The Pitch Hub, in collaboration with energy company, bp has officially launched the bp Innovation Factory, an initiative designed to equip young African entrepreneurs with the essential skills and resources needed to build and scale competitive businesses.

The three-month program, launched in Accra on August 21, 2024, offers a unique blend of in-person and virtual sessions, focusing on delivering comprehensive support to 26 small and medium enterprise (SME) owners.

Speaking at the launch of the event, the founder and team lead of The Pitch Hub, Aurelia Abena Attipoe, said the bp Innovation Factory aims to unlock significant growth potential for participating businesses through a holistic approach that includes targeted workshops, one-on-one coaching, funding opportunities, and network-building sessions.

“Through the bp Innovation Factory, we want to raise awareness of the endless possibilities available to entrepreneurs. We have carefully curated a curriculum that will help the selected entrepreneurs apply the right principles to each of their businesses,” she stressed.

She explained that the programme’s strategic combination of soft skills training and resource access is tailored to address the unique challenges faced by young African entrepreneurs in today’s competitive market.

She added that 50 entrepreneurs from 12 regions in Ghana were interviewed, out of which 26 outstanding individuals were selected.

Miss Attipoe expressed her gratitude to BP for providing the platform and making this initiative possible.

For his part, bp Head of Country, Kevin Fiifi Dadzie, emphasized that the intended outcome of the bp Innovation Factory is to contribute to addressing the underlying factors and gaps that adversely affect the growth and development of businesses in Ghana.

“Drawing on The Pitch Hub's experience as implementing partners, bp seeks to provide direct, holistic support to selected participants, equipping them with critical tools,” he noted.

According to Mr. Dadzie, “bp believes that the dedicated and tailored support will unlock growth potential in their businesses, providing them with the essential building blocks for long-term self-sufficiency and sustainable livelihoods.”

“We are aligned with The Pitch Hub’s aims of supporting socio-economic development and building sustainable livelihoods, and we seek to support them as implementation partners for this initiative,” he added.

A beneficiary of the initiative, Jessica Aputara of Dominion Natural Foods, expressed her delight at being part of the program, stating, “I have always wanted an opportunity to learn more about business, how to expand, how to grow, and how to put my business out there.”

“At the end of the program, I expect to have the knowledge to grow my business to a point where I can employ others and also export. I also look forward to networking with key figures in the business sector. This, I believe, will also help reduce unemployment in the country,” she optimistically expressed.

The event was graced by the Deputy Director for The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Nashiru Salifu, CEO of TKC Africa, Hannah Acquah and a host of mentors and business leaders.

The Pitch Hub is an organization focused on equipping young entrepreneurs in Africa with the skills needed to build and sustain competitive businesses. Since 2019, over 1,000 young entrepreneurs have received support from the organization.

bp one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, is committed to creating value and driving sustainable growth by developing innovative solutions that meet the world’s energy needs while supporting social and environmental progress.