Ashesi 2021 - APS Bi-Annual Performance Report Narrative

The project aims to accelerate the capacity of the entrepreneurship ecosystem at Ashesi University and in Ghana. The initiative, branded New Entrepreneurs Xchange for Transformation: Idea to Impact (NEXTi2i), is composed of three interrelated programs: Ecosystem Convening, Lean Research, and Ashesi Venture Incubator. The Ecosystem Convening component launched the Ecosystem Value Chain Approach (EVCA) as part of the Accelerate 2030: Innovation and Entrepreneurship event on November 25, 2020. The EVCA is in communication with ScaleUp Africa to sponsor an Africa Day event, which will enable NEXTi2i to promote the EVCA and Ashesi Venture Incubator. The Lean Research Component has started a masterclass to apply Lean Research to projects, facilitate workshops, or become table facilitators. The masterclass began in December 2020 as a progressive training series, part of the NEXTi2i sustainability plan for the lean research component. The Ashesi Venture Incubator (AVI) has onboarded and trained 14 entrepreneurs, including 10 women and 4 men, who are located in Ghana and Zimbabwe. AVI Fellows participate in business and personal development training sessions, receive support from mentors, and have access to professional services to help them develop their business as a social enterprise. AVI Fellows in cohorts I and II made donations in the community as part of the NEXTi2i COVID-19 Relief Project, including access to offline educational content for students in primary and secondary school, eco-friendly charcoal, automatic water taps, and face masks. The project has secured resources and partnerships to continue each component (Ashesi Venture Incubator, ecosystem convening, and lean research) after the project ends. Funding has been secured for at least two years of entrepreneurial ecosystem activities at Ashesi University, which includes the Ashesi Venture Incubator and other student entrepreneurial activities on campus. The project team has also selected the third cohort of 16 entrepreneurs, including 7 women and 9 men, who will start program activities in July 2021 to complete orientation and develop frameworks during the AVI year. The Lean Research Component has made significant progress, with a group of 20 individuals, including 6 women, starting a masterclass to apply Lean Research to projects, facilitate workshops, or become table facilitators. The masterclass is part of the NEXTi2i sustainability plan for the lean research component. Students at Ashesi University learn to apply lean research in multiple areas, including business development in the Foundations of Design & Entrepreneurship course. Root Capital, TEGA, and William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan are members of the Lean Research community and supported the content sessions by providing information on how their organizations used lean research with examples and a discussion about why lean research resonates with them. Seventeen stakeholders have participated in meetings to create an entrepreneurship development plan and resource needs that use local assets. Stakeholders hosted a virtual panel to discuss the value chain approach to fill gaps and develop local assets within the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ghana and Africa. By the end of the project, NEXTi2i will have supported stakeholders by using the innovation ecosystem development guide from MIT D-Lab to create a resource that can be implemented to help entrepreneurs identify opportunities and develop businesses. The project has made significant progress in engaging stakeholders, with 17 stakeholders participating in meetings to create an entrepreneurship development plan and resource needs that use local assets. The Ashesi Venture Incubator has exceeded its gender target, with 64% of the current cohort being women. The project has also secured funding for at least two years of entrepreneurial ecosystem activities at Ashesi University, which includes the Ashesi Venture Incubator and other student entrepreneurial activities on campus. The project team has selected the third cohort of 16 entrepreneurs, including 7 women and 9 men, who will start program activities in July 2021 to complete orientation and develop frameworks during the AVI year.