Thais Costa
Entrepreneur Matchmaking
This project was a second phase to the project Unleashing Innovations with the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO). Phase 2 of the project focused on matchmaking Ugandan and Dutch entrepreneurs to foster collaboration and innovation. Based on the results of the first phase, RVO carefully selected 7 out of 9 Ugandan entrepreneurs to move forward into the matchmaking program, based on their business cases and market-driven innovation solutions. The goal was to create strategic partnerships that could leverage both local and Dutch expertise to develop impactful innovations.
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Design Innovation Group (DIG) played a crucial role in organizing and facilitating the matchmaking process. This involved a combination of coaching, online presentations, and speed dating sessions designed to connect the Ugandan entrepreneurs with potential Dutch partners. The process aimed to ensure that both sides were well-prepared and equipped to collaborate effectively.
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My Role:
As the project lead, coordinated the coaching, presentations, and speed dating events to connect Ugandan and Dutch entrepreneurs. I guided them through pitch preparation, helped them evaluate proposals, and supported the formation of successful partnerships, ensuring the project’s smooth execution and alignment with its goals.
Company/ partners
Output
Matchmaking entrepreneurs for impactful business collaborations.
Location
Netherlands, Uganda
Date
2023 - 2024
The design challenge
The core challenge in this phase was to ensure that the Ugandan entrepreneurs were ready to pitch their innovative business ideas to Dutch entrepreneurs in a way that highlighted their potential for collaboration. To address this, the entrepreneurs received coaching and support to refine their pitch presentations. The matchmaking process was designed to be highly selective, with each Dutch entrepreneur required to send a proposal for collaboration, which the Ugandan entrepreneurs would then evaluate.
Another challenge was ensuring that the partnerships were sustainable and aligned with the goals of both parties. After evaluating the proposals, the Ugandan entrepreneurs were tasked with selecting one Dutch company to collaborate with. The ultimate aim was to match Dutch and Ugandan companies who could apply together for the SBIR Fund offered by RVO, which would provide the necessary resources to advance their innovations.
The outcome
We created an online matchmaking platform where all members could meet and information about the project and process could be shared.The matchmaking was largely successful, with 6 out of the 7 Ugandan entrepreneurs being matched with Dutch companies. These matches were the result of careful alignment of their business cases and innovation needs. The successful partnerships not only strengthened the entrepreneurs’ chances of success but also provided a foundation for long-term collaboration between the two parties.
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To support these collaborations, DIG facilitated in-person meetings by offering travel budgets and mediated online conversations, allowing the partners to start co-writing their SBIR applications. Three of the matched partnerships were awarded funding through the SBIR Fund, enabling them to continue developing their business innovation ideas. This phase demonstrated the value of cross-cultural collaboration in driving sustainable innovation.