Incubation & Acceleration

Impact Hub Harare’s Incubation & Acceleration programs equip entrepreneurs with essential resources, technical expertise, mentorship, and networks to propel their businesses forward.

What we do

Focused on innovation and sustainability, we help transform ideas into impactful ventures. Our programs offer access to industry leaders, investors, and a supportive community that fosters growth and resilience. Whether at the early idea stage or scaling up, our services provide tailored guidance and support to help you navigate each step toward achieving lasting success.

Service options

Business development workshops
Mentorship from industry experts
Networking events
Investor pitch sessions
Access to co-working spaces
Market research assistance

Case study

Introduction

In 2019, Impact Hub Harare partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts, and Recreation (MoYSAR) to launch the Youth Connekt Zimbabwe initiative, aimed at empowering young Zimbabweans between the ages of 16 and 35. The program focused on developing entrepreneurship skills, providing mentorship, facilitating networking opportunities, and promoting youth participation in sustainable development. As part of this collaboration, Impact Hub Harare played a critical role in designing and implementing key components of the program, including the Youth Connekt Start-Up Tour Bus Program and the Innovation Pitch Competition.

A key aspect of the program’s success was its strong digital presence, which was facilitated by Impact Hub Harare through the creation of the first Youth Connekt Zimbabwe website and management of its social media channels. This online visibility was instrumental in engaging the youth across the country and promoting the program’s activities to a wider audience.

Program Overview

Youth Connekt Zimbabwe was designed to engage and support young people in all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe, offering entrepreneurship training, skills development, and opportunities to pitch innovative business ideas. The program’s goals aligned with the global Youth Connekt initiative, which aims to empower youth across Africa through sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on entrepreneurship as a driver of economic growth.

The program, co-designed by Impact Hub Harare and UNDP, was structured around a nationwide start-up tour that culminated in the Youth Connekt Innovation Pitch Competition. Over 1,000 individuals were trained during the tour, and more than 1,200 youths were reached through the program’s various initiatives, including the Leave No One Behind SDG Competitions.

Our key role

Program Design & Implementation

Impact Hub Harare co-designed the Youth Connekt Start-Up Tour Bus Program, which traveled to the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe, identifying start-up talent and engaging youth in remote and rural areas. The program’s “Leave No One Behind” approach ensured that young people from diverse backgrounds had equal access to opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Innovation Pitch Competition

As part of the program, Impact Hub Harare organized the Innovation Pitch Competition, a platform where young entrepreneurs from across the country presented their business ideas. This competition served as a national platform to identify innovative start-ups, with finalists from each province receiving incubation services and seed funding.

Digital Presence - Website & Social Media

A key component of the program’s success was its digital presence, managed by Impact Hub Harare. They developed and launched the first Youth Connekt Zimbabwe website, which acted as a hub for information, updates, and engagement. Additionally, Impact Hub Harare managed the social media platforms, ensuring widespread visibility and engagement with over 1,200 youths who participated in the pilot. This digital strategy helped raise awareness of the initiative and kept participants informed about opportunities and events.

Incubation Services

Impact Hub Harare donated incubation services to the finalists of the Innovation Pitch Competition. The incubation process included mentorship, business development support, and access to networks and resources. This support was critical in helping these start-ups refine their business models, secure seed funding, and scale their ventures.

Program reach & impact

In its pilot year, the Youth Connekt Start-Up Tour Bus Program successfully reached over 1,200 youths across all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe:

Harare
Bulawayo
Networking events
Mashonaland East
Mashonaland West
Mashonaland Central
Matabeleland North
Matabeleland South
Midlands
Manicaland
Masvingo

The Innovation Pitch Competition identified and supported 10 provincial finalists, who each received seed funding and incubation services from Impact Hub Harare. Through this initiative, young entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to scale their businesses, develop critical skills, and contribute to the country’s economic development.

Recognition & global success

The Youth Connekt Start-Up Tour Bus Program gained international recognition when it was awarded International Best Practice at the Global Youth Connekt Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda. This accolade highlighted the program’s innovative approach to reaching and empowering young entrepreneurs across Zimbabwe and demonstrated the effectiveness of the partnership between Impact Hub Harare, UNDP, and MoYSAR.

Conclusion

The Youth Connekt Zimbabwe initiative has had a transformative impact on the country’s youth by providing critical opportunities for skill development, mentorship, and business incubation. Through the partnership with UNDP and MoYSAR, Impact Hub Harare played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of this program by co-designing the Start-Up Tour Bus, facilitating the Innovation Pitch Competition, and managing the program’s digital presence through social media and website development.

The recognition of the Youth Connekt Start-Up Tour Bus Program as an International Best Practice solidifies the initiative’s place as a model for youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development in Africa. As Impact Hub Harare continues to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Zimbabwe, the future looks bright for the country’s young innovators.