Hi, It's Precious.

In this week’s newsletter, I’m bringing to you another free SASIE Workshop: From Idea to MVP: Building an MVP with Limited Resources.

Join us for a FREE workshop with Joseph Ogiolu, a renowned tech leader and CTO of Jalode Technology Limited. Discover the secrets to building successful tech products, from engineering your MVP to achieving product-market fit.

Key Takeaways:

• Mastering MVP Development: Learn how to create a minimum viable product that captures your target market.

• Achieving Product-Market Fit: Understand the critical factors for product adoption and customer satisfaction.

• Harnessing Technology for Success: Explore the latest trends and tools to accelerate your startup's growth.

Register Now! Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a seasoned tech expert.

[Saturday, November 23, 8 pm]

Now, Here's what we got today:

• Opportunities: The Fund for Reparations Empowers Black Women Entrepreneurs

• Start-Up Story: From Childhood Memories to Sustainable Success: Dtocs by Pallavi Pande

• Bookclub: She Means Business: Turn Your Ideas into Reality and Become a Wildly Successful Entrepreneur

• Inspiration: From Courtroom Dreams to Breaking Barriers: Meaza Ashenafi's Inspiring Journey

• Job Opportunities

BEST LINKS

My Favourite Finds

Hear some feedback from participants of our first cohort

SASIE Idea to Venture: A Catalyst for Innovation. (YouTube)

Investment Ideas

Ranked: Africa's Most Innovative Countries 2024. (Linkedin)

Advice for Start-ups

6 Tips to Overcome Financial Challenges as a Small Business Owner. (Women on Business Blog)

Tips For Business Owners

10 Essential Tips for Attracting Your First Delivery App Users (SASIE Blog)

OPPORTUNITY

Funding Spotlight: The Fund for Reparations Empowers Black Women Entrepreneurs

Attention all Black women entrepreneurs! Are you ready to take your business to the next level but lack financial resources?

The Fund for Reparations, FRP, may be what was missing to unlock your entrepreneurial potential. FRP commits to empowering Black communities and offers a range of resources to cater to the specific needs of Black women entrepreneurs and make sure that they are successful.

Why FRP is Different:

• Racial Equity Focus: FRP targets programs that tackle Black business owners' historical and ongoing challenges, acknowledging the unique barriers they encounter and striving to create a level playing field.

• Holistic Support: FRP provides more than just funding; they offer extensive support through mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities, equipping you with essential tools and connections for your growth.

Ready to take the plunge?

FRP is now accepting applications for its grant program. Visit to learn about eligibility requirements, how to apply, and all other details about the grant program.

Don't let this opportunity slip by to give your business the financial boost it needs to thrive!

OPPORTUNITIES

Fuel Your Green Business: The Cleantech Incubation Program at The Hive

If you are a woman entrepreneur committed to building a better future, The Hive's Cleantech Incubation Program might be the launch pad for your eco-friendly venture.

Located in Canada, The Hive is an organization that empowers women-led ventures in the cleantech sector.

Their incubation program covers all aspects to get your business off to a flying start:

• Funding: Access competitive grants and financial resources to power your cleantech innovation.

• Mentorship: A network of seasoned industry leaders who will provide guidance and strategic advice.

• Networking: Connect with investors and other key players driving the cleantech sector forward through valuable relationships.

• Workspace: Access to a collaborative workspace complete with cutting-edge facilities.

Do you believe your cleantech venture has what it takes to succeed?

For detailed information about eligibility and the application process for this program, please visit The Hive. Don't let this great opportunity slide by to take your cleantech business to the next level and make an environmental difference!

STARTUP STORY

From Childhood Memories to Sustainable Success: Dtocs by Pallavi Pande

A simple childhood memory can sometimes serve as a great source of inspiration, can't it? 

For Pallavi Pande, founder of Dtocs, it was the tradition of eating banana leaves in her native India. That eventually led her to start Dtocs: a line of eco-conscious tableware with sustainable palm leaf alternatives to disposable plates.

But building a business isn't all bright sunshine and banana leaves. And yes, Pallavi did have to surmount some problems: among them, there was

• Market Education: Selling consumers on transitioning from traditional disposables to new products required educating them about environmental impacts.

• Balancing Sustainability and Affordability: A common challenge in developing a product that is both eco-friendly and widely accessible to customers.

OK, so how did Pallavi overcome those stumbling blocks?

• Passion and Persistence: Pallavi's belief in her mission, her reason for being sustainable, drove her to keep going.

• Community Focus: Pallavi established strong ties with her suppliers and retailers based on mutual understanding and interest in her greener vision of the future.

• Innovation: Pallavi went through product iteration and continued her efforts to make Dtocs even more sustainable.

Want to learn more about Pallavi's inspiring journey?

BOOK CLUB

Stuck or Just Starting? "She Means Business" Can Help!

Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur who has faced challenges or are just taking the first steps on your journey through business, She Means Business: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Startup Life by Carrie Green may be a helpful book for many reasons.

Key Ideas:

• The book offers a realistic and honest portrayal of the entrepreneurial roller coaster-the bad with the good.

• Carrie Green shares in practice how to overcome some of the common pitfalls: building a great team, funding, and balancing work and life.

• She also mentions growth development can develop a growth mindset and the ability to bounce back in case of setbacks.

"She Means Business" supports female entrepreneurs without sugar-coating the experience. Green provides actionable advice and inspiring stories to help build a successful and fulfilling venture.

Ready to drive your entrepreneurial journey? Then, try reading "She Means Business" by Carrie Green.

Happy Reading!

INSPIRATION

From Courtroom Dreams to Breaking Barriers: Meaza Ashenafi's Inspiring Journey

Imagine being raised in a country where women's rights seemed always to be placed in the backseat time and again, yet you dare to dream of a world where justice does not just prevail but is served.

Such a dream was in the eyes of one ambitious young woman from Ethiopia, Meaza Ashenafi.

Despite facing societal odds and scarce resources, Meaza's passion for law and advocating for women's rights remained strong.

Meaza's story is one of groundbreaking resilience and defiance of expectation. Fiercely committed to justice, in 1993 she established the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, offering legal aid to indigent women-often at the behest of resistant authorities.

Her courage in standing up for the rights of women never wavered, not even when it set her against the mighty.

Beyond being an activist, Maaza broke through ceilings when she was appointed the first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ethiopia. Her journey not only reshaped the legal professions of Ethiopia but also illuminated a path that thousands of women could pursue in leadership positions that were traditionally shut to them.

Meaza's journey is a story of resilience and will. This is her story, bound to influence entrepreneurs from around the world, showing them that once a vision is clear in your mind with a will that absolutely cannot be bent, you can remove obstacles and give way to change.

Want to know more about Meaza Ashenafi's incredible life and achievements?

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

• Elvtr - AI-AIDED GRAPHIC DESIGN

• PayStack - Payroll Specialist - Africa and Europe

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