After six successful editions, Growing SMEs will be held on 17-18 May 2012 in Kigali, Rwanda. This premium marketplace will highlight successful strategies and businesses to explore and activate small businesses development in East Africa and beyond.
If you can’t make it to Kigali, catch the best sessions from Growing SMEs live from the comfort of your computer.
‘Growing SMEs seeks to identify a new generation of entrepreneurs and get them growing a business that creates jobs and supports emerging market economies’ says Thierry Sanders, Founder of BiD Network Foundation.
This year, BiD Network and partners will recognize and reward these leaders in Kigali, Rwanda.
Day one is a unique combination of presentations, focus sessions, workshops and panel discussions. The Forum will bring together renowned experts, entrepreneurs and financiers to share knowledge, ideas and latest trends in small businesses growth and finance.
The Forum speakers include, among others: Gert van Veldhuisen, Founder of Investors Club Netherlands, William Davis, President of Gate Impact, and Wanjohi Ndagu, Partner, Pearl Capital.
On day two, 21 high growth entrepreneurs will showcase their emerging market businesses at the Marketplace and will pitch to 110 prospective financiers. Entrepreneurs from 12 countries undergo rigorous selection, expert guidance and training sessions.
This year, the finalists include an expert IT company from Burundi that creates and installs medical softwares, a community-oriented lighting solution from Rwanda for rural Africa and an affordable solar lantern through innovative distribution from Kenya.
Investors will be introduced to viable market opportunities, will network with regional and international peers and will join a closed session on angel investing in East Africa.
Most of us will not be able to head to Kigali for Growing SMEs. Thanks to the igihe.com team, you can watch the Growing SMEs accelerator event live via igihe.com and bidnetwork.org. See live audience as well as focus sessions discussing finance options of small businesses in emerging markets, the conference keynotes and more. Livestream begins on Thursday, May 17 at 8.30 EAT.
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Since its creation in 2005, Growing SMEs gave exposure to 190 entrepreneurs, and welcomed 2700 participants in the Netherlands and in Colombia.
Thanks to our partners JCI Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board, Enterprise Development Network, and Bernard Van Leer Foundation for making Growing SMEs happen.
For more information about Growing SMEs, click here: http://rwanda-2012.growingsmes.org/
Follow us on Twitter: @bidnet, #GrowingSMEs
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