An entrepreneurship programme for innovators based in evolving innovation ecosystems
Challenge
We at the Oxentia Foundation are on a mission to empower entrepreneurs from disadvantaged and evolving ecosystems by providing them with the training, mentoring, talent, and capital they need to thrive. By reinvesting surplus revenues and donations, our Foundation is committed to boost sustainable global socio-economic development. To fulfil this mission, we launched the Oxentia Foundation International Innovators Programme (OxFIIP)an initiative designed to support early-stage innovators with personalised mentoring from industry experts. This program specifically targets entrepreneurs whose ventures are in critical need of guidance and resources to scale.
Approach
The first iteration of OxFIIP, took place over 7 months, from December 2023 to July 2024, where strategic partnerships with local organisations, including other foundations, government funding bodies, and regional investors helped us identify four promising start-ups that would benefit from our 1:1 mentoring support. Throughout the programme, mentors and mentees met biweekly to dive deep into key challenges such as intellectual property (IP) strategy, technology valuation, business model development, competitor analysis, and refining their value propositions. Our team went beyond mentoring, introducing entrepreneurs to potential investors and development partners, ensuring their growth and networks accelerated further.
Impact
