Mastercard Foundation calls applications for the Innovation Village Future of Work Accelerator Program 2020. Interested candidates can apply until 31st January 2020. The future of work offers unparalleled opportunities in the form of new technological advances and a stream of new business, upon which human capital can be leveraged to create faster job growth and inclusion outcomes in Uganda.

Benefits

The candidates will receive the following advantages from the Future Of Work Accelerator Program

• Pre-seed funding

The startups that accepted into the program will receive up to $ 25,000 in pre-seed funding.

• Free working space

Also, the program offers the candidates free working space at The Innovation Village.

• Extensive one-on-one training

Additionally, the startups will get intensive one-on-one business training from experienced serial entrepreneurs.

• Mentors and Networks

Similarly, the candidates will develop connections to impact investors, business leaders, social enterprises and strategic partners.

• Peer Learning

Also, they will get an opportunity to work alongside and learn from peer entrepreneurs around the country.

• Continued Support

Furthermore, the applicants will receive post-accelerator support with growth strategy, ecosystem connections.

Theme Areas of the Program

Job creation and Opportunity matching

• It includes making invisible jobs visible.
• Also, introducing a new stream of business that creates job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of youth.
• Additionally, developing innovative business models that accelerate entrepreneurship.
• Also, deliver opportunities to youth from under-represented backgrounds to real-world work and support networks.
• Furthermore, linking exceptional graduates and undergraduate students with Uganda’s leading organizations through internships, volunteer and training opportunities.

Leveraging technology to create jobs for all

• the program provides opportunities to vulnerable youth to equip them with the relevant skills needed to find a job, set up a business or engage in productive work.
• Also, it provides platforms and programs for digital skilling, upskilling and reskilling.
• In addition to that, it empowers young people to be more innovative and creative in how they think, learn and work.
• Furthermore, the program helps in designing and delivering interesting educational programs and events that bring exposure, inspiration, and training in STEM that inspires new forms of work.

Selection Criteria

The candidates will be selected on the following basis

• Their solution should respond to the challenge theme areas​
• It should show a good understanding of market and customer it is targeting

• Also, the project must demonstrate a strong promise of building a sustainable and impactful business.

  For further details, visit the official site.