Award-winning entrepreneurship support organization, StartHub Africa is stepping up efforts to equip Tanzanian youths with the skills, mentorship and investment readiness needed to launch and grow sustainable businesses.

The organisation that was founded in 2017, and operating in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania has been transforming the entrepreneurial landscape by equipping young people with the skills, networks, and resources they need to succeed.

Shakila Mshana, StartHub Africa’s Co-founder and Managing Director in Tanzania, says they are committed to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tanzania focusing on impact-driven innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship and market-ready solutions.

Shakila says, “We are witnessing a bold generation of young Tanzanians who are not waiting for jobs, they are indeed creating them…”

“…at StartHub, our role is to ensure they are not only inspired but also equipped with the right tools, guidance, and connections to build businesses that can thrive in real markets,” says Shakila who also serves as StartHub’s Tanzania Managing Director.

In Tanzania, StartHub Africa has emerged as a critical player in advancing youth entrepreneurship. Through multiple initiatives, the organization is building a new generation of founders who are equipped not just to start businesses, but to build ventures that solve real problems and sustain long-term impact.

StartHub recent partnership with the UNDP Funguo Innovation Programme and the Westerwelle Foundation on the ‘Youth Ignite Student Founders Fellowship’ has reached 10 universities in six regions. Participants in the fellowship received training in market research, financial planning and pitching, with mentorship from experienced business leaders.
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To nurture entrepreneurship at university level, StartHub also runs the Startup 101 programme at the University of Dar es Salaam. The initiative places students in real-world business environments.

According to StartHub, participants in this program have reported significant improvements in their ability to identify market needs, communicate with customers, and pitch to potential investors. 

“The progress we’re seeing is only the beginning,” said Shakila adding that through multiple initiatives, the organization is building a new generation of founders who are equipped not just to start businesses, but to build ventures that solve real problems and sustain long-term impact. 

Shakila says, many of them launched their own startups during the program, reflecting the effectiveness of the hands-on, experiential learning approach.

One of the Startup 101 program participants, Robinson Eliona, says, “I have managed to understand how to execute my ideas from the hypothetical stage to the analytical and execution stages. Through this program, I have realized that it’s not just about my idea but about what customers need.”

Eliona’s experience highlights the program’s success in reshaping mindsets from idea-centric to customer-centric thinking, which is an essential shift for building viable, scalable businesses.

In effort to address the challenges of food insecurity and climate resilience, StartHub Africa partnered with Ennovate Ventures to implement the Innovate for Food Security project, an initiative funded by Norec, The Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation, a governmental agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Norway. 

The initiative supports young people in identifying opportunities along the agricultural value chain and translating those opportunities into viable businesses. 
Through intensive training and mentorship, participants in Tanzania have begun launching ventures that not only aim to feed communities but also drive climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. 

The program has sparked the creation of multiple new businesses, each offering innovative responses to one of the region’s most urgent challenges.

Tanzania is also an integral part of StartHub Africa’s broader Tech Venture Building Program, which is designed to build a pipeline of investable early-stage tech startups across the region. 

The program combines technical and business development support with access to initial investment and investor networks. Among the promising ventures emerging from this initiative is ChuoLink, a Tanzanian EdTech platform that simplifies university applications and connects students with scholarships, empowering more young people to pursue higher education. 

Since its inception, StartHub Africa has supported thousands of entrepreneurs and young innovators across East Africa. In Tanzania, the organization has trained hundreds of students and entrepreneurs. Also facilitated mentorship, funding, and long-term support to help these changemakers build businesses that matter.

 The organization’s hybrid model, combining nonprofit impact with the sustainability of a for-profit consulting arm, has enabled it to scale its interventions and deepen its regional presence.