15 start-ups are now set to receive funding and advanced business training through the Inclusive Business Solution after completing an incubation program at the newly inaugurated ICT Innovation Centre. They were selected out of 40 companies.

The companies that participated in the program are expected to transform and bring innovative services to citizens through mobile content, multimedia, e-tourism, e-sports and film making.

Constructed under the joint Rwanda – South Korea “Enhancing ICT Innovation Capacity in Rwanda” project, the new state of the art ICT Innovation Center was inaugurated in June this year.

It aims at fostering the development of the ICT and audio-visual sectors in Rwanda by building the capacities of job seekers and start-ups.

The 15 selected companies include;

• • -Zacu TV, LaFotolia, Dtravela and Mudacumura Publishing house. They will each get investment support of US$ 2,000 and further training in Korea;
  • Mapa, Zoombyte and Innovetancy will each receive US$ 1,800 USD;
  • e sport, macye App and e construct will each receive funding of US$1400;
  • Toutrip, Powerhouse studio, TBirori, Mbwira App and Kosmotive Health will receive US$ 1,000 each.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of ICT & Innovation, Claudette Irere said:

“These initiatives are meant to enhance capacity building and skilled human resource development programs which have been in short supply in the ICT sector and we expect it to contribute to its development. The Government is working with partners to increase the number of incubation centres in the country in order to improve on the sustainability of start-ups.”

The KOICA Country Deputy Director, Myung Keun Choi said:

“We are pleased to witness the first beneficiaries of the Inclusive Business Solution Program. We plan to support the Government of Rwanda in up skilling of more Rwandans so that they overcome challenges as they grow.”