People with promising business ideas but limited capital to turn them into viable ventures are set to get a new platform to showcase their projects, access funding and connect with potential investors.
The initiative, known as Pitch Studio, has been launched by Arthur Nation in partnership with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) and the Ministry of Youth and Arts Development. It is designed to support entrepreneurs whose projects are still at the idea stage, as well as those who have already started but need additional resources to grow.
RBA Director General Cléophas Barore said the platform is intended to help people move their ideas from their minds and paper into practical businesses.
“We said that if people have dreams, then we should support them. If young people have ideas and there is a partner who can help them turn those ideas into reality, we should bring them together,” Barore said.
He said supporting people to develop their ideas could have a wider impact on the economy, arguing that helping even one person turn an idea into a functioning business could contribute to addressing some of the challenges facing the country.
Keza Lisiane Ceresoli, who oversees the Pitch Studio project at Arthur Nation, said the initiative is built around three main pillars: providing guidance to entrepreneurs with business ideas, facilitating access to funding and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to gain visibility and meet potential investors.
Ceresoli said having a good business idea does not necessarily mean an entrepreneur needs a large amount of money to get started.
“Often, we have many ideas. These ideas do not need Rwf100 million to start working. Pitch Studio is a programme designed to help people with viable business ideas take the first step and start building,” she said.
Participants will have an opportunity to present their projects, explain how their businesses would operate and outline the support they need to develop them.
Projects considered to have strong potential could receive financial support or be connected with investors who may be interested in backing them.
Entrepreneurs interested in participating in Pitch Studio can register through an online platform, where they will be required to provide information about their projects.
The initiative is expected to provide a pathway for promising ideas to move beyond the concept stage and develop into businesses capable of generating income, creating jobs and contributing to solutions to some of the challenges facing Rwanda.
