21 Apr 2022

NeoHub LAB has been eulogised for fostering entrepreneurship, innovation and incubation of business start-ups as well as creating employment.

“I am delighted to find innovation centres such as the NeoHub LAB which are not only looking for creative and innovative solutions but are also focused on developing the capabilities and character of individuals.  

They have also gone to great lengths to ensure that fundamental leadership skills and Botho are primary key traits that underscore all their interactions,” President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said during the lab’s launch in Gaborone yesterday.

He praised the lab for electing to pursue inclusive innovation, entrepreneurial skills, technology and character building with programmes that were not only child-friendly but also provided necessary practical life-long leadership traits.

The 100 per cent citizen-owned, women-led and youth-driven innovation lab, was established to co-create a community of purpose-driven innovators determined to address current global issues by offering creative, innovative and sustainable solutions.

Crediting the lab alongside the likes Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub for their contribution to private sector growth and the digital economy. President Masisi said NeoHub LAB’s mandate fell within one of the RESET Agenda priorities which was important for mindset change.

“Innovation hubs are instrumental to the growth of small businesses, start-ups and technology  adoption that boost various sectors thereby leading to economic diversification, job creation and overall social development of Botswana,” he said.

President Masisi said through collaboration, the lab would leverage on synergies between start-ups, government, universities, innovation hubs and the corporate world, which he said could be achieved through ecosystem-wide initiatives such as offering one-stop-shop support for start-ups and entrepreneurs.

The President noted several collaboration initiatives between the lab and other entities of strategic importance such as Debswana, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, Botswana  Building Society Limited, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, GIZ and Make IT-Africa.

He said government was prepared to support such commendable work aligned with youth and women empowerment and in partnership with other key stakeholders.

Dr Masisi implored stakeholders to continue supporting young people in the entrepreneurship space through enabling innovation policies and growing the digital and knowledge economy.

The lab’s business model, he said, had so far succeeded in bringing together critical stakeholders through an initiative called  Open Innovation.

President Masisi said the initiative entailed government, private sector, civic organisations and start-ups collaborating to build sustainable enterprises and contribute to solving problems.  

The achievements and collaborations helped in advancing the realisation of Vision 2036 and strategy for growing Botswana’s middle class, he stated.

NeoHub LAB has to date offered capacity building to over 800 entrepreneurs in Botswana.

 It has pivoted strategies and mentorship for start-ups in West and East Africa and has recently partnered with a global tech company to tap into the talent pool of software engineers in Botswana.ends