08 Jul 2024

In the journey towards entrepreneurship development, FirstPreneur programme has launched 150 businesses to be enrolled in its inaugural cohort.

The programme, which is a partnership between First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) and TheNeoHub, is aimed at nurturing Botswana’s entrepreneurial spirit through mentorship and access to funding interventions, among others.

Speaking during the launch in Gaborone recently, the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare said the programme was a pioneering initiative that marked a significant leap towards reinforcing growth and innovation with Botswana’s SME sector.

Mr Gare said entrepreneurs were pivotal drivers to the economy that substantially contributes to the GDP, adding that they were instrumental in creating jobs and strengthening vale chains in critical sectors.

To this end, Mr Gare said government had found it befitting to establish robust support systems for entrepreneurs, including access to funding, mentorship and training.

He said the FirstPreneur Development programme exemplified such a framework, designed to empower entrepreneurs, saying such institutions as FNBB and innovation centres like TheNeoHub played a critical role in providing entrepreneurs with guidance, resources, and collaborative environments necessary for success.

The minister said it was essential to sustain and expand these kinds of initiatives to promote a vibrant entrepreneurial network that would link entrepreneurs with international counterparts.

Meanwhile, FNBB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Steven Bogatsu said their collaboration with TheNeoHub represented a powerful synergy - a union of vision and purpose.

Mr Bogatsu said FNBB had always believed in the transformative power of partnerships and by partnering with a dynamic, locally owned entity like TheNeoHub, they were not only pooling their resources and expertise, but also aligning their efforts to drive impactful change in the SME sector.

He said together with TheNeoHub they had crafted The FirstPreneur as a comprehensive two-year programme designed to support and accelerate entrepreneurs in building sustainable businesses.

Furthermore, Mr Bogatsu said the initiative leveraged the strengths of both organisations to create a synergistic force, one that would accelerate the development of SMMEs across Botswana in today’s dynamic and ever-changing competitive economy.

He said one of the unique and defining features of the programme was the availability of a dedicated banking relationship manager for each participant.

This personalised support, according to Mr Bogatsu, was not merely a service, but the first of its kind in Botswana, aimed exclusively at 100 per cent citizen-owned entities that have been in operation for at least two years. Ends