In partnership with Mzuzu E-Hub, we are implementing the MalawiUP! Startup Connect Week between the 13th-16th December 2022 in Lilongwe. This event series aims to strengthen the local innovation ecosystem and encourage the various actors (i.e. startups, hubs, political partners, corporates, academia, civil society, financiers, investors etc.) to engage in more exchange and cooperation. It endeavors to bring together local and national innovation enablers and digital visionaries to stimulate closer collaboration and promote innovation/entrepreneurship in the country. The week starts with a joint event between Mzuzu E-Hub and Make-IT in Africa titled “hub-COLLAB”. At this occasion, Make-IT in Africa will also be officially launched as a project in Malawi by our colleagues from the Southern African office.
The goal of the MalawiUP! Startup Connect Week is three-fold:
- Connect & Network: Bringing together relevant stakeholders and reducing fragmentation in the innovation ecosystem.
- Tackle Challenges Together: Providing a week of networking events, discussion formats, workshops, etc. to identify solutions to joint problems (i.e. lack of hub collaboration, access to finance, capacity building, fostering innovation etc.).
- From Competition to Collaboration: Fostering mutual learning, building bridges and enhancing collaboration between relevant stakeholders in the Malawi innovation ecosystem.
Various events are planned by across the Lilongwe by innovation hubs such as Mzuzu E-hub, Status Tech Hub, mHub, NxtGen Labs and Synergy.
Below is a comprehensive overview of the events:
Hub-COLLAB: Aims to bring together Innovation Hub Managers and support entities to enhance synergies and collaboration towards developing a sustainable innovation ecosystem in Malawi through facilitated group conversations, inspirational storytelling and one-on-one sessions.
Hack the Gap: Will equip young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders with knowledge and skills in Design Thinking through a HCD Masterclass and crash course. Furthermore, attendees will learn from other innovators and entrepreneurs in the ecosystem through a panel discussion titled “Innovation, Entrepreneurship + Digitization” and close off with a tech startup expo.
Clicks and Startups: A roundtable discussion under the theme “Investment readiness for the Malawi early-stage entrepreneur” followed by networking, building up from the Investor Meetup event that mHub hosted a few weeks prior.
Tech-It-Out: A gathering of tech or digital startups and enthusiasts to engage innovation enablers through fireside chats, a tech talk and panel discussion centered on entrepreneurship and innovation.
We are excited for the MalawiUP! Startup Connect Week! We look forward to learning more about the innovation ecosystem, networking and being inspired as we close off the year in the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.
Please, find the programme here:
