In this episode of Ground Up, your host Fay Kakai from UEEI sits down with Jacob Hornbach from Bodawerk to talk about his entrepreneurial journey, as well as discuss the issues and lessons around sustainability and social responsibility in engineering and innovations. Jacob Hornbach is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bodawerk - a Ugandan engineering and innovations company providing circular innovative energy solutions in the sectors on energy, transport, and agriculture. Bodawerk develops...

In this episode of Ground Up, your hosts Ham Namakajjo and Fay Kakai from UEEI sit down with Amos Wekesa, founder and CEO of Great Lakes Safaris East Africa and Uganda Lodges. Amos shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he has overcome along the way, and speaks to the opportunities that exist for small and growing businesses in Uganda's tourism space today. Visit Great Lakes Safaris, www.greatlakessafaris.com and catch Amos Wekesa on Twitter, @wekesa_amos

In this episode of Ground Up, your host Fay Kakai from UEEI sits down with Gerald Otim from Ensibuuko to talk about his entrepreneurial journey, as well as discuss the issues and lessons around raising capital for a startup. Gerald Otim is the founder and CEO of Ensibuuko - a Ugandan Fintech providing digital solutions for people that save and access loans collectively (www.ensibuuko.com).

In this episode of Ground Up, Nelson Kituuka tells the story of his multiple hustles that eventually led to the formation of Card Pesa, a digital micro-lender that uses online and cellular platforms to provide small working capital and emergency loans to members. Nelson shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey and discusses the financing challenges faced by Ugandan entrepreneurs today. To find out more, visit www.cardpesa.com

In this episode of Ground Up, your host Fay Kakai from UEEI sits down with Joshua Agonya from the Avoda Institute of Entrepreneurship to talk about the challenges faced by early-stage entrepreneurs as well as early-stage Business Development Services (BDS) providers. Topics covered include financing early-stage businesses, the challenges with "grant-preneurship" (i.e. small businesses starting and surviving on small grants), training and the knowledge gap, as well as the importance of...

In this episode our Solution Panel host, Elton Mutize moderates the topic "Unleashing the power of the SME" with Solution Panel guests Doris Acheng, Damali Ssali, and John Walugembe. The panel debates and discusses themes like the role and significance of SMEs in economic development and the thematic challenges faced by the Ugandan SME in regard to financing, skilling, and the policy framework.

In this episode of Ground Up, your hosts Ham Namakajjo and Fay Kakai from UEEI sit down with Angie Kerubo from the Mastercard Foundation to talk about the foundation's Young Africa Works Strategy and its focus on women. Angie Kerubo is a Program Partner (MSMEs) at Mastercard Foundation - www.mastercardfdn.org

In this episode of Ground Up, your hosts Ham Namakajjo and Fay Kakai from UEEI sit down with Charlyn Kentaro from Kentaro Handmade Organics to talk about her entrepreneurial journey, the natural hair care space in Uganda, her growth and financing story, as well as collaboration and partnership within the hair care industry in Uganda. Charlyn is the founder and CEO of Kentaro Handmade Organics - a range of plant-based haircare, made in Uganda, by Ugandan women to help African women grow...

In Part Two of this two-part episode, your host Fay Kakai from UEEI sits down with Lucy Biteete from Laboremus (creating financial technology solutions for clients in East Africa and Europe) and Refactory (training the next generation of tech talents and experts in Uganda) to delve deeper into the issues around Human Resources and Capacity Development in Uganda, as well her experience with collaborations, partnerships, and success. Lucy Biteete is a Strategic Advisor at Refactory...

In Part One of this two-part episode, your host Fay Kakai from UEEI sits down with Lucy Biteete from Laboremus (creating financial technology solutions for clients in East Africa and Europe) and Refactory (training the next generation of tech talents and experts in Uganda) to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, challenges she has faced, how she has overcome them, and the lessons learned. Stay tuned for Part Two where we'll delve deeper into the issues around Human Resources and Capacity...

This episode picks up the conversation from where we stopped in Part One. Your hosts Ham Namakajjo and Fay Kakai from UEEI sit down with Mark Mutaahi from BiD Capital Partners (a locally embedded international Impact Investment Advisory and Asset Management firm) to delve deeper into issues around supporting SGBs access financing, collective action, innovations for financing SGBs, as well as advice for SGBs seeking finance. Mark Mutaahi is a Managing Partner at BiD Capital Partners -...

In Part One of this two-part episode, your hosts Ham Namakajjo and Fay Kakai from UEEI sit down with Mark Mutaahi from BiD Capital Partners (a locally embedded international Impact Investment Advisory and Asset Management firm) to discuss the firm's journey, lessons learned, as well as issues around access to finance for SMEs, and what the firm is doing to address them. Stay tuned for Part Two. Mark Mutaahi is a Managing Partner at BiD Capital Partners - www.bidcp.com

In this episode of Ground Up, your hosts Ham Namakajjo and Fay Kakai from UEEI sit down with Alex Kalimugogo from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to talk about a new innovation programme by NSSF, dubbed Hi-Innovator, that plans to support local Small and Growing businesses over the next five years.

In this episode our Solution Panel host, Mr. Elton Mutize moderates the topic "The key levers to inspire an Agricultural Revolution in Uganda" with Solution Panel guests Dr. Fred Muhumuza, Mr. Apollo Muyanja, and Prof. Samuel Sejaka. The panel debates and discusses themes like optimizing the value chains, value addition, supply chains for export markets, government implementation bottlenecks, Africa free continental trade area, and the opportunity for an agricultural revolution in Uganda.

In this episode, your host Fay Kakai sits down with Joachim Ewechu from Shona to talk about how Shona is transforming East African economies and societies through "Good Business." Joachim talks about strategic segmenting of African businesses, funding challenges and new initiatives, the power of community and partnerships, as well as an alternative, thought-provoking, way to define success. Joachim Ewechu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Shona - an organisation that provides business advisory...

In this episode, your host Ham Namakajjo sits down with Juliet Kasiita from Sinapis to talk about what it's like providing business development support services to entrepreneurs during uncertain times. Juliet shares insights on how Sinapis differentiates itself from other BDS providers, the challenges faced and how they have been navigated, sustainability of BDS providers and nurturing funder relationships, as well as collective action with other entrepreneur support actors. Juliet Kasiita...

In this episode, your hosts Ham Namakajjo and Fay Kakai from UEEI sit down with Allan Rwakatungu from Xente to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, financing a Fintech company, differentiation, as well as collaboration within the Ugandan Fintech industry. Allan shares insights on what it means to venture into entrepreneurship, transitioning from a B2C to a B2B business, investor herd mentality and why Uganda is overlooked, as well as the balance between growth and impact financing. Allan...

Welcome to Ground Up, a podcast about propelling entrepreneurship in Uganda, brought to you by UEEI, the Uganda Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Initiative.

In this episode, your host Ham Namakajjo from UEEI sits down with Khatuchi Khasandi from ANDE East Africa to discuss ANDE's approach to Ecosystem Building.