An accelerator programme operating in Kenya is looking to empower aspiring entrepreneurs with in the developing world with a rigorous Christ-centered business education, world class consulting and mentoring services and access to seed capital.
Sinapis co-founder and executive director Courtney Rountree Mills told HumanIPO the name of the company is the scientific name for the mustard seed, which many believe is the seed Jesus was referring to in the Parable of the Mustard Seed in the New Testament.
“These seeds are very small yet grow to be huge tree-like plants,” she said. “In this same way Sinapis hopes to glorify God by giving entrepreneurs the priority to grow small seeds of ideas into strong business which can in turn provide for many.”
Sinapis envisions stimulating growth of the entire private sector by giving young innovative business ideas the support to grow and the opportunity to integrate Christ-centered business ethics into their professional and daily lives.
“We believe that nurturing local innovation at the seed stage is the key to unleashing the potential of the private sector in Kenya as well as in many other developing countries,” said Mills.
“We support entrepreneurs with innovative, scalable business ideas by providing intensive business training, access to seed capital and exposure to Christ-centered business principles.”
She also discussed the training and selection process, which she said is highly competitive and based on six months of intensive training.
The training provides the ability to assess the viability of each business and ensures the entrepreneur has the skills necessary to manage the business effectively.
Entrepreneurs in every programme receive mentorship relevant to their businesses, with mentors providing practical hands on advice.
The chief executive officer (CEO) of Coopers Kenya, one of the largest animal health companies in Kenya, and an associate from Root Capital, an investment firm focusing only on Agribusiness, are examples of mentors for their startups in the agribusiness sector.
HumanIPO reported yesterday on Usalama Innovative Technology Systems Limited, one of the Synapis startups, which has launched UsalamaPIN, software that can protect up to 90 per cent of an individual’s account value in the case of ATM fraud using a panic PIN account holders can use when under duress.
