We Inspire
We light a fire in young people… by training them to see opportunities that others miss, giving them the confidence to view themselves as entrepreneurs not employees and job creators instead of job seekers. We do it by delivering a best-in-class leadership and entrepreneurship program.
We Invest
We go all in … by providing a full life-cycle of support to the most promising entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. We do it through tailored coaching, skills building, expert mentorship, seed funding, and facilitating connections within and across industries.
We Transform
We go big … by positioning young entrepreneurs to tackle tough problems in key sectors and channeling their talent into innovative, private sector-led solutions. We do this through the Kosmos Innovation Center’s distinctive focus on commercial solutions and local knowledge.
Ghana
Established in 2016, Kosmos Innovation Center Ghana is helping to breathe new life into agriculture, transforming it into an engine of growth and job creation.
Mauritania
Launched in 2018, the Kosmos Innovation Center Mauritania is helping young, entrepreneurial Mauritanians develop the skills to turn ideas into reality.
Senegal
Kosmos Innovation Center Senegal is helping young business leaders in Senegal develop the technical skills needed to grow successful and sustainable businesses.
Kosmos Innovation Center
The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses who have big ideas and want to see their country grow.
Toulou Keur is a small but growing market gardening business in Senegal, specialising in the production, processing, and marketing of organic produce. Despite the challenges they have encountered, they didn’t give up in pushing their business forward. Their journey is an example of how determination, especially at the lowest point, makes its magic.
kosmosinnovationcenter.com/toulou-keur/
October 2016 saw the first winners of the Agritech challenge for Kosmos Innovation Center. Since that time hundreds of businesses have been supported, creating thousands of jobs for young people in Ghana, Senegal and Mauritania. Like this post and our page and help us encourage entrepreneurs for another 10 years!
FAQ Friday: The role of female entrepreneurs
This week particularly feels meaningful to women because on October 11th we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, and on October 15th, the International Day of Rural Women. Women entrepreneurs have always been vital to the pursuit of inclusive growth. Despite their presence in the entrepreneurial landscape being underrepresented, they add immense and significant value with their innovative ideas, unique perspectives, and deep understanding of the women around them as well as the environment they live in.
In a world that is gradually breaking barriers of gender inequality, women entrepreneurs continue to not just build businesses, but also pave the way for more women to join the business world and dream big. Because women have an inherent understanding of the unique challenges faced by women in the workplace, they can be powerful catalysts for change.
Khoudiedji Camara, through Camarni, preserves Mauritania’s rich textile heritage while significantly contributing to the future of African fashion. She gave Mauritanian fabrics the recognition it deserves, successfully blending tradition and modernity. Her journey emphasizes the power of resilience and passion that women possesses.
Adji Yacine Silla of MTA (pictured) saw potential from local resources that even though she came from a rural area that has its limitations, she was able to transform her vision into progress and brought it to the international stage. Her experience highlights the creativity and innovation that women also have.
Stories like these, of women entrepreneurs striving and thriving despite the challenges they face, inspires others to believe they are capable of success as well. They turn personable challenges into opportunities that break stereotypes, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones, and thus, make a difference to the world around them.