WITH the view to creating jobs for young people in the country, a local company, Sahara Ventures, yesterday launched an innovative programme dubbed Founders’ School which is dedicated to nurturing and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs.

The skills enhancement programme aims to provide a comprehensive mentoring programme designed to equip founders with the essential skills, knowledge, and resources needed to build, scale, and sustain successful startups.

Sahara Ventures Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jumanne Mtambalike, said during the launch of the programme in Dar es Salaam that with a focus on practical, hands-on learning, the platform offers various modules covering critical aspects of entrepreneurship, including business financing, strategic partnerships, marketing, and intellectual property. 

“By fostering a community of lifelong learners and change-makers, Founders School aims to drive innovation, solve global problems, and contribute positively to society, aligning with Sahara Ventures' mission to catalyze a cultural shift towards entrepreneurship and economic growth,” he added.

He noted that the mission of the programme is to empower future generations with the skills needed to succeed in the 21st-century job market by investing in both employability and entrepreneurship.

“The vision of Founders School is to create a system where everyone gains the skills and ability to develop innovative ideas, launch businesses, and grow ventures that can positively impact society. It also aims to create a community of lifelong learners who can adapt to the digital age,” he said.

He thus urged youth from all walks of life, parents, and guardians to make the most of the opportunity to turn innovative ideas into feasible businesses and in the process come up with more local solutions to the various challenges in the community.    

For her part, Helena Isdory, an aspiring founder from Dar es Salaam who stands to benefit from the programme said that it has been a long time coming.

Aspiring entrepreneurs are those looking to start new businesses or with existing business plans who want to enhance their skills and according to Isdory, it is a rarity in the country to find proper guidance to help enhance one’s business, let alone morph an idea into a product or a business.

“The programme will be of great benefit to young people in the country, both aspiring or established entrepreneurs, as it is already known, getting employment at the moment is a serious challenge among the youth,” she said.

Ramadhan Mapera, an intern studying at the University of Dodoma (UDOM), said that he was interested in the programme when he first heard about it.

“As a continuing student with aspirations to establish my own business in the future, I believe I will get to hone entrepreneurial skills through the programme,” he said.

Founders’ School Programme Lead, Ismail Adam, said during the launch that the programme will be run on a 12-week basis (3 months), and application for the first cohort closes on August 4, this year.