Introduction
One would wonder, with the emergence of #COVID-19 wherein, not a few lose their jobs, leading to a plunging economy, how one could possibly rise to the challenge. Thankfully, #InnovateForAfrica came to the rescue, and it has been for me, an intensive period of upskilling. Inasmuch as the pandemic has placed a grinding halt to many events, I've taken great advantage of the situation and I'm glad I did. I used to think that entrepreneurship is but for a privileged few, and that the rest of us, the denizens of society, are left with the limited option of forever being employees, without daring to dream big, creating solutions to our world's problems. Now I know that entrepreneurs are not born, but are made by developing the right mindset, the necessary training in both skills and habits, as well as mentorship, so as to see opportunities where the others ignore. Such invaluable packages are what Innovate for Africa has brought to our doorstep. Her vision lies in enabling and empowering Nigerian citizens to create change in their society through innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Start-up Readiness Program
I was privileged to be among the few who made it to the "Start-Up Readiness" Program wherein we spent four weeks learning in-demand skills and entrepreneurship. One would spot from the start that the entire programme had been properly organized and perhaps, simulated before it all began. There was a rigorous selection process by seasoned facilitators from Harvard and MIT following the event timeline. On 11th May, 2020, the first day of the programme, we went through, with a bird eye's view, the details of the entire programme. From that day, we were taught to work in teams, which is an essential requirement for the success of any venture. We all got to understand the business chemistry of each fellow so as to give insights on how best we could combine efforts with one another in a work scenario. Thenceforth, most deliverables we handed in were products of team work. We were led by the hand in understanding business strategy, project management, personal branding and design thinking. However, it seems to me that all these culminated in the #Hackathon which we'll see in greater detail if you don't give up reading.
The Hackathon
A high-level definition for a Hackathon could be an event of any duration where people come together to solve problems. Participants typically form groups of about 2-5 individuals, take out their laptops (if the event is technology themed), and dive into problems. My team comprised four members of diverse backgrounds ranging from economics, to physical sciences and engineering. We had a series of virtual meetings throughout the 48 hours of the event. We chose to delve into the plague- Waste mismanagement. With the training we've received so far, we proceeded from the broad view of waste management associated pain points, we narrowed down the problem to its root cause: delay in waste collection by the Management body. Peering further into the details, we discovered from our #PrimaryMarketResearch that the regulatory body, which partners with some private waste collectors have a routine operational mode for collecting the garbage from the residences, office buildings, factories of their customers. The customers, in their turn, pay a fixed subscription monthly depending on the nearness to the dumpsites and the economic stratification of the area. The research provided insights to the weaknesses of the existing business model as customers unanimously lamented their dissatisfaction with the Waste Management Agency. This distaste is due to the delay in waste collection. To my utmost surprise, we developed a feasible solution within the given 48 hours. This, for me was an eye-opener and currently, we're in the second stage of the #LagosUrbanInnovationChallenge where we pitched our solution.
Insights from Guest Speakers
In order to give flesh to our learning, we had guest speakers who were mostly founders of various start-ups across Nigeria and beyond. They greatly impacted our learning and each of them took on a different facet bordering on innovation and entrepreneurship. However, two lessons that would never leave my memory is the high-level point she gave on the orientation day. Dr. Angali Sastry, a senior Lecturer, System Dynamics at the MIT Sloan school of Business told us that we should never get attached to our ideas, which would help us allow for constructive criticism. Also, she pointed out that as innovators, the entire itinerary of our solutions may not come from us, and so, we should think creatively from other industries. I held on to these lessons so much so that, I applied them barely two weeks later during the #Hackathon project which has won for my team, a slot in the ongoing Lagos Urban Innovation Challenge this year. The benefits of having first-hand information from CEOs cannot be overemphasized. The guest speakers left us with the conviction that we are on the right track in achieving great feats in our quest for solving societal problems with innovation.
Looking Forward
Having gone through the Start-up Readiness Training, I have become well equipped, despite the global pandemic, to launch into the innovation ecosystem, brainstorming solutions facing my immediate environment. What's more, I will have the IFA support for the next eleven months, guiding me as I take my first steps in the world of entrepreneurs, working with innovation-driven startups. At this point, I am confident to say that "the sky is my starting point."