Sobre

Overview

Future Makers Kigali is a six-month youth digital entrepreneurship programme delivered by the Westerwelle Foundation through the Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali, with support from the United Internet for UNICEF Foundation. The programme equips young post-secondary graduates in Rwanda with practical digital skills, entrepreneurial mindsets, and hands-on innovation experience to help them succeed in the country’s growing digital economy.

Participants will develop digital solutions to real community challenges through practical training, design thinking, mentorship, incubation, and access to seed funding. The programme is committed to gender inclusion, with a target of at least 50% women participation throughout all stages.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Develop practical digital and entrepreneurial skills for employment, freelancing, and business creation.
• Foster innovation through design thinking and community-based problem solving.
• Support participants in transforming ideas into viable digital solutions through mentorship and incubation.
• Connect young innovators with Rwanda’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, mentors, and professional networks.
• Promote women’s participation in digital entrepreneurship.

Programme Structure

The six-month programme is organised into three phases:

Phase 1 – Digital Skills Training
Participants complete a compulsory Entrepreneurial Problem-Solving & Design Thinking track and choose one elective:

• Digital Tools for Entrepreneurship.
• Digital Content Creation & Communication.

Phase 2 – Hackathon
Participants work in teams to develop innovative digital solutions addressing community challenges in Rwanda.

Phase 3 – Incubation & Demo Day
Top-performing teams receive mentorship, technical support, workspace access, and compete for seed funding to further develop their solutions.

Programme Benefits

Participants will receive:

• Practical training in digital skills and entrepreneurship.
• Expert-led workshops and guest speaker sessions.
• Networking opportunities with entrepreneurs and innovation ecosystem leaders.
• Participation in a two-day innovation hackathon.
• Mentorship from experienced professionals.
• Access to the Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali community.
• Certificate of completion.
• Opportunity for top teams to receive seed grants of €3,000, €2,000, or €1,000.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be 18–22 years old.
• Be a post-secondary graduate based in Kigali, Rwanda.
• Demonstrate interest in digital skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, or problem-solving.
• Be motivated to participate in an intensive skills development programme.
• Have access to a laptop or digital device.
• Commit to the full six-month programme, including approximately 6–8 hours per week during training and 4–6 hours per week during the incubation phase.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply, with at least half of all programme places reserved for female participants.

Application Process

Applicants are required to complete an online application, including:

• Personal and educational information.
• Selection of one elective training track.
• A short explanation of their track choice.
• Digital skills self-assessment.
• Motivation statement.
• Description of a community challenge that digital tools could help address.
• Future career or entrepreneurship plans.
• Preferred challenge area for the hackathon.

Supporting documents, including proof of education and identification, must also be submitted.

Key Date

• Application deadline: 5 August 2026 (11:59 PM)

How to Apply

Interested applicants should complete the online application form before the deadline and ensure they are available to participate fully throughout the six-month programme. Successful participants will join a network of young innovators, receive practical entrepreneurial training, and gain opportunities to develop and scale digital solutions addressing community challenges in Rwanda.