Estonian-born ride-hailing and food delivery startup Bolt has rewarded 10 Kenyan drivers and couriers with €20,000 in reward for innovative business ideas as a move to foster entrepreneurial talent. The competition initiated by Bolt is aimed at equipping the participants with sharpened business skills and triggering fresh ideas into the industry.
Finalists Receive Seed Funding and Mentorship
It is drawn from Bolt’s accelerator program, in which winners will each get €2,000 in seed funding to financially support their ideas, the amount is equivalent to Sh 289,166.63 Kenyan shillings. Drivers and couriers will also get a six-week mentorship journey to keep molding their business ideas. The mentorship will involve matching them up with industry experts to guide and connect them with key contacts who will enable them to thrive in business.
According to Bolt, the effort seeks to provide “guidance, mentorship, and access to a network of industry experts so that they are better equipped with the tools and the support to drive businesses to success.”
Innovative and Brilliant Business Proposals
The presentations were varied with a wide array of pitches showcasing different unique business ideas during the pitches as finalists presented their creative and innovative ideas. Among those that impressed the panel were:
- Ideas ranged from the creation of fixed charging centers through to portable electric car and bike charging. This showed the increasing number of requirements towards structural adjustment in favor of transition towards green energy.
- Business Hubs for Drivers: Other business proposers aimed at coming up with facilities offering vital services and assistance to drivers.
- Vehicles for People with Disabilities: Another brilliant idea was investment in disability-compliant vehicles, a plea for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in transport.
- Food and Grocery Deliveries Powered by Technology: A number of participants sought ways of leveraging technology to guarantee efficient last-mile delivery of food and groceries in the blossoming e-commerce industry.
Identifying Extraordinary Talent
Among the winners, three other individuals excelled in their contributions. Adrian Kagiri Amunga was recognized for having the most innovative idea, while Antony Gwaro Nyangaresi won for the most scalable idea. Teddy Muthami Muriithi won the best pitch award, complementing the array of talent that existed within the competition.
Investing in the Future of Bolt’s Community
Bolt General Manager Rides Kenya, Linda Ndungu, recognized the importance of drivers and couriers in the company’s ecosystem, saying they are not just service providers but part of the community that connects millions of people in Kenya. She said their effort should be recognized, successes celebrated, and investment in their futures.
“To the winners, your effort and innovation indeed deserve this award, complete with €2,000 seed funding. We can’t wait to see what happens next for them on their entrepreneurship journey,” added Ndungu.
The Winning Projects Move Kenya’s Innovation Forward
For small business owners and innovators in the transport and delivery industries, these awards and accelerator programmes go beyond just money; it’s the beginning of their empowerment. This means mentorship, geared with financial support to make those ideas successful and benefit the local economy and culture through innovation.