Sustainable Renewable Energy Businesses in Tanzania

Invitation to Join a Renewable Energy Enterprises Incubator

To spur development in our country, a larger proportion of small enterprises have to graduate to medium and large scale, to become more sustainable, and provide better incomes and jobs. The energy sector has a large potential for such companies to grow, for example within biogas, mini hydropower, wind power, solar, and more efficient use of bioenergy. The objective of the Renewable Energy Incubator is to support the development of local micro and small renewable energy companies to graduate to higher levels. The Incubator is established at IMED Foundation th currently located on the 7 Floor, Mwalimu House, Ilala, Dar es Salaam city. This Incubator is welcoming micro and small renewable energy enterprises that wish to scale up their businesses but are constrained by skills, information, access to capital, relevant networks or other resources. Incubated entrepreneurs will get assistance to develop and implement plans for growth and in accessing relevant resources required for growth. The Royal Norwegian Society for Development (Norges Vel) and the IMED Foundation are implementing the project, in close cooperation with other partners, authorities and financing institutions. The project started in February 2014.

Call for entrepreneurs with renewable energy enterprises

Do you want to grow your renewable energy company? Entrepreneurs with micro and small renewable energy businesses are invited to become a part of the Renewable Energy Incubator at IMED Foundation. Eligible businesses should (i) have less than 10 employees, (ii) have sales of below Tshs 300 million annually and (iii) be primarily involved in manufacturing, installing, distributing or maintaining alternative energy products (solar, wind, biogas, thermo, improved appliances, etc) or providing research and development, training, advisory, financial or other services to renewable energy enterprises. The applicants will be evaluated by the Incubator Steering Committee and selected entrepreneurs will get assistance to develop their businesses further. In the Incubator the entrepreneurs will benefit from the following services: Individual assistance to develop business and personal development plans and applications for funding A network with financing institutions/capital providers, authorities, industry and universities Coaching, and training on negotiation skills, communication skills, marketing and branding strategies, finding and working with investors/financiers Information on markets and providers of relevant forms of finance, technology, grants, technical support, information, raw materials, specialized training, etc Linking to relevant support networks through organising networking forums and reference from the incubator Linking them with established entrepreneurs to share good practices and provide ongoing mentoring Office, meeting and renewable energy enterprises reference library at IMED Foundation, where they can meet clients, mentors, fellow renewable energy entrepreneurs and get information about the market, financiers, trends, technologies, etc

Investment support

The organizers respect the confidentiality of all participants business concepts and plans. Business ideas, business plans and applications developed in the Incubator are the property of the respective entrepreneurs. Application documents The following information should be included in the application: About the applicant: Motivation for joining the incubator Description of the entrepreneur or group of entrepreneurs involved, including CV(s) Does the entrepreneur(s) operate the new company on a full-time-basis? About the business idea: Description of the business (history, products, target market, raw materials, etc) Estimation of the market potential Current size (number of employees, annual sales) and desired size in 5 years Description of the technology used and planed for the future (if relevant) Current organisation and management and how it is expected to change in the future Challenges faced in growing the business and how the incubator is expected to help About the team: Description of current management and staff (qualifications, experience, etc) Roles of the business owner(s) now and how this will change (if so) as the business grows Knowledge and skills gaps in the team; what information is needed to develop the company? Areas identified where training is needed? Plan for realisation of growth: Action plan for development of the business (show main actions and their timing) Provide an indication of how much you would be willing to pay per month for the service

The selection process The business ideas will be evaluated by a committee, based on the following criteria: Are the entrepreneurs motivated and committed? Is the available knowledge and experience in the team relevant for the business? Is the business clearly described? What are the environmental and developmental benefits of the business? What is the energy production potential? Is the market for the products realistic? Is the project technically viable? Is the project commercially viable? Do the entrepreneurs have a viable plan for operations and maintenance? Are the realistic project risks / challenges identified? Is the plan for realisation of growth realistic? How mature is the project? How soon can it be scaled up? Is the applicant willing to contribute to the cost of the service?

The Incubated entrepreneurs will be selected in June, with planned start-up in July 2014.

Submission of Applications th Submit to: Renewable Energy Business Incubator, IMED Foundation, 7 Floor, Mwalimu House, Ilala, P.O.Box. 35036 Dar es Salaam Mode of submission: Call deadline: Electronically by e-mail to rei@imedtz.org,with copy to: ftunutu@hotmail.com th May 20 , 2014