Entrepreneurship in Africa is very hard and challenging. Yet Africa does not lack innovators or ideas. It is staggering, in a good way, when you realise just how many African start-ups are emerging yearly, tackling important issues in areas like banking and agriculture. But what these start-ups lack generally is proper mentorship. Too many African start-ups are going it alone with their ideas, but keep getting caught by the same problems.
But it appears a change may be on the way, especially in the model through which entrepreneurship is being taught.
Introducing the #ALA Program
We introduce you to ALA, the latest bootstrapping academy for entrepreneurs. ALA, meaning the Ausso Leadership Academy, is a nascent hub for entrepreneurial mentorship in Africa.
Unveiling the biggest entrepreneurial advantage for ur business:
The Ausso Leadership Academy (#ALA) aims to structure & standardize entrepreneurial methodology in our context & democratize Entrepreneurship such that differentiation is driven by intuition, acumen, & luck.#Thread pic.twitter.com/jBEXpBn0fN— austin okere (@austin_okere) January 29, 2018
ALA promises to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to reach out and be guided by startup mentors. It will also connect emerging business leaders with the established ones and helps them tackle the challenges they face trying to grow their businesses. It is true, most problems entrepreneurs face when starting out are not unique; they’ve been encountered over and over before. So why not connect with people who have successfully tackled the problem? ALA promises to do this.
And that is why the FOOTSTEPS OF CHAMPIONS is a huge component of the #ALA and the whole Entrepreneurship mentorship program. Outstanding Champions of Entrepreneurship will come and share their stories and the unique inflexion points in their journeys.
— austin okere (@austin_okere) January 29, 2018
ALA is also going to be at the forefront of start-up investing. In partnership with the African Wealth Partners, ALA will facilitate “access to capital to deserving entrepreneurs.” It would give participating entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas. And if the idea is solid it gets funded, else more coaching would be required to ensure the idea is solid.
ALA is being promoted by Austin Okere, the founder of CWG Plc and an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Columbia Business School, in New York.
I would be setting up the AUSSO LEADERSHIP & MENTORING ACADEMY to inspire leaders & budding entrepreneurs to become outstanding.#CWGGETSIT
— austin okere (@austin_okere) October 20, 2017
More information about the program would be made available by mid-February. But the program would admit only 40 participants as its pioneer members when it kickoff on April 17. So if you are an entrepreneur or you know an entrepreneur, then watch this space for more information.
