On Friday 5th, November 2021, a new phase of the E4Impact Accelerator began.
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore has received a grant of 2.7 million Euros from the Italian Agency of Development Cooperation (AICS), which will be used, in partnership with E4Impact Foundation, to improve and keep the activities of the accelerator going.
The E4Impact Accelerator was launched for the first time in 2018 and since then it has worked with over 300 enterprises across diverse sectors to grow their business and scale their impact through a portfolio of entrepreneurial programs and services. From now on, it will run 3 acceleration cycles each of 1 year to support 90 growth stage enterprises and 30 incubation enterprises with a provision of access to capital to facilitate the growth of these enterprises.
The launching ceremony, which took place at the headquarter of the E4Impact Accelerator in Nairobi, was attended by many important personalities from institutions, companies, and other Kenyan, Italian and European economic and governmental actors. Here below you can find some highlights of their speeches.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to confirm our commitment to support companies that are capable to develop the market with their growth” said Mario Molteni, CEO of E4Impact. “After the covid-19 pandemic, thanks to its strategic partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, E4Impact intends to catalyze its efforts in creating opportunities for sustainable business models and facilitating the growth of SMEs in Kenya”.
“Kenya is a true champion in innovation, in the development of the private sector, in entrepreneurship and in young entrepreneurship. This is the ideal place where we can do something to support innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship” added Fabio Meloni, Director of AICS’ Nairobi office.
“I am sure that this project, which is now entering its second phase, can have positive effects on the cooperation between the various stakeholders to enhance the company. Not only in Kenya: it can be a model for any other African country” said Alberto Pieri, Italian Ambassador to Kenya.
“We at the central bank believe in the central role of SMEs for the country’s economy. Therefore there is a need for an institution that effectively gives space to SMEs and makes them what they should be: small but at the same time very impactful ” commented Patrick Njoroge, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.