On August 22, the Entrepreneurship Centre at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Makerere University, organized a tutorial session to help students refine their business pitching skills. This initiative is part of the center’s broader commitment to fostering entrepreneurial talent among students by providing practical training and exposure to global best practices.
During the session, students had the unique opportunity to watch the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship (JLMCF) pitching competition, organized by the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) at Queen’s University in Canada. The JLMCF Program, launched in 2020, offers African students and recent graduates an 8-month fellowship that provides access to entrepreneurship training, resources, financial support, and mentorship networks. The program aims to cultivate exceptional entrepreneurial mindsets and equip participants with the skills necessary to become future leaders and innovators.
Dr. Sarah Bimbona, the Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre at Makerere University, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating:
“Watching the JLMCF pitching competition allowed our students to see first-hand what it takes to present and defend their business ideas at an international level. It’s not just about having a great idea, but also about how you communicate it effectively. This experience has been invaluable in showing our students what is possible when they apply the skills they’ve learned here.”
The JLMCF Program is particularly notable for its focus on empowering African students by giving them the tools and confidence needed to turn their business ideas into reality. The winners of the competition have the chance to secure seed funding, which can be pivotal in bringing their ventures to life. Through this partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the DDQIC is helping to shape the next generation of African entrepreneurs