SIMcubator Rwanda's purpose is to empower early-stage startup founders in Rwanda and the wider East African region by providing them with the mentorship, training, and financial resources they need to turn innovative ideas into viable and sustainable businesses. The initiative features a structured program consisting of a five-day entrepreneurship bootcamp in Kigali, where participants engage with fellow founders, industry experts, and inspiring guest speakers to refine their business ideas and strategies. This is followed by a mentorship phase, during which each startup is paired with experienced local and international mentors who provide personalized guidance and support. The program finishes with a final pitch day, where participants present their ventures, demonstrate the progress made during the bootcamp and mentorship stages, and compete for prize funding to scale their impact and bring their ideas to life.
The original SIMcubator was founded in 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, by students from the Master in Strategy and International Management, eager to make a difference and support entrepreneurs in enriching their local communities. The initiative started in Bangladesh, where it successfully supported and coached local startups in the healthcare sector. Building upon this achievement, the team expanded to Rwanda in 2021. Since then, SIMcubator Rwanda has been driven by the belief that sustainable change comes from empowering local talent. Each year, a new team of SIM students continues the project, refining its format and expanding its impact. The program has already helped numerous young founders gain essential business skills, mentorship, and access to funding opportunities.
In 2025/2026, the initiative aims to deepen its impact by strengthening collaborations with SIMcubator alumni to build a vibrant network of past participants, as well as expanding outreach beyond Kigali to include early-stage founders from across the greater East African region. By fostering these connections, SIMcubator Rwanda continues to build a self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem that links startups with academia, investors, and institutions. Through its continuous Bootcamp-Mentorship-Pitch cycle, the program contributes directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, and Climate Action.
Daniele Peressini | Partnerships |
Lea Stamatović | Event Management |
Charlotte Nutzhorn | Marketing & Venture Scouting |
Nicolas Vogt | Finance & Legal |
Hannah Winkler | Fundraising |
Andrea Cesana | Fundraising |