Rwanda - Rwanda Innovation Fund

The project will, facilitate the establishment by providing an initial investment in Rwanda Innovation Fund (RIF). The project, aims to address the financing gap that tech-enabled companies face at different growth stages in Rwanda and in the wider East African region. In order to address the financing gap, the project will establish affordable funding mechanisms for growth companies. To achieve this, the project will provide equity financing for Tech Enabled Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SME’s), train techoriented entrepreneurs in business planning and management, and increase awareness and sensitization with respect to intellectual property rights. It will also provide TA to support capacity building for business development expert and provide finance for the development of a deal pipeline, which will involve working with entrepreneurs to develop their businesses to a point where the Innovation Fund might support them. The total estimated cost of the project is USD 68.6 million (UA 48.65 million).