great success and progress of Eco- Plastile company, manufacturing quality roofing tiles, tested and proven eco and environment friendly.
“We enjoyed the process, from online- application, to pilot project designs, interviews and much as we didn’t receive investment, the feedback received has helped us grow our social venture! I will be applying again with our software- Wastepays- enabling African businesses and households to monetize their waste (plastics, glass, etc) using a mobile platform.”
He added thus, “we have been able to turn over 500 metric tones of plastic refuse into roofing tiles and we are still hoping for the best.”
Kamugyisha also revealed to Kampala Sqoop’s Emuk Benjamen that Eco-Plastile will surely be one of those startups looking forward to apply for the 100+ Accelerator program and he believes his company will this time round shine and scoop funding in this 5th cohort.
Through the 100+ Accelerator, AB InBev is committed to partner with others, as well as to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With current partners such as the Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, and Unilever, who face the same core sustainability challenges, AB InBev purposes to share knowledge and resources to accelerate cost effective solutions.
Start-ups with products that are either already on the market or are well suited for the market and that can show transactional information in terms of IP, clients, revenue, pilots, or contract are encouraged to apply, according to Flora Aduk, Communication Manager NBL.
“This is a much need opportunity and challenge for Ugandan social entrepreneurs to be the solution. Applications for Cohort 5 are open via https://www.100accelerator.com until 30th June 2023,” she revealed.
Jackson Ssetuba from Wazi Vision, manufacturers of eye glasses and frames among others told Kampala Sqoop that the company looks forward to applying and winning funding from the 100+ Accelerator to enable them make more eye care products out of bamboo and cow horns among others which he said are very environment friendly and are suitable for human health and well-being.
“For business, call us on +256 705 187 622 (Jackson) or 0787354523 (Gideon) for more details,” he said.
Applicants will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Scoring will be assessed based on the following values; fit with identified sustainability challenges, ability to demonstrate traction/product market fit, Market expertise and team, and capacity to carry out a pilot in selected global zone among others.
