Submitted
Good Jobs & Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Einstein Rising

Team Leader
Shiella Karungi
Solution Overview
Solution Name:
Einstein Rising
One-line solution summary:
Business accelerator for startups and already existing African social Entrepreneurs la
Pitch your solution.

Lack of business support in form of information and education; social entrepreneurs generally lack access to the cornerstone of business development and lack of access to financing for majority of entrepreneurs, access to financing is difficult even more for those with social model. This problem is aggravated by the view that social business is of non-income generating nature.

Our solution to these challenges is a unique business acceleration program targeted specifically towards identifying, educating,mentoring and investing in Africa's social entrepreneurs.(SE4Africa)

All the income generating mechanisms in our program are tools towards the end goal of complete financial independence and wealth creation for each entrepreneur. This move towards wealth creation has a trickle down effect in decreasing poverty thought the entire communities via job creation and the positive effects of business on customers and their individual communities.

What specific problem are you solving?

Uganda had the highest rate of  youth entrepreneurs involved in a new established business of 55.56% ("2014 Global Report 2014"). However, many of these business didn't survive  with a fifth of them having discontinued business mainly due to financial troubles.

The major reason these businesses fail or never get started is due to  the problem of raising capital as options are limited and are often not available to small and medium sized enterprises. In addition social entrepreneurs in Africa also lack the knowledge to set up business systems that can accommodate long term survival and scaling. Their problems are further aggravated by their inaccessibility to proper financial advice and business mentor-ship. 

Small businesses are not offered funding from banks and other formal lenders due to size and lack of significant profits. When they do secure a loan they often face extremely high interest rate. One solution is micro-finance which has attempted to mitigate the large unemployment rates by lending money to small businesses. The problem with this solution is the loans may only improve a single household and not an entire community. Micro lenders also lack business development resources and mentor ship programs to create truly salable business.


What is your solution?

To solve the above problem, Einstein Rising found an innovative alternate solution and created a social enterprise program for entrepreneurs to provide business development tools and start up capital to facilitate economic growth and wealth creation. Our social enterprise for Africa program (SE4AFRICA) strategy has three pillars that is: training and accelerating entrepreneurs to develop and then share models of entrepreneurs, Education, raise seed funding for social entrepreneurs to push them to the next level of business growth, Influence entrepreneurship education to not only increase the livelihoods of new entrepreneurs but empathy and support for social Entrepreneurship.

Under SE4AFRICA program, we use online applications like zoom and google  meet to train, mentor and coach the entrepreneurs in areas of strategic business planning,startup tools for success, marketing tactics and financial modeling. Entrepreneurs generally complete this program over a period of three to six months. Entrepreneurship also linked to industry specific mentors that provide general coaching focused on finance, book keeping, environmental science, legal, marketing,public speaking and psychology.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Our solution targets the general population of social entrepreneurs at the start-up and growth phases whose mission is to create dynamic profitable solutions to decrease poverty and motivate community collaboration while maintaining culture and the environment.

Social Entrepreneurs for Africa(SE4AFRICA) program components needs to be outlined and delineated. The SE4AFRICA consists of three  major components to successfully impact and empower social entrepreneurs from the start up to the growth-stage through training ,mentoring and investment. (1) Social Entrepreneurship  out reach (SEO), 2) Social Entrepreneurship accelerator (SEA) and 3) social enterprise capital raising (SECR)

The solution assists the social entrepreneur with the expansion of economic advancement through creation of wealth.This methodology guides social entrepreneurs along their journey utilizing mentor-ship, practical tools and rigorous programs so they can find the answers to successfully run and grow their business and income.


Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
  • Enable small and new businesses, especially in untapped communities, to prosper and create good jobs through access to capital, networks, and technology
Explain how the problem, your solution, and your solution’s target population relate to the Challenge and your selected dimension.

High failures of social business, Inaccessibility of capital by these social small and medium entrepreneurs due to the sizes and lack of access to  information to extend market and network. Einstein rising provides a venues to access not only business development knowledge but also access to markets, investments/funds , among others.Thus contributing positively to entrepreneurship community and creation of jobs.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Kampala, Uganda
What is your solution’s stage of development?
  • Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model rolled out in one or, ideally, several communities, which is poised for further growth
Who is the primary delegate for your solution?
Alexis Chavez
More About Your Solution
About Your Team
Your Business Model & Funding
Partnership & Prize Funding Opportunities
Solution Team:
Shiella  Karungi
Shiella Karungi
Business Development Officer