A little get-together as we continue with the #WomenInFinTech #LevelOneProject incubator:

Posted on January 13, 2022

A little get-together as we continue with the #WomenInFinTech #LevelOneProject incubator:

Women In FinTech Incubator

The inaugural HiPipo Women-in-FinTech Incubator is shaping up nicely, and on Friday 7th January, 2022, many of those involved safely gathered together at their old stomping ground, the Hive Colab Hall at Kanjokya House, to learn more about what the coming days are going to be about. Although it was mostly the Team Leaders that were expected for this gathering, many of their members were also able to pass by. And thus the attendance was admirable, even though the beginning of the year is proving rather hectic, as many of the university students are sitting their exams and those in lower levels of education prepare to return to school, as the education sector in Uganda attempts to stabilise after what has probably been its biggest disruption in history.

Welcoming them with the warmest wishes for the year, HiPipo CEO Innocent Kawooya, or ‘#FinTech Papa’, as he is fondly referred to by many of those in attendance, re-emphasised the collaborative nature of the Incubator. ‘It is a place for us to share, and for us to learn by practice’, he said, reminding all that the endgame was for HiPipo and partners to help the lady innovators get their creations off the ground and onto sure footing in the entrepreneurial arena.

‘Do you need mentors to support you? People to speak for you? Individuals to be on your Board? The Incubator is about all that and more,’ Innocent promised. There is as much ‘people relations’ as there is Public Relations, and at the end of it all it will be great if synergies are built, which in turn will build other synergies, leading to the creation of whole collaborative networks, starting especially amongst the participants themselves.

Going forward, he added, the Level One Principles were to take on extra significance in the Incubator engagements. Each was to now be discussed with special attention taken towards incorporating them in not just the technology, but also in the very image and day-to-day operations of the attendees’ start-ups/companies.   

The attendees also got the opportunity to meet a few of the facilitators, who were present at the time. They included: Steven Kimuli, who covers the areas of marketing & branding; Francis Barenzi, who deals with PR & corporate communications; George Kasakya, who deals with social business canvas models and Arthur Mwesiga, who was christened the ‘Dean of the Incubator’, and covers management & administration. More facilitators will be introduced in due course.

The gathering ended on an extra merry note, as Innocent used the opportunity of being amongst friends, colleagues and mentees to celebrate his first time to receive a CEO of the Year award. This particular one was bestowed on him by TIG (True Inspirational Generation) Network Africa, a social enterprise that primarily seeks to inspire the country’s younger generation and empower them to become an asset to their nation and to humanity.

All gathered at Hive Colab thus helped cut (and munch) the celebratory cake, and also enjoyed lunch and refreshments.

So, ‘Mo Fire!’, as they say in Uganda (meaning that things are heating up, and the Incubator is ‘stepping on the gas’). There is more, much, much more. See you soon.

Welcoming them with the warmest wishes for the year, HiPipo CEO Innocent Kawooya, or ‘#FinTech Papa’, as he is fondly referred to by many of those in attendance, re-emphasised the collaborative nature of the Incubator. ‘It is a place for us to share, and for us to learn by practice’, he said, reminding all that the endgame was for HiPipo and partners to help the lady innovators get their creations off the ground and onto sure footing in the entrepreneurial arena.

‘Do you need mentors to support you? People to speak for you? Individuals to be on your Board? The Incubator is about all that and more,’ Innocent promised. There is as much ‘people relations’ as there is Public Relations, and at the end of it all it will be great if synergies are built, which in turn will build other synergies, leading to the creation of whole collaborative networks, starting especially amongst the participants themselves.

Going forward, he added, the Level One Principles were to take on extra significance in the Incubator engagements. Each was to now be discussed with special attention taken towards incorporating them in not just the technology, but also in the very image and day-to-day operations of the attendees’ start-ups/companies.   

The attendees also got the opportunity to meet a few of the facilitators, who were present at the time. They included: Steven Kimuli, who covers the areas of marketing & branding; Francis Barenzi, who deals with PR & corporate communications; George Kasakya, who deals with social business canvas models and Arthur Mwesiga, who was christened the ‘Dean of the Incubator’, and covers management & administration. More facilitators will be introduced in due course.

The gathering ended on an extra merry note, as Innocent used the opportunity of being amongst friends, colleagues and mentees to celebrate his first time to receive a CEO of the Year award. This particular one was bestowed on him by TIG (True Inspirational Generation) Network Africa, a social enterprise that primarily seeks to inspire the country’s younger generation and empower them to become an asset to their nation and to humanity.

Women In FinTech Incubator
Women In FinTech Incubator, Innocent Kawooya, CEO of the Year cake

All gathered at Hive Colab thus helped cut (and munch) the celebratory cake, and also enjoyed lunch and refreshments.

So, ‘Mo Fire!’, as they say in Uganda (meaning that things are heating up, and the Incubator is ‘stepping on the gas’). There is more, much, much more. See you soon.