MENTORS CIRCLE: A STORY IN PICTURES
Friday 15th March saw ShelterTech early stage businesses and scale-ups having candid and intimate conversations with program mentors and trainers. The evening kicked off with a pitching session, where businesses in the current cohort practiced their pitching skills with the audience. There was a lot of positive feedback with mentors noting entrepreneurial growth.
The following session was a chance for ShelterTech cohort businesses to hear and gain perspectives from their mentors and trainers. The ten mentors and trainers shared on their entrepreneurial journey drawing from real-life examples. They were candid conversations touching on having an entrepreneurial mindset, managing and raising funds and common pitfalls to watch out for. Additionally, their success stories served to boost confidence and inspire participants.
Takeaways from Mentors and Trainers
Jarri Jung, Triple Jump’s Regional Manager in Africa and the Middle East shared insights on their experience as both fund managers and when they started out as a startup. Such interactions can only be facilitated during such events.
Responses from Habitat for Humanity and BDO EA
Jane Otima, the Associate Director Market Systems & Entrepreneurship at Habitat for Humanity International’s Terwilliger Centre for Innovation in Shelter, shared her nuggets of wisdom for ShelterTech businesses, adding that in as much as businesses are addressing a need i.e. affordable housing, they need to be viable and revenue generating which .
Sandeep Khapre, the Regional CEO of BDO East Africa, gave insights to scale-ups and businesses. He advised businesses to always have an ASK in their pitches. This ensures that the investors are aware of what they need and where they can plug in.
