Dukiya

Incubator & Accelerator

Turn your ideas to profitable enterprise

Fostering economic empowerment and independence within marginalised communities through business development.

Project Background

Project Dukiya seeks to empower and uplift entrepreneurs of low income and marginalised communities by providing them with targeted business development training, mentorship, and initial funding. This initiative aligns with the Aspilos Foundation’s commitment to fostering economic independence and empowerment within the community.

Rationale for the intervention

Marginalised communities often faces unique challenges in accessing economic opportunities. This program aims to bridge this gap by equipping these entrepreneurs with essential skills, mentorship, and funding to launch and grow their businesses

Project Objectives

  1. To equip the beneficiaries with essential business skills and knowledge for successful business development.
  2. To provide mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals to guide the beneficiaries in their business journey.
  3. To offer small-scale funding and tailored business support to kickstart and accelerate their businesses, fostering economic empowerment.

Project Activities

· Business Development Workshops: Design and conduct comprehensive workshops that cover essential topics such as business planning, financial management, marketing strategies, and customer engagement. The curriculum will be adapted to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the beneficiaries and will proffer tech-driven solutions and strategies.

· Mentorship Program: Establish a mentorship network that pairs entrepreneurs with experienced business professionals. Mentors will provide guidance, advice, and insights to help entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of starting and growing a business.

· Business Incubation: Offer a supportive environment for selected entrepreneurs to develop and refine their business concepts. Provide resources and ongoing mentorship to ensure the growth and sustainability of their ventures.

· Business Clinic: Facilitate a business organizational set-up for beneficiaries tailored to their specific needs; this includes support and direction for registration and regulatory frameworks to set up and run businesses in Nigeria. Provide tailored business process improvement and automation and business-specific tech solutions for businesses, including training and integrating tech products like Zoho, Zapier, Canva, QuickBooks, Kippa, etc., for business management and acceleration.

· Pitch and Funding Event: Organize a pitch event where entrepreneurs can present their business ideas to a panel of judges and potential investors. Select promising businesses for small-scale funding to kickstart their ventures.

· Networking Sessions: Facilitate networking sessions that bring together entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and industry experts. These sessions will create opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.