The key concept driving Kula is that start-up seed funding of less than 200 Euro coupled with training and mentoring can lead to sustainable growing businesses led and run by youth. As such Kula trains and invests in promising business for an agreed stake in the business for a long-term business relationship with an aim of stabilizing the businesses to become attractive to large round investors. We have worked with several start-ups since 2017 under this program under the following 5 step model;
Step 1: DEVELOP .
Through one on one and group sessions, youth develop a feasible idea that is easy to start and has potential to scale.
Step 2: FUND.
Provide phased seed funding for ventures that show promise. Ventures with two or more founders given funding over the course of three years to start and grow.
Step 3: MENTOR.
Provide mentoring to ventures. All funded ventures receive a mentor to guide the ventures for three years. The mentor guides the entrepreneurs through the different hurdles and helps the business to evolve to take full advantage of opportunities. The mentor helps the venture develop adequate internal financial, tracking and management systems
Step 4: COUNSEL.
Provide optional confidential counseling for all youth that go through the training. All youths that receive funding will be required to do one session of counseling atleast once a year. A 2015 study “HIGH RISK STUDY AMONG SLUM YOUTHS IN KAMPALA CITY” conducted by Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL) in selected slums among youth in Kampala found 75% reported sadness and 44% reported that they expect to die before the age of 30.
Step 5: SUPPORT.
Provide a platform where the ventures can reach each other directly and collaborate. All youth who have passed through the training will have access to the platform so that they can have first option to employment opportunities that are created by the ventures. Platform is in testing stage.