Rwandan start-up BAG Innovation eyes regional expansion

Rwandan startup BAG Innovation, a digital capacity-building platform established four years ago, is setting its sights on expanding its reach to neighboring countries in East Africa such as Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Yussouf Ntwali, the Chief Operations Officer and Co-founder of BAG Innovation, sat down with CNBC Africa's Zwena Bachoo to discuss the startup's journey since its inception in Rwanda and their ambitious plans for regional expansion. Ntwali shared that the startup, which began with just himself and his co-founder, has now grown into a team of eight individuals working towards their vision of empowering students and connecting them with income-generating opportunities. Over the years, BAG Innovation has successfully engaged with over 8,000 students in Rwanda, helping place more than 600 of them into roles that support their professional growth. The company's evolution from a small co-working space in Kigali to its own office demonstrates the progress they have made in pursuing their mission. While their initial focus has been on Rwanda, Ntwali highlighted the universal nature of the challenges they address, indicating that students in other countries, including those beyond Africa, encounter similar obstacles. This realization has fueled their ambition to expand their impact to other markets within East Africa. The startup's innovative approach to talent acquisition has attracted investor interest, with Ntwali emphasizing the unique value proposition offered by BAG Innovation. By connecting universities and businesses with the right talent matches, the platform not only streamlines recruitment processes but also enables young individuals to fast-track their career growth by identifying and leveraging their strengths. Ntwali underscored the importance of addressing the current gap in talent alignment faced by businesses, particularly startups, and expressed confidence in BAG Innovation's ability to serve as a pivotal player in the startup ecosystem. Looking ahead, Ntwali discussed the critical skills that future job markets will demand, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. In line with this, BAG Innovation is committed to nurturing these skills among young individuals by exposing them to real-world challenges faced by companies. By instilling a problem-solving mindset early on, the platform equips students with the tools needed to thrive in dynamic work environments. As part of their expansion strategy, BAG Innovation aims to venture into new markets in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia within the coming year. Through thorough research and collaboration with stakeholders in these regions, the startup is poised to extend its impact and build one of the largest databases of young talent in the edtech sector within the next five years.