Call for Application of Incubation Program

Background to the incubation program
The NM-AIST incubation program is a structured process designed to support the
development and growth of innovative start-ups and early-stage businesses. It provides
entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and guidance to help them refine their
business ideas, develop prototypes, and create viable business plans. The program
typically oAers a supportive environment where participants will access networking
opportunities, assistance with securing funding, and expert advice to accelerate their
ventures.
Timeline and Structure
The period before the oAicial start of the incubation program (Pre-incubation) lasts for 3
months, while the program itself extends over 6 months. Throughout this time,
participants will take part in mentoring and training sessions aimed at refining their ideas,
building prototypes, crafting solid business plans and advancing for acceleration of ideas
to commercialization. These sessions serve as invaluable opportunities for guidance,
support, and knowledge exchange, ensuring that innovators receive ongoing assistance
and feedback to enrich their entrepreneurial endeavours.

Benefits of the Program
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to seize the following benefits;
Coaching, Training and Mentorship: Participants will benefit from regular coaching,
training and mentoring sessions with experienced mentors, providing them with valuable
insights and guidance to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Business Development Services: The program will oAer access to essential business
tools and resources to help participants refine their prototypes, develop robust business
plans, and gain valuable market insights.

Networking with Investors and Partners: The incubation program will provide a
platform for accessing potential investors, partners, and industry experts, providing
participants with opportunities to secure funding, form strategic partnerships, and gain
valuable exposure for their ventures.

Space: The incubation centre will provide pre-incubation common working spaces,
incubation individual oAices and access to the meeting room
Requirements for Participation
(a) To be eligible for the incubation program, participants are required to apply with
details of a proposal for a project plan, milestones, resource requirements and
any other relevant information, for the specific program applied for.
(b) Submit a detailed business plan covering technical aspects, market strategy,
financial projections, and an elaboration of the potential for sustainable growth
and value creation. A well-structured and feasible business plan is an added
advantage for admission into the program.
a. Innovators seeking incubation at the innovation-based incubation centre
must provide a detailed investment cost-benefit analysis, encompassing a
breakdown of investment costs, projection of benefits, calculation of costbenefit
per unit, and an assessment of assumptions and risks, to
determine the feasibility and profitability of the proposed innovation.
(c) Prototype: Applicants should have a prototype or a proof of concept for their
innovative idea.
(d) Novel Idea: The program seeks to support innovative and unique business ideas
that have the potential for significant impact.
(e) Team: Applicants are encouraged to have a dedicated and passionate team to
drive the development and growth of their venture.

Potential innovators must submit a fully filled-in application form to indicate a proposal,
including an attachment of the project plan, milestones, resource requirements, a
business plan covering technical aspects, market strategy, financial projections, and an
elaboration of the potential for sustainable growth and value creation and any other
relevant information, for a specific program applied for.
All form submissions shall be directed to incubation@nm-aist.ac.tz or online
applications here https://forms.gle/Qwv5D5JDP8RnSXuB8

Maombi ya kujiunga na kituo atamizi (Incubation)
Utangulizi
Programu ya atamizi (incubation program) ya Taasisi ya Sayansi na na teknolojia ya
Nelson Mandela (NM-AIST) ni mchakato ulioandaliwa kwa ustadi kusaidia maendeleo na
ubunifu, ukuaji wa kampuni mpya yenye ubunifu na biashara zilizo katika hatua za
mwanzo. Programu inatoa fursa kwa wajasiriamali kupata rasilimali mbalimbali ikiwemo
mafunzo, ushauri na miongozo ili kuwasaidia kuboresha mawazo yao ya biashara,
kutengeneza na kuboresha mfano wa awali (prototype) na kuunda mipango ya biashara
inayoweza kutekelezeka na yenye tija. Programu hii hutoa mazingira wezeshi ambapo
washiriki watanufaika kwa kupata fursa ya kuunganishwa (networking), na kujenga ubi
ana wadau na ushauri wa kitaalamu ili kuendeleza maono ya biashara zao.

Muda na Muundo
Maandalizi ya Atamizi (Pre-Incubation): Miezi 3
Program ya Atamizi (Incubation Program) : Miezi 6
Kipindi kabla ya kuanza rasmi kwa programu ya ukuaji wa ubunifu hutekelezwa kwa miezi
3, wakati programu yenyewe hudumu kwa miezi 6. Katika kipindi hiki, wahusika
watashiriki mafunzo yanayolenga kuboresha mawazo yao, kutengeneza mifano ya
awali(prototype), kuandaa mipango thabiti ya biashara na kufikia kwenye utekelezaji wa
mawazo hadi kufikia kwenye masoko. Mafunzo haya ni fursa muhimu ya kuushauriana na
kubadilishana maarifa, kuhakikisha wabunifu wanaendelea kupata uzoefu na maarifa ili
kuimarisha jitihada zao za kibiashara.

Faida za Programu
Waombaji watakaochaguliwa watakuwa na fursa ya kunufaika na yafuatayo;
Mafunzo, Uwezeshaji na Ushauri: Washiriki watapata mafunzo, uwezeshaji na ushauri
wa kawaida kutoka kwa wakufunzi wenye uzoefu kuhusu namna ya kukabiliana na
changamoto za kibiashara.

Huduma kwa ajili ya Kuendeleza Biashara: Programu itatoa upatikanaji wa zana na
rasilimali muhimu za biashara ili kusaidia washiriki kuboresha mifano ya
awali(prototype), kuendeleza mipango thabiti ya biashara, na kupata ufahamu muhimu
wa soko.

Mtandao na Wawekezaji na Wabia: Programu hii itaunda jukwaa la kuuunganiswa na
wawekezaji, wabia, na wataalamu wa sekta, fursa za kupata ufadhili, kuwa na
ushirikiano wa kimkakati, na kupata ujuzi muhimu kwa biashara zao.

Nafasi: Kituo kitatoa vyumba vya kufanyia kazi za kawaida kwa ajili ya kabla ya ukuaji wa
bunifu (pre-Incubation spaces), ofisi binafsi ya ukuaji wa bunifu (incubation spaces), na
chumba cha mikutano (meeting room).

Mahitaji ya Kushiriki
Ili kustahiki kuchaguliwa, waombaji wanapaswa;
(a) Kutuma maombi kwa kupitia andiko lenye pendekezo la mpango wa mradi,
hatua kuu, mahitaji ya rasilimali, na taarifa nyingine muhimu kwa programu
husika.
(b) Kuwasilisha mpango biashara wa kina unaojumuisha upande wa
kitaalamu/kiufundi, mkakati wa masoko, matarajio ya kifedha, na maelezo ya
uwezekano wa ukuaji endelevu na kuongeza thamani. Mpango biashara ulio imara
na wa kutekelezeka ni fursa ya ziada ya kukubalika kwenye programu.
a) Wabunifu wanaoomba kuchaguliwa katika kituo atamizi cha ubunifu wanapaswa
kutoa uchambuzi wa gharama na faida za uwekezaji, inayojumuisha gharama za
uwekezaji, faida tarajiwa, hesabu ya gharama-kipato kwa kila kitengo, na tathmini
ya makisio na changamoto/hasara, ili kubaini uwezekano na faida ya ubunifu
uliopendekezwa.
(c) Mfano wa awali(Prototype): Waombaji wanapaswa kuwa na mfano wa awali au
uthibitisho wa upekee mawazo yao .
(d) Wazo jipya/la pekee: Programu inalenga kuunga mkono mawazo mapya ya pekee
na ya ubunifu wa kibiashara yenye uwezekano wa kuwa na tija kubwa.
(e) Timu: Waombaji wanashauriwa kuwa na timu yenye kujitolea kwa shauku ya
kuendeleza maendeleo na ukuaji wa biashara yao.

Jinsi ya Kutuma Maombi
Maombi yote yawasilishwe kwa barua pepe: incubation@nm-aist.ac.tz au fomu ya
maombi mtandaoni kupitia https://forms.gle/Qwv5D5JDP8RnSXuB8