Catalysing and Scaling Innovation In Tanzania

CATALYSING AND SCALING Innovation in Tanzania: A review of approaches • (Annex) Support mechanisms
5.2 Financial and
non-financial support
There is a whole range of innovation support approaches
provided by diverse actors that target different stages of the
innovation pipeline.
Table 2 Key actors and approaches currently present in Tanzania
Type of support Definition Examples
Challenge funds
Competitions
Capacitybuilding
programmes
Foundations
Private sector
funding
Provide funding to innovations working to solve
defined challenges or technology areas. Often
facilitated through a series of time-bound funding
rounds, sometimes focusing on different themes per
round.
Provide prize money to winners as well as capacitybuilding
opportunities. Competitions operating in one
country only tend to target very early-stage innovation,
ideas, or concepts developed by young people (e.g.
students or graduates). Some international
competitions concentrate on further development of
innovations.
Typically support groups of cohorts to become
‘investment ready’ by providing training and
mentorship.
Foundations are typically more flexible in their ways of
working and can tailor their activities and support to fit
the situation. Foundations support both innovators and
the innovation ecosystem, and can provide funding,
capacity building, and other support.
Private sector funding for innovation in Tanzania
includes angel investors, corporates, and banks with an
interest in start-ups with commercial growth potential.
Depending on the investor, they can offer loans,
equity-based investment, capacity building, and
networking support, etc.
HDIF
SAIS
Global Innovation Fund
Grand Challenges
Amplify
Mawazo Challenge (HDIF)
Seedspace Challenge
Vodacom/Smartcode
Data for Local Impact Innovation
Challenge
Tanzania Digital Innovation Youth
Empowerment Programme
(TADIYE)
SPRING
Vodacom/Smartcode
Segal Foundation
Fondation Botnar
Tanzania Angel Investors Network
Vodacom
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