March 31, 2022 – Recently, WPDI held a Business Plan Competition at our Community Learning Center in Gulu, the capital of Uganda’s Acholi Sub-Region. Open to graduates of the vocational training we offer in Business & Entrepreneurship, the competition gathered 31 participants representing five separate businesses. Three businesses emerged as finalists, and will, in the coming weeks and months, be supported by WPDI and our partners with both financial and backstopping support to ensure their success.
Business Plan Competitions are a key aspect of WPDI’s Business Bootcamp program that we developed to help aspiring entrepreneurs strengthen their knowledge and skills as well as provide them with opportunities to start businesses of their own. To ensure that the projects selected are in tune with local situations, competitions are overseen by a review committee composed of experts from WPDI, our partner organizations, and other local and national stakeholders. Since the program’s inception, we have supported more than 260 businesses in Africa and the Americas, with dozens of them located in Acholi.
Our most recent Business Plan Competition in the Acholi Sub-Region was held in February, from the 11th to the 23rd. After a refresher training, each of the 31 participants – separated into their five groups – were given 25 minutes to present their business ideas to the review committee. The committee reviewed each proposal to assess their viability and profitability; they subsequently provided participants with feedback to strengthen their business plans as well.
After a 12-day review period, the competition’s three winners were announced: Layibi Poultry Hub, Souls to Soles Sandals, and Indure Vegetable Growers. Members of the businesses expressed their excitement at the opportunity to start their businesses. Mary, from Souls to Soles Sandles, told us how “The Business Plan Competition was an excellent experience and we enjoyed competing with the other groups. It instilled confidence in us and also encouraged us to use the knowledge we acquired during the Business & Entrepreneurship skills training.” Geoffrey, representing Layibi Poultry Hub, shared similar feedback, expressing how “Since the training, my life hasn’t been the same. It made me think differently and gave me a wider perspective. We were well prepared by the trainers and we appreciate the chance to have this platform.”
Now that the competition has concluded, the members of the three winning businesses officially launched their businesses last week in a ceremony attended by WPDI’s Executive Director. You can hear from the winners below!
View this post on Instagram
This program is made possible thanks to the financial support of a foundation that wishes to remain anonymous.