JASIRI TALENT INVESTOR:  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. Who/What is JASIRI?

JASIRI (meaning brave in Swahili) selects, develops, and funds high-potential aspiring entrepreneurs. JASIRI believes that entrepreneurial teams are at the heart of new venture creation and provides the entrepreneur with access to a diverse group of potential co-founders. JASIRI supports new ventures from idea generation to venture creation. JASIRI is supported by the Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy (Gray Philanthropy).

  1. What programs does JASIRI offer?

JASIRI Talent Investor: The JASIRI Talent Investor is a fully-funded 1-year program that will guide program participants from idea generation, validation, prototyping, market entry to venture creation. The program will introduce JASIRI Fellows to equally ambitious co-founders and will support them on an individual, team, and business level.

JASIRI Accelerator: The JASIRI ACCELERATOR invests in and supports companies with market-creating innovations.

  1. When do applications for the JASIRI Talent Investor open

Applications for the Talent Investor are now open. Please apply here: https://jasiri.rw/selection/

  1. When do the JASIRI Talent Investor applications close?

The applications for the JASIRI Talent Investor close on 29 January 2021. Please apply here: https://jasiri.rw/selection/

  1. What are the requirements of the JASIRI Talent Investor?
  • A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
  • Age 25-35
  • Significant experience in your field/sector
  • A demonstrable history of entrepreneurial action
  • A desire to learn how to ideate, validate, prototype and formalize a market-creating venture
  • A desire to meet equally ambitious co-founders
  • Must be a citizen of Rwanda or Kenya
  • Willingness to complete the one-year fully funded Talent Investor program on a full-time basis
  • Willingness to travel to Kigali, Rwanda for a period of 3 months for the residential part of the program where teams are formed, and to continue with the remainder of the one-year full-time program in either Rwanda or Kenya.
  1. What if I want to apply and I do not meet some of the Talent Investor criteria, e.g. having a Bachelor’s degree, being between 25-35?

Aspiring entrepreneurs who would like to apply for the Talent Investor, but who do not meet some of the Talent Investor criteria are requested to email enquiries@jasiri.org. The Talent Investor Selection Team will respond directly regarding a process to verify your eligibility.

  1. What is the content and timelines for the JASIRI Talent Investor?
  • Entrepreneurship Essentials Residential in Rwanda, Kigali: March – May 2021
  • Team Formation Residential Intensive: June 2021
  • Prospecting Residential Intensive: July 2021
  • Validation: Residential Intensive: August 2021

Please find the detail of the programme here, click on Talent Investor Guide: https://jasiri.rw/programs/

  1. I understand that the JASIRI Talent Investor is a fully funded program, what exactly does the program cover?

Team Formation & Prospecting: June 2021 -August 2021

  • A flight and/or transportation from current
  • place of residence to Kigali will be provided to
  • each participant
  • A monthly stipend of $250
  • Accommodation, meals, and health insurance
  • In the Validation stage, each team will
  • Receive a $3000 budget for prototyping and testing

Venture Creation: September 2021 – May 2022

  • A flight and transportation from Kigali to
  • Nairobi will be provided to Fellows choosing
  • to establish their ventures in Kenya.
  • Each participant will receive a monthly stipend of
  • $1000. Accommodation and meals will no longer be provided

NB: Please note attached pdf for detail around the JASIRI Talent Investor Guide.

  1. If I get selected, what would disqualify me from the program?

The following may disqualify selected candidates from the program:

During Entrepreneurship Essentials:

  • A selected Fellow may decide to discontinue the program
  • A selected Fellow may be disqualified due to a failure to complete Entrepreneurship Essentials
  • Those who have completed the course and chose to discontinue will receive their Entrepreneurship Essentials Certificate

Residential Intensive:

If a Fellow is unable to find a team or validated idea:

  • Entrepreneurship Essentials Certificate
  • Monthly stipend for 3 months
  • Supporting an existing Talent Investor team
  • Career support services

End of Program:

  • Entrepreneurship Essentials Certificate
  • Experience in entrepreneurship
  • Experience working in a startup team
  • Career support services

Re-application:

  • Shortened application process