PUXAP: Vodacom and ideiaLab launch initiative to foster digital business for young Mozambicans

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PUXAP: Vodacom and ideiaLab launch initiative to foster digital business for young Mozambicans

1:49 CAT | 29 Apr 2022

Photo: ideiaLab

Vodacom Mozambique, in partnership with ideiaLab, officially launched the “Vodacom PUXAP” program in Maputo on Thursday, April 22 – an initiative aiming to develop innovative businesses for young people and support their growth in the market.

This program is in line with the goals of the mobile operator and its partner IdeiaLab: promoting innovation centred on technological solutions for young people, with a focus on promoting digital entrepreneurship.

During the ceremony, the 11 start-ups selected for the program were announced.

PUXAP will take place in two phases: seven months for business acceleration through entrepreneurship training workshops, accompanied by specialists in various areas, and 11 more months, during which progress of the various start-ups will be followed up, monitored and evaluated and events for connections to potential partners and investors will be held.

Mara Sindaco, Executive Manager of Vodacom’s Digital Products and Services Area, pointed out to Diraio Economico that the project “aims to improve the initiatives of entrepreneurs, offering access to a set of opportunities and solutions”.

“Small businesses, regardless of the moment they are inserted in, need support, so that they can resist external variations. The ultimate goal is not only to develop the start-ups, but to push them to create a positive impact in the communities where they are integrated,” she said.

A roundtable was held during the event involving various stakeholders, especially experts in tech and business, with the aim of inspiring young people to take up entrepreneurship through innovative ideas. To this end, topics related to digital and technological businesses and their contribution to the local market were discussed.

In this regard, the entrepreneurs present left some advice for aspiring future Elon Musks or Mark Zuckerbergs, urging them to seek, above all, to gain professional experience in order to be able to stay in the market.

The process of application and participation in Vodacom PUXAP took place through online platforms between the 9th of March and the 3rd of April. In a first phase, candidates were selected according to eligibility criteria and, later, based on the evaluations, a ranking was created in which 12 businesses with the best scores were selected for face-to-face mentoring.

Young people aged between 18 and 35 are participating in the initiative. These young people manage technological and digital businesses with a prototype ready to test or in the initial phase of commercialisation, in the areas of education, fintech, lifestyle, entertainment, health, transport, logistics , environment and tourism, among others.

Source: Diário Económico