Bridges for Enterprise Welcomes 7 Startups into its Spring 2024 Cohort

Startup Announcement for the Spring 2024 Cohort

Bridges for Enterprise (BfE) is excited to announce the launch of its Spring 2024 Incubation Programme! The BfE Incubation Programme runs twice in a year with the Spring and Autumn Cohorts, and offers an opportunity for early-stage social enterprises in emerging markets to receive free, bespoke advisory services over a 6–8 month period. Startups work with BfE to develop core aspects of their business, such as optimising operations, fundraising strategies, preparation for funding, risk management and product development. The structured approach includes strategic consulting and financial advisory for 6 to 8 months, plus an optional 3–4 months of legal and technical advisory offered in parallel.

The BfE Incubation Programme thrives on the collaborative efforts of passionate students in five (5) BfE chapters based in top global universities and experienced professional mentors who generously contribute their expertise and time to help support the growth of the cohort participants.

For the Spring 2024 Cohort, BfE received applications from 98 different startups operating in 27 countries. 19% of the total applications were from female-founded organisations. 81% of applications came from Sub-Saharan Africa and 34% of the applicants operate in the Food and Agriculture sector. These details are represented in the image below:

Summary of data from the Spring 2024 applications

From this pool, BfE selected eight (8) startups for the Incubation Programme as follows:

**Fanikisha — Tanzania**

Fankisha is transforming food and agriculture in Mwanza, Tanzania by leveraging technology to prevent post-harvest loss in fish farming. Fanikisha also partners with Azolla Feeders to empower women and youth to gain financial independence by training them in farm management, income generation and cost efficiency.

Fanikisha’s fish products are supplied to schools to provide protein supplements for children.

Focus on UN SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, 17: No poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, reduced inequalities, climate action, and partnerships for the goals.

**Peters Library/Readmasters International — Kenya**

Readmasters International is promoting quality education by providing book sharing services for children. Readmasters collaborates with schools in Nairobi to create reading clubs/competitions where children get access to books for a fraction of the purchase price.

Impact: Readmasters tracks the impact of their service on the education level, critical thinking and global awareness of children through data collected from their schools. By the end of January 2023, Readmasters had reached 6,653 subscribers on its mobile application.

Focus on UN SDGs 4 and 10: Quality education and reduced inequalities.

**Padheaven Initiative — Kenya**

Padheaven produces reusable, biodegradable sanitary pads using banana leaves. In Kenya, over 900,000 girls miss up to four (4) days of school every month due to the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products. Padheaven keeps girls in school by providing access to reusable pads while empowering women by teaching them to make and sell reusable pads.

Impact: Since inception, Padheaven has provided sanitary pads to over 15,000 girls across East Africa.

Focus on UN SDGs 4, 5, 8 and 9: Fostering quality education, gender equality, decent work, economic growth through industry, innovation and infrastructure.

**Africa Digital International Academy (ADIA) — Uganda**

ADIA’s vision is to provide accessible quality education to individuals across different age groups in East and Central Africa. ADIA offers an extensive range of digital education programs covering various fields, including technology, business, marketing, creative arts, etc. These offerings emphasise practical knowledge, industry-aligned curriculum, mentorship, and career support to equip learners for success in the digital landscape.

Focus on UN SDGs 4, 5, 8 and 9: Fostering quality education, gender equality, decent work, and economic growth through industry, innovation and infrastructure.

**E-Farmer — Sri Lanka**

E-Farmer is providing access to technology, funding and other resources to farmers in Sri Lanka through crowd farming. E-Farmer believes that farmers can achieve higher outputs and a more efficient use of resources through technology-powered collaboration.

Focus on UN SDGs 2, 3, 8, 9 and 12: Zero hunger, decent work and economic growth through industry, innovation and infrastructure, and responsible consumption.

**The Good Trade — Philippines**

The Good Trade provides a platform to connect consumers in The Philippines with sustainable brands and vice versa. The Good Trade supports its customers’ unique journeys in moving towards an eco-friendly world.

Impact: Since 2018, The Good Trade has connected and empowered over 50,000 advocates and 1,000 impact-driven brands while also diverting 210 tonnes of trash away from landfills & oceans through donations, repairs and purchasing sustainable alternatives.

Focus on UN SDGs 3, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15: Good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, and life on land.

**Eunilove Agro Company (EAC) Ltd — Cameroon**

EAC Ltd leverages regenerative agriculture to improve food security in Bamenda, Cameroon by focusing on top soil regeneration and intercropping of fruit trees to restore degraded farm lands and minimise the amount of green house gases in the atmosphere.

Focus on UN SDGs 1, 2, 5, 10, 12 and 13: No poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, reduced inequality, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.

Curious to know more about the BfE Spring 2024 Cohort? Leave us a comment expressing which startup you are keen to learn more about.

Applying to the Incubation Programme

Are you a social entrepreneur interested in joining the BfE Incubation Programme? BfE’s Incubation Programme provides free support to pre-seed and seed-stage social enterprises from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America that can demonstrate the following:

1. Innovative Solutions — you have developed a unique minimum viable product (MVP) that addresses a key development challenge.
2. Proven Results — you have a revenue-generating business model with at least 6 months in operation.
3. Positive Impact — your business generates positive environmental or social impact in the communities you serve.
4. Committed Management — your company’s leadership team has a demonstrated track record of commitment.

To learn more about the Incubation Programme including criteria, deadlines, and the application process, please visit our *website*.