Contact Us

Innovation Ecosystem Support

Ndarama Works is leading the charge in developing tech-based enterprises to address societal and business challenges. We are implementing a youth tech venture support project, funded by the African Development Bank and the South Korean government, across Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa, collaborating with 160 innovative enterprises in sectors like agtech, fintech, health tech, edtech, and climate tech.

We also support 100 youth enterprises through the Young African Leaders Initiative across 31 countries, including Nigeria. The tech solutions developed by these enterprises can be applied to a vast array of fields, including the passive cooling sector which has application in many of the informal markets’ innovation ecosystems, which Ndarama Works seeks to support.

 

Our Work

Africa Tech Startup Forum

Ndarama Works, with Catalyze and ComeUp Korea, builds tech venture ecosystems and connects them to investment and technical partners. This is achieved through the Africa Tech Startup Forum project, funded by the African Development Bank.

THE CHALLENGE

  • Fragmentation of incubators and accelerators effectively leads to a disconnect between players in the ecosystem to grow the enterprises.
  • Limited technical support for tech startup ventures and Enterprise Support Organisations (ESOs) – e.g., incubators and accelerators.
  • Limited support to youth- and female- owned tech ventures, limiting their growth.
  • Lack of training and skills in tech-focused ventures (founders/entrepreneurs have technological/technical skills but lack business acumen).
  • Lack of networks or operating in silos within their industries and on the continent – requiring integration

OUR SOLUTION

Targeting tech startups, ESOs, fund managers, and venture capitalists who benefit from the deal pipelines, Ndarama Works:

  • Selects high-potential ESOs and startups.
  • Develops curricula and learning materials and delivers the training material over a three-month sprint programme.
  • Trains 160 tech ventures and ESOs from eight African countries.
  • Facilitates networking between African participants and their South Korean entrepreneur counterparts.
  • Organizes one group visit/study tour of ventures from the selected cohorts to South Korea to connect with that ecosystem.
  • Organizes business-to-business matchmaking activities for the ESOs and entrepreneurs during both the training and the visit/tour.
  • 280 New Jobs created by participating enterprises, with a strong emphasis on youth and gender inclusion: 82% of roles filled by youth (18-35) and 48% by women.
  • $4.93 Million in Funding secured by technology ventures and ESOs, dramatically exceeding the initial target and demonstrating a significant return on investment.
  • 301 B2B Matchmaking Events facilitated, forging valuable connections between African entrepreneurs, Korean investors, and global industry leaders.
  • 159 Entrepreneurs and ESOs Trained across 8 African countries, with an 85% participant satisfaction rate and a significant increase in confidence to integrate 4IR technologies.
  • Robust Ecosystem Development, achieving a $9.20 return for every dollar invested by the AfDB and establishing a replicable model for connecting African tech ventures with international partners.

Our Staff

Precious Mahove

COO, Ndarama Works

Courage Shumba

MEL Specialist

Read More

Scaling Passive Affordable Cooling for Environmental Sustainability (SPACES)

The SPACES Project is a commercial pilot initiative deploying passive cooling technologies (cooling vests, radiative films, and cooling canvases) across high-heat agricultural, logistics, and informal trading value chains in Ghana and Nigeria. Implemented by Ndarama Works and funded by the Shell Foundation and FCDO, the project aims to reduce heat stress, improve productivity, decrease food spoilage, and enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable workers.

THE CHALLENGE

  • Micro enterprises in agriculture and informal trading face significant health risks and productivity losses due to high temperatures and humidity.
  • A lack of affordable cooling solutions leads to substantial spoilage of perishable goods, reducing smallholder farmer incomes.
  • Passive cooling solutions are not readily available or commercially validated for widespread use in West African markets.
  • Reaching last-mile users, including women and youth in informal sectors, requires navigating complex and diverse distribution networks.

OUR SOLUTION

  • Commercial Partnership Development: Securing and formalizing 7 MoUs  with sector leaders in Ghana (Fan Milk, Fludor, AkoFresh) and Nigeria (TGI Group, Vicleo Industrial, Green Shield Safety, Eupepsia Place) to anchor pilot implementation and ensure market relevance.
  • Collaborative pilot implementation: Co-creating tailored implementation plans with local partners to ensure inclusivity and sustainable market access.
  •  Supply Chain & Logistics: Overseeing end-to-end logistics for technology procurement and in-country distribution.
  • Evidence Generation for Scale:  Measuring real-world impact from user adoption to income effects to generate the credible, data-driven proof needed to unlock investment and catalyze the widespread expansion of passive cooling solutions.

The project is positioned to demonstrate the commercial viability and social impact of passive cooling technologies, directly benefiting thousands of farmers, vendors, and workers. By building a foundational architecture for scale-up through diverse commercial partnerships and rigorous evidence generation, SPACES aims to create a sustainable market for solutions that protect health, boost productivity, and secure livelihoods in a warming climate.

Our Staff

Smart Zongololo

Project Team Lead

Tafadzwa Mupingashato

Economist

Courage Shumba

Mel Specialist

Tariro Chinaka

Project Manager

Christopher Knoetze

Trade Research Specialist

Mpho Kgosidintsi

Communications Specialist

Amoo Abiodun

Technical Lead: Nigeria

Letitia Donkor

Technical Lead: Ghana

Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)

The YALI Tech Ventures Support Activity, under USAID’s YALI Legacy Localization initiative, aimed to strengthen market access and investment readiness for young African entrepreneurs. Ndarama Works curated and managed the YALI Pavilion at the Africa Tech Festival (Cape Town), creating a hub for innovation and investor engagement.

THE CHALLENGE

  • Limited support to youth and women-owned businesses.
  • Lack of networks or operating in silos within their industries and on the continent
  • Diverse stakeholder priorities and unclear networking strategies.
  • Limited visibility of African ventures to global investors and tech leaders.

OUR SOLUTION

Targeting tech startups, ESOs, fund managers, and venture capitalists who benefit from the deal pipelines, Ndarama Works:

  • Strategic Planning & Ecosystem Engagement
    Conducted stakeholder mapping and proactive investor outreach to align objectives.
  • Capacity Building
    Delivered four pre-event webinars on networking, compliance, and digital matchmaking tools.
  • Visibility & Branding
    Developed a YALI Lookbook showcasing venture profiles and managed Pavilion branding for maximum impact.
  • Investor Linkages & Deal Facilitation
    Organized 1,142 pre-scheduled B2B meetings, generated 2,700+ new leads, and supported real-time matchmaking.
  • Post-Event Impact Tracking
    Monitored deal pipelines, captured success stories, and facilitated follow-up engagements.
  • 100 Entrepreneurs Selected from 275 applicants across 30+ countries (48% women-led MSMEs).
  • $300,000+ Funding Secured, 58 partnerships formed, and 38 ventures gained actionable business leads.
  • Five signed deals, three Earthshot Prize nominations, and multiple mentorship connections with global tech leaders.

Our Staff

Tariro Chinaka

LLB, MPPG

Jacques Swanepoel

MIntRel, BCom in Business Management