Problem Statement:

Youth in the Mining Triangle region of Nicaragua have few professional opportunities and lack the support they need to be able to create their own jobs through entrepreneurship.

Target Group:

Young people residents of Bonanza, Siuna or Rosita (Mining Triangle) with a business idea or an early stage business.

Proposed Solution:

A 6-week long online course focused on developing the participants' entrepreneurship skills ending with a pitch competition. Winners won seed capital sponsored by Royal Road Minerals.

Hub Activities:

• Created entrepreneurship study material and content and create an online learning platform for participants.


• Delivered 6 weekly online training modules.


• Held a pitch competition in which all participating teams present their business or business idea. Judges were selected to represent all the project’s partners and to select the winners.


• Disbursed seed capital to winners of the pitch competition.

Short Term Goals:

• Get at least 10 projects submitted during the application phase.


• Train at least 10 young entrepreneurs to develop their business skills.


• Provide seed capital to at least 1 entrepreneurial business.

Impact:

• Foster the spirit of entrepreneurship in participants.


• Motivate participants to launch their business ideas. 


• Provide the basic tools and knowledge participants need to take their entrepreneurial projects one step further.


• Strengthen existing businesses.

Available Metrics:

• # of entrepreneurs completing the skills program


• # of pitches presented


• Amount of seed capital disbursed 


• Improved perception of participants of their business skills 


• # of business ideas launched 


• # of early-stage businesses surviving after 6 months 


• # of new business ideas generated by participants

Collaborators:

• Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense (URACCAN)


• Royal Roads Minerals / HEMCO