Applications Now Open For Microsoft’s Cloudpreneur Project in Nigeria
Microsoft Inc. has partnered with the Fate Foundation and Mara Mentor to launch the ‘Cloudpreneur Project’. An initiative geared towards empowering the Nigerian youth and boost their socio-economic development, by providing the participating startups with entrepreneurship, ICT and cloud-computing training.
The project is now receiving applications from 1,000 startups that have been in operation for less than three (3) years. From the 1,000 applicants, 100 will be selected and given a four-week marathon training in entrepreneurship, technology, sales, startups management, business management and communication.
“Microsoft is committed to improving youth skills for both entrepreneurship and employability across Africa. Our efforts in Nigeria started with the launch of the Employability Portal in 2013, which provides a platform for youth to learn leadership skills and network with other leaders.” Said, the Managing Director of Microsoft Nigeria, Kabelo Makwane.
“Now through the Cloudpreneur Project, we hope to enable and empower young business owners so that they can contribute to the social and economic growth of Nigeria.”
After the project giving the 100 startups training, it will further select 30 startups from the 100. Who will be accorded startups models, from which the top 20 best performers will be given guidance on building cloud-based businesses.
Habiba Balogun, the Executive Director at Fate Foundation further added:
“Fate Foundation is delighted to partner and support Microsoft in its Cloudpreneur initiative which aims to empower entrepreneurs in the Tech-related business to not only improve and hone their skills and knowledge via an intensive training under the assured guidance of Microsoft but also to be equipped to run successful businesses and create employment via Fate Foundation’s proven Entrepreneurship Training. Technology Innovation translated into economic activity is the future for Nigeria, and we commend Microsoft for being part of enabling wealth creation in Nigeria.”
The Cloudpreneur Project takes a different angle from a similar project, Cloud Startup Academy that ran in Morocco last year and only allowed women-run startups into the competition. The Cloudpreneur Project is an all-inclusive project.
Hetal Shah, the Director of Operations at Mara said:
“It is pertinent that young people embrace the culture entrepreneurship in line with global trends and with increasing wave of cloud computing, Mara Mentor is happy to partner with Microsoft to empower cloud-base entrepreneurs and their ideas.
Applications to the Cloudpreneur Project opened on March 20th and will close on April 19th, 2015. To apply, follow this link >>.