Starting a business is never a walk in the park. Besides funding, founders need teams with the respective expertise, office space and equipment, as well as the requisite documentation such as licenses, a market, among other requirements.
Meeting most of these business requirements can sometimes be overwhelming for any founder, especially if they are working with a tight budget. For this reason, innovators and tech-driven entrepreneurs starting businesses have been advised to join innovation hubs to mitigate related challenges they encounter when starting their companies.
The call was made during the 2025 Uganda SOZO Summit, which was held on Friday, November 28, under the theme, “unlocking Uganda’s startup ecosystems potential,” by co-creating, co-innovating, and co-thriving with Japan. SOZO is a Japanese word for creation.
The National ICT Innovation Hub, located within the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), Nakawa campus, hosted the one-day event, in collaboration with Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
In a speech to participants, Mr Inoue Yoichi, the Chief Representative of JICA-Uganda, said it is important to recognise innovation and technology as drivers of sustainable growth.
“This presents opportunities for collaboration and enables transfer of technology and expertise [between Japan and Uganda],” Mr Yoichi said.
While acknowledging that Uganda is already home to many start-up tech businesses, Mr Joshua Mutambi, the Commissioner of Processing and Marketing at Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, guaranteed the government’s support through the equipping of innovation hubs, thereby ensuring that tech businesses have facilities to thrive and mitigate challenges.
More than 30 experts, including founders, investors, corporates, and ecosystem enablers, spoke across different panels on various subjects, such as bringing Uganda’s and regional startup ecosystems together, how students can maximise the benefits of technology, and innovators sharing experiences of starting businesses while sharing lessons with the audience.
Notably, the panelists made a strong case about the benefits of joining localised innovation hubs to a full auditorium of delegates, businessmen and women, as well as students from Uganda and other African and Asian countries.
“If you join an innovation hub, you will get training and connections to investors who can boost and grow your business,” said Ms Mercy Kimalat, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Startup and SMEs Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK).
Innovation hubs aim at supporting local innovation ecosystems by providing mentorship, working spaces, collaboration opportunities, and networking prospects.
On his part, Mr George Arthur Ssamula, the founder of Trinity Infrastructure Uganda Limited, said it is fundamental to build strategic networks that will enable tech founders to grow and thrive in their businesses.
“Many entrepreneurs ignore seeking advice because they are trying to save costs, which can turn out to be such a costly mistake,” Mr Ssamula said, adding, “When you have your business plan, include nitty-gritty details of an advisory team comprising a lawyer, a tax and financial advisor. Their guidance will save you from making dozens of business mistakes.”
Other panelists re-echoed the need for innovators to work with teams and build strategic relationships, reasoning that success can never be attained alone.
Ms Betty Lunkuse, a content creator, told Menterprise Africa that joining an innovation hub led her to other innovators with whom she was able to compare notes on managing a business.
“Being part of an innovation community is a great thing. You share experiences, including highs, lows, and lessons of managing a business. It is not a lonely journey,” Ms Lunkuse said.
On what to consider when pitching outstanding business ideas to Japanese investors, Mr Jun Shiomitsu, the Chief Executive Officer of AVODA Group, shared three tips to Ugandan tech entrepreneurs: Scalability rooted in long-term thinking and risk management, consistency embedded in predictable prices, regular feedback, and offering quality services as well as being a trusted and reliable person in the business circles.
To avoid succumbing to the curse of seeing one’s business fail within the first year, the panelists urged tech entrepreneurs to ensure that their businesses are addressing specific client needs.
