Local Start-up Festival to nurture upcoming entrepreneurs
Namibia’s first ever Start-up Festival, hosted by the Financial Literacy Initiative, FabLab, Team Namibia and the Namibia Business Innovation Institute (NBII) will take place from 9 to 10 June at the Warehouse Theatre in Windhoek.
The Start-up Festival aims to inspire locals to become true entrepreneurs and celebrate the beauty of new ideas and the courageous business founders who turn their ideas into real businesses through commitment, hard work and innovation.
At the festival, participants have the opportunity to learn everything about business; from how to start a business, start-up funding and finding an investor to matters relating to tax implications.
Mbo Luvindao, Manager at Bank Windhoek’s Emerging Small and Medium Enterprises Branch, said “Start-ups are the seeds of a strong economy, with jobs for everyone. In Namibia, there are not enough start-ups, but a lot of tenderpreneurs. This needs to change. Start-ups create jobs, not only for our generation, but our children and grandchildren. They put competitive pressure on existing businesses, forcing them to modernise and innovate, which is very important for long-term sustainable economic growth”.
Senior Advisor for Financial Systems Development for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Anna Mostetschnig also shared the same views and said that since Namibia lacks enough start-ups, there was need for a mind shift among the business community in the country.
“We believe that in order to really change something, the Start-up Ecosystem needs to come together,” she said.
Meanwhile, at the festival international speakers will share their experiences with delegates over the two day event. Start-ups will learn from regional and local mentors and investors will scout new ventures to invest in. It will be about breakthroughs, making headlines and growing Namibian start-ups.
The festival will offers a spectacular programme full of inspiration and new opportunities. The opening keynote will be delivered by the First Lady and Founder of the One Economy Foundation, Monica Geingos. The MC, Josy Nghipandua, will entertain and skilfully moderate an impressive list of international speakers, ranging from one of Africa’s top ten rising Tech-Entrepreneurs, to a Venture Capital expert and McKinsey Associate from India. There will be workshops, panel discussions and a lot of time to meet new business partners, sort out start-up finances and take businesses to the next level. The festival will conclude with an exclusive After-Party with local and international DJs.
Furthermore, start-ups who are actively working on a business idea can register as “rock stars” (register on www.namibiastartupfestival.com), and in case chosen to participate in the Namibia Start-up Festival, will enter the Festival for free. All selected Start-up rock stars will be invited to partake in the Festival’s ADDventure business idea pitching competition, where a cash prize of N$75,000 can be won.
Future entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business, or members of the public who are curious about what the Start-up Festival has to offer, can buy a ticket for the Festival as a “Rising Star” for only N$200. Tickets are available at all Airtime Kiosks at Service Stations and Woerman & Brocks (look for the EventsToday button) as well as online at www.namibiastartupfestival.com.
