THE NSSF HI-INNOVATOR DEAL ROOM & MATCHMAKING EVENT BY MKAZIPRENEUR
The Mkazipreneur team pose for a photo during the NSSF Hi-Innovator Deal Room and Matchmaking Event
In a
significant step toward unlocking capital for women-led businesses, Mkazipreneur
successfully hosted the NSSF Hi-Innovator Deal Room & Matchmaking Event on
March 26, 2025, at Four Points by Sheraton, Kampala. The event brought together
14 investment-ready women entrepreneurs and over 20 investors and financial
institutions, fostering meaningful financing discussions and business growth
opportunities.
This
initiative aimed to bridge the persistent financing gap faced by women
entrepreneurs in Uganda. Many women-led businesses struggle to access
affordable capital due to systemic barriers and gender biases in investment.
Through the Deal Room, Mkazipreneur provided a high-impact networking and
pitching platform to help these entrepreneurs secure critical funding for
business expansion. The event featured pitching sessions, investor-business
matchmaking, and insights from industry leaders.
Immy
Nakyeyune, Founder & Team Lead of Mkazipreneur, highlighted the importance
of continued efforts to enhance financial access for women entrepreneurs,
stating:
“Women-led businesses in Uganda have immense potential to scale and transform industries. Through platforms like the Deal Room, we are not only connecting these businesses with investors but also driving real action toward financial inclusion.”
Richard Zulu, Founder of Outbox, emphasized the importance of bridging the financing gap for businesses too large for microfinance but too small for institutional funding during the Deal Room today. He highlighted Outbox’s commitment to providing technical assistance and exploring innovative equity models to help these businesses scale. Through programs like the NSSF Hi-Innovator and the Deal Room, he underscored the value of building a community of practice where stakeholders can share investment experiences and best practices.
A highlight of the event was a conversation with a past Deal Room participant , Co-founder and Administrator of Equator Chocolate who successfully secured investment from Inua Capital, inspiring this year’s cohort of entrepreneurs. Barbara emphasized the importance of being passionate, knowing the numbers and understanding every aspect of the business to attract investment. Through the due diligence process, she recognized Inua Capital’s potential to drive business growth, not just through funding, but by offering expertise in finance, human resources, and strategic development.
Here
is a glimpse of the outstanding businesses that were seeking investment at the
Deal Room and Matchmaking Event:
1. Mawhands Enterprises Ltd – Quality, durable, and
affordable pure leather shoes. Seeking $60,000 for machinery.
2. Green Shero Ltd – Waste management
& recycling in Fort Portal. Seeking $100,000 for manure production
machinery.
3. Zamuri Hair Essentials
SMC Ltd – Organic hair care products. Seeking $93,000 for scale-up.
4. Goldie Coatings Ltd – Ugandan paint
manufacturer. Seeking $52,000 for a packaging machine.
5. ACESO Women Wellness
Clinic – Reproductive health & maternal care services. Seeking $80,000 for
a theater & wellness center expansion.
6. God’s Care Rice
Processors Ltd – Rice processing & packaging. Seeking $100,000 for a drying yard
& scale-up.
7. Muhawe Investments Ltd – Soap & jelly
manufacturing. Seeking $100,000 for packaging & scale-up.
8. Krystal Ice Limited – Nutritious fruit ice
popsicles. Seeking $100,000 for machinery & delivery trucks.
9. Madco Investments Ltd – Supplier of animal
feeds. Seeking $50,000 for machinery & a truck.
10. Apa Original Kisubi Tea
Ltd – Herbal tea producer. Seeking $50,000 for bagging & rolling
machinery.
11. Bena General Industries – Organic honey &
bee products. Seeking $50,000 for a honey packing machine.
12. Rwetech Agro Packers – High-quality cassava
flour production. Seeking $100,000 for a warehouse & production center.
13. Super Chillo - Chillo Natures Best,
value addition of mushrooms & pumpkins. Seeking USD 100,000 for machinery
& yard construction.
14. Asedi Agric Services – Farmer seed multiplication, seed trade, advisory services & market linkage. Seeking USD 125,000 for storage facility & truck
PICTORIAL FROM THE DEAL ROOM AND MATCHMAKING EVENT
We
are grateful to all our partners who have been instrumental in the execution of
the Deal Room most notably GIZ African Union, Outbox Uganda, NSSF Uganda, and the
Mastercard Foundation. Together, we are sure that the next steps to investment
will put more women-led businesses at a better position to succeed through
additional financing and resource mobilization.
