SASIE Begins Its First Cohort

for Women TECH Entrepreneurs who wish to start their own start-ups

Author

Jennifer Daniel
July 15, 2024

Hello, It’s Precious,

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Here's what we got today:

  • Start-up Story: Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola and Wecyclers

  • Book Club: The Art of Contrary Thinking

  • Opportunities: SASIE begins the first cohort, the WSA Young Innovators Award

  • Business: The Conversation

  • Job Opportunities:

OPPORTUNITIES

SASIE(Sought After School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship) begins its first Cohort…

I am excited to announce the launch of the first cohort of the SASIE (Sought After School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship) Idea to Venture program! This groundbreaking initiative is designed to empower African women with innovative ideas for technology-based businesses.

This cohort will feature a dynamic blend of online learning sessions, allowing you to participate from the comfort of your own space across Africa.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

OPPORTUNITIES

WSA Young Innovators Award

Applications are now open for the 2024 World Summit Award (WSA) Young Innovators Award. The WSA Young Innovators Award is an open call. Participation in the WSA Young Innovators is open to any entrepreneur, company, student group, or project team – at least one of the founding members and the majority of the team must be under the age of 26 (born on or after January 1, 1998).

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW!

START-UP STORY

BILIKISS ADEBIYI-ABIOLA AND WECYCLERS

In the bustling streets of Lagos, Nigeria, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola saw not just waste, but untapped potential. Armed with a vision for environmental sustainability and community empowerment, she co-founded Wecyclers—a social enterprise that harnesses the power of technology to tackle urban waste challenges.

Bilikiss, who holds degrees from MIT and Vanderbilt University, returned to Nigeria with a mission to address the city's mounting waste problem. Wecyclers was born in 2012, offering a novel solution: incentivizing low-income communities to recycle their waste by exchanging it for points redeemable for household goods and cash.

Key Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

  1. Identify Local Challenges: Wecyclers addressed a pressing urban issue—waste management—using a localized, community-centric approach.

  2. Harness Technology: Leveraging mobile technology allowed Wecyclers to optimize operations, scale efficiently, and engage with stakeholders effectively.

  3. Empower Communities: By incentivizing recycling and creating economic opportunities for low-income households, Wecyclers fostered community participation and ownership.

  4. Navigate Challenges: Overcoming logistical, cultural, and regulatory challenges requires resilience, creativity, and a willingness to adapt.

  5. Scale Impact: Starting small and scaling sustainably enabled Wecyclers to expand its reach and maximize its environmental and social impact.

To learn more about Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola and Wecyclers, visit Wecyclers' website and Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola and explore how this innovative social enterprise continues to drive change through technology and environmental stewardship.

BOOK CLUB

The Art of Contrary Thinking

AUTHOR: Humphrey B. Neill

"The Art of Contrary Thinking" explores the psychology behind market behavior, emphasizing the importance of contrarian perspectives in investment and decision-making. Humphrey B. Neill argues that trends often lead to overvaluation or undervaluation, creating opportunities for astute investors who can identify and capitalize on market reversals.

Some Key lessons from this book include:

  1. Contrarian Perspective: Neill advocates for going against the crowd and questioning popular sentiment. Market extremes often present buying or selling opportunities that contrarians can exploit.

  2. Psychological Factors: Understanding the emotions and biases driving market participants is crucial. Fear and greed can lead to irrational decision-making, causing markets to overshoot or undershoot intrinsic values.

  3. Market Cycles: Neill highlights the cyclical nature of markets, emphasizing that trends eventually reverse. Recognizing when a trend has reached an extreme can help investors anticipate turning points.

  4. Risk Management: Contrarian investing requires patience and discipline. Neill stresses the importance of risk management and avoiding herd mentality to achieve long-term success.

  5. Independent Thinking: Developing independent thinking skills is essential for contrarian investors. By questioning consensus views and conducting a thorough analysis, investors can uncover hidden opportunities.

Overall, "The Art of Contrary Thinking" remains a timeless guide for investors seeking to navigate markets with a contrarian mindset, aiming to capitalize on market inefficiencies and human behavioral patterns.

BUSINESS

  • The Conversation - More women in venture capital doesn’t mean more funding for female-led businesses, new research suggests − here’s why

JOB OPPORTUNITIES