Shambapro, founded by Kelvin Odoobo, is an innovative startup that aims to transform access to finance for smallholder farmers. The four-person team, including Eric King’oo as Tech Lead, Joseph Kitonga as Full Stack Software Engineer and Alphonsia Mukagatera as Finance and Admin Lead, is dedicated to solving critical problems in the agricultural sector. 

Shambapro was born out of the observation of how small farmers, despite their expertise, are unable to access financing because of perceived risks from financial institutions: “Banks fear risks related to weather, markets and the high cost of servicing loans to smallholder farmers” – affirms the founder. 

In addition, the lack of reliable farm performance records and the lack of agricultural expertise in banks further complicate access to finance. Shambapro aims to mitigate these risks by helping farmers build sustainable relationships with buyers, lenders, and suppliers.

In Rwanda, entrepreneurs face significant obstacles: “Entrepreneurship compared to employment traditionally in Africa is not a wise career path normally and there is a lot of social stigmas towards attempting to solve great challenges.” Additionally, Kelvin highlights a major daily challenge: “The cost of keeping the lights on in the startup before we reach revenue, access financing, or break even on the current product is one of the major daily challenges.“

Despite these hurdles, Kelvin’s entrepreneurial ambition for Shambapro is to create an ecosystem in which various stakeholders in the agricultural sector can provide services to smallholder farmers in a structured, pre-negotiated, and affordable way. “I imagine an ecosystem into which different stakeholders in the agriculture space like financiers, off-takers, input and service providers, insurers, governments, etc. can plug in to provide services to small farm businesses in a structured, pre-negotiated, and affordable way for all users involved.” The next step for Shambapro, planned for June 2024, is to generate revenue, create partnerships, and gain other forms of traction: “In ten years, I see Shambapro as a leading agri-fintech in Africa.” 

In June Shambapro will be one of the startups that will join us in Italy for the final steps of “Next Generation Africa program” that he defines as “highly personalized and supportive”. He shares: “I have participated in several similar programs before. This program stands out for the high level of personalization of support, mentorship and advisory services to the startup and even to the founders individually.”

As the Startup Africa Roadtrip team, we want to live up to those expectations: we are ready to repeat the experience and generate value for Shambapro in Italy as well, during the roadshow we are organizing meetings with potential business partners and investors and learning sessions with the Italian startup ecosystem.

SLS Energy, with Patrick Ntwari as Director of Hardware Engineering, is an innovative startup dedicated to sustainability and clean energy. The startup was born out of the need to create a useful application for the thousands of batteries from motorcycles and electric vehicles that are about to be retired, particularly with Rwanda’s policy favoring the adoption of electric vehicles. 

With a team of seven people, including engineers, business experts and project managers, SLS Energy combines more than 25 years of experience in the energy and manufacturing sectors, having worked for renowned companies such as Hitachi, Odyssey Energy Solutions and Bboxx. 

“Together, we all possess an all-inclusive outlook that merges technical expertise with business and understanding, uniquely equipping us to tackle environmental challenges associated with electronic waste and address the increasing demand for sustainable energy storage solutions”- says the founder.

A typical day at SLS Energy is characterized by dynamic collaboration, focused innovation, and goal-oriented execution. “Our mornings often kick off with a team huddle, where we discuss our objectives for the day, share updates on ongoing projects, and align our efforts towards our quarterly goals”. During the day, engineers test cells and battery packs, business experts analyze market trends, and project managers coordinate logistics. Despite the different roles, open communication is critical to business success.

In Rwanda, an entrepreneur must be a solution provider and a job creator. 

“The entrepreneur ecosystem is supported by government programs, trainings and coaching, incubation and acceleration programs, funds in forms of grants or loans”, however, they face daily challenges such as supply chain variability that affects prices, lead times, and profit margins, as well as a lack of visibility and traceability of withdrawn batteries.

“Our innovative Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model eliminates upfront costs for energy storage, making it financially accessible for operators, ultimately enabling them to lower tariffs for communities, thereby enhancing electricity access”. By replacing diesel generators, SLS Energy aims to reduce air pollution, helping to improve air quality in Rwanda, where pollution caused 9,286 deaths in 2019. In addition to a 65 % reduction in CO2 emissions, the company created more than 50 direct and 150 indirect jobs by year three, demonstrating its commitment to responsible waste management.

SLS Energy’s goal is to revolutionize the energy landscape in Africa by providing sustainable and affordable energy storage solutions. “We envision a future where every community, regardless of its location or economic status, has reliable access to clean energy”. With innovative technologies and strong partnerships, they aim to eliminate energy poverty, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and drive widespread adoption of clean energy solutions.

“During the roadshow, we anticipate networking and partnership opportunities and exposure to potential Italian investors and partners”. The goal is to showcase SLS Energy’s innovative solutions, establish connections for collaborations, funding opportunities and market expansion. 

With a clear vision and strong partnerships, SLS Energy is poised to drive widespread adoption of clean energy solutions and make a lasting impact on Africa’s energy future.

In a few years, the startup Ubuntu Education could revolutionize the African educational landscape. Ubuntu was born from the inspiration of four education professionals with a combined experience of more than 40 years. Led by David Marriott, CEO and leadership specialist with 18 years of experience, the team includes Jess King, COO and business strategist with 10 years of experience in K12, Eric Mugwiza, Technical Manager with expertise in digital transformation and IT, and Joanna Marriott, Director of Programs with 17 years of experience in early childhood education and networking.

Ubuntu Education’s mission is to address gaps in the African education system. “We all met and got to know teachers that have struggled to grow professionally simply because opportunities that would allow them to grow are inaccessible either through financial constraints or lack of physical access. We have seen how these teachers become systematically disenfranchised and feel undervalued”. This startup aims to change all that by providing an accessible platform for continuing professional development, a job board for teachers and schools, and a place where teachers’ voices can be valued in educational conversations.

Ubuntu believes that the potential of African teachers can be unlocked through an efficient network, available continuing professional development and the elevation of their collective voice. 

Ubuntu focuses on growing the education space by connecting people to discuss education in new ways. It provides opportunities for professional growth for teachers, opens channels for dialogue, and elevates educators’ voices in broader conversations about education. “It is our ultimate dream to be the ‘GO TO’ platform for people who are involved in education in Africa”.

In the next twelve months, Ubuntu plans to expand to Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria. By 2026, they aim to engage more than 200,000 teachers on the platform and partner with schools, EdTech companies, policy consultants and educational NGOs. “We aim to have this focus for the benefit of ALL learners, regardless of socio-economic background”. 

Participating in the Next Generation Africa program was an experience that reinforced Ubuntu’s sense of purpose: “We have felt really part of something big in the development of Africa as a whole. It is truly gratifying, and it has certainly given us a boost to our sense of purpose”. 

With Ubuntu Education’s steadfast dedication and innovative approach, the future of African education looks brighter than ever before.