News

The University Innovation Pod (UniPod), in collaboration with BSC Koolitus AS (BCS Digital Skills Academy) and the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), is pleased to announce the successful completion of the SMME Digitalisation Program, a significant milestone in advancing digital skills development for entrepreneurs in Botswana. The program was proudly funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).

The programme delivered a comprehensive series of engagements, including among others, capacity-building workshops, a co-creation session, a pilot digital upskilling training programme for SMMEs, and a Train-the-Trainer workshop. These activities were designed to enhance the digital competencies of both entrepreneurs and ecosystem enablers.

The training programme engaged over 50 small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and more than 25 entrepreneurship educators, incubator managers, accelerator leads, and makerspace coordinators. The training equipped participants with practical digital tools to strengthen and grow their businesses. On the other hand, Train-the-Trainer components aimed to ensure the sustainability of the programme by empowering local trainers with the knowledge and resources to continue supporting digital transformation efforts.

The Train-the-Trainer workshop also introduced a comprehensive suite of training materials and project resources to support future digitalisation training initiatives targeted at SMMEs.

The enthusiastic participation and commitment from both entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders, culminating in the proposal to establish an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network, painted a key highlight of the programme. This network aspires to amplify the voice and visibility of startups and SMMEs across Botswana and beyond.