Future Makers Kigali Opens Applications for Six-Month Digital Entrepreneurship Programme

As Rwanda continues to invest in digital transformation and innovation, programmes that equip young people with practical technology and entrepreneurship skills are becoming increasingly important. One such opportunity is Future Makers Kigali, a six-month programme that aims to help young Rwandans turn ideas into solutions that address real challenges in their communities.

Delivered by the Westerwelle Foundation through Westerwelle Startup Haus (WSH) Kigali, with support from United Internet for UNICEF Foundation, the programme combines digital skills training, innovation, mentorship, and incubation to prepare participants for careers in Rwanda's growing digital economy.

Equipping Young People with Practical Digital Skills

Future Makers Kigali is designed for post-secondary graduates aged 18 to 22 who are based in Kigali and interested in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Rather than focusing only on classroom learning, the programme gives participants hands-on experience in digital tools, design thinking, entrepreneurship, and digital content creation. Participants will work in teams to identify community challenges and develop practical digital solutions that can make a real impact.

The programme is delivered in three phases:

• Digital Skills Training, where participants complete entrepreneurship and design thinking training while choosing an elective track in either Digital Tools for Entrepreneurship or Digital Content Creation and Communication.

• Hackathon, where teams collaborate to design innovative solutions for challenges affecting education, youth employment, small businesses, and local communities.

• Incubation and Demo Day, where the best teams receive mentorship, technical support, workspace at WSH Kigali, and the opportunity to pitch their projects for seed funding.

Mentorship, Networking and Seed Funding

In addition to technical training, participants will gain access to experienced mentors, entrepreneur-led workshops, networking opportunities, and the Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali innovation community.

Top-performing teams will compete for seed grants of €3,000, €2,000, and €1,000, helping them further develop their ideas into viable products or businesses.

The programme also prioritises inclusion by aiming for at least 50% women participation, encouraging more young women to pursue opportunities in technology and entrepreneurship.

Applications Now Open

Applications are open to eligible young people who are committed to completing the six-month programme and have access to a laptop or digital device. Participants are expected to dedicate approximately 6–8 hours per week during the training phase and 4–6 hours per week during incubation.

Applications close on 5 August 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Programmes like Future Makers Kigali play an important role in strengthening Rwanda's innovation ecosystem by giving young people the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to solve real-world problems. As the country's digital economy continues to grow, initiatives that nurture future entrepreneurs and innovators will be key to creating jobs, supporting startups, and driving sustainable development.

Read more and apply through the offical proramme application form