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African Incubator Network
National Business Incubation Association
Southern African Business & Technology Incubation Association
Shanghai International Technology Transfer Information Platform
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KEDF Program Details
The Kigali Science and Technology University (KIST) initiative to provide start-up capital to qualified Rwandan graduates from all institutions of higher
learning to establish their own technology based business to accelerate development of SME's in Rwanda.
In 2005, KIST established the KIST Enterprise Development Fund (KEDF) under the Center for Innovations and Technology Transfer (CITT) to contribute
to the development of entrepreneurship and private sector promotion. Currently, graduates of Institutions of Higher Learning in Rwanda are experiencing
difficulties with setting up their own enterprises. Market Research conducted by Technology and Business Incubation Facility (TBIF) in May 2005 among
young graduates from all institutions of higher learning shown that the main problem of starting small businesses is lack of finance.
KIST ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND (KEDF)
KEDF has been set up to address financial needs of entrepreneurs who are looking for start-up capital for their small enterprises but often have
no access to finance from commercial financial institutions due to insufficient securities. KEDF provides loans through CSS Zigama Bank to qualified
Rwandan graduates from all institutions of higher learning who wish to establish technology based business within identified priority sectors as per
Rwanda Government Vision 2020 to accelerate the SME's Development in Rwanda. The loan capital is intended to support entrepreneurs through the seed
funding and help them to start their successful enterprises.
KEDF MISSION
The mission of KEDF is to contribute to Rwandan economic development and employment creation through the provision of soft credit to University graduates
and young entrepreneurs to enable them to start their own enterprises.
KEDF PRIORITY SECTORS:
KEDF will support the projects in the following areas;
- Information & Communication Technology (ICT) based business.
- Infrastructure development (i.e. labor intensive projects, rural based technology businesses)
- Environnemental Protection, Renewable Energy, Waste Management etc.
- Post harvest technologies (Food processing technology)
- Small and cottage industries
- Handicrafts
- Leather/Footwear Industry
- Service sector
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
- Applicant (s) must be Rwandan nationals.
- A graduate(s) possessing at least a bachelor's degree or a diploma for women candidate in any discipline from any institution of higher learning.
- Owner's of young enterprises (Less than 2 years in operation).
- Committed to working on the proposed business on a full time basis.
- Group projects are highly encouraged.
- Present a commercially and technically viable business plans.
- Able to inject owner's equity of minimum of 10% of the loan amount sought.
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