We are excited to announce our ninth pitching event ,the “Bants2Business Pitching Competition Finals 2024“. This event will take place at Mafumu Hotel on August 9th, 2024, from 17:00 to 20:00 at the Mafumu Hotel at Area 3 in Lilongwe.
About the Project
The Muzi Ecosystem Initiative, supported by the Ntha Foundation and part of GIZ’s MIERA II project, empowers women-led and youth-led SMEs in Malawi’s tourism sector. Under the Kwathu Upgrade: Malawi Wanga edition, the Ntha Foundation trained 39 tourism entrepreneurs in digital and entrepreneurial skills.
Initial pitch events were held in Salima on July 17th and in Zomba on July 20th, 2024. Four participants from these sessions were selected for the final pitch event in Lilongwe on August 9th, 2024. Finalists will compete for top awards: €800 for first place, €500 for second, €300 for third, and €200 for fourth. We look forward to welcoming you to the final session in Lilongwe.
Meet the Judges
1. Tamanda Kaleke | Chief Tourism Officer, Ministry of Tourism of Malawi
Tamanda Kaleke has over 16 years of experience in the tourism sector. As Chief Tourism Officer in the Marketing Division, she has been instrumental in developing key strategies such as the Malawi National Tourism Investment Master Plan and the Malawi Domestic Tourism Marketing Strategy. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Sustainable Development Planning and Management from Stellenbosch University and is pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). Her main role is to promote Malawi internationally as a top tourist destination.
2. Elijah Lumbani Mkandawire | Chief Executive Officer of mHub
Elijah Lumbani Mkandawire is the CEO of mHub, Malawi’s first technology and innovation hub. He manages a team of passionate youths who nurture young innovators and emerging entrepreneurs with technical and business skills. Elijah holds a Master’s Degree in Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation and is pursuing a PhD in Computer Science. He has led the design and implementation of digital skills and entrepreneurship training programs for girls and youth at the hub, and has co-created and run several entrepreneurship programs, including the Business Acceleration for Youth and the Growth Accelerator Malawi Entrepreneurship Challenge.
3. Emma Katengeza | Founder of Synergy Hub
Emma Katengeza is a business coach, consultant, and entrepreneur with close to a decade of experience in entrepreneurship development. She founded Synergy Hub, which includes Malawi’s prominent coworking space, Synergy CoWorks, and Synergy Labs, a market leader in incubation and acceleration services. Emma previously led The Lilongwe Pitch Night, a significant pitching platform in Malawi, and is dedicated to empowering businesses of all sizes to achieve success.
Join us for an evening of innovation, inspiration, and networking as we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Malawi. We look forward to seeing you there!
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