249Startups has reached a significant milestone in its i-UPSHIFT journey, successfully completing 13 intensive bootcamps across Shagarab, Kassala, and Wad Al-Helew. This initiative, part of the ILO PROSPECTS partnership, aims to empower young people in Sudan to address community challenges through social entrepreneurship and innovative business development.
Empowering Refugee And Host Communities Through Intensive Training
The program reached 500 aspiring youth, including residents of the Shagarab refugee camp and members of surrounding host communities. Through the bootcamp series, participants collaborated to identify local pain points and develop business ideas rooted in actual community needs. This collaborative environment led to the formation of 88 teams, each dedicated to creating sustainable solutions for their diverse social and economic environments.
Market Validation And Competitive Pitching
Following the ideation phase, the teams transitioned to the field to conduct rigorous market research. By engaging directly with community members through interviews and surveys, the participants were able to validate their assumptions and refine their solutions based on real-world feedback. This process ensured that their business models were designed to address genuine community pain points effectively. The research phase culminated in a milestone event where teams pitched their findings and business models to a professional panel of judges.
Progression To Acceleration And Prototype Funding
From the initial group of participants, 75 teams have been selected to advance to the next stage of the program. These teams will receive seed funding to develop their Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), coupled with deeper mentorship and ongoing technical support through the acceleration phase. This stage is designed to help the entrepreneurs transition their validated ideas into scalable ventures capable of driving long-term change in the region.
About 249Startups
249Startups is a mission-driven organization established in 2018 to foster and support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sudan. By providing pre-acceleration, incubation, research, and innovation programs, the firm serves as a gateway for Sudanese entrepreneurs and investors to access global markets. 249Startups focuses on building economic resilience and hacking the local ecosystem to provide exposure and growth opportunities for scalable startups.
Source: 249Startups
