Kickstarting businesses and development in emerging markets
The lab of tomorrow is one of the services for private sector cooperation of the Agency for Business & Economic Development (AWE). AWE operates as part of the business and development network Partners in Transformation.
Partners in Transformation is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to actively promote and strengthen cooperation with actors in the private sector: companies, trade unions, chambers of commerce, associations
and other interest groups. Partners in Transformation emphasizes the partnership between the private sector and development cooperation, with the shared goal of achieving a social and environmental transformation in BMZ’s partner countries.
The programmes work with companies, trade unions, chambers of commerce, associations and other interest groups.
Find out more at Private sector | BMZ (German only)
📢 Manuel disponibles en français!
Our track record
The lab of tomorrow has been the programme of choice by GIZ projects, the Austrian and the Swiss Development Agencies as well as companies to solve specific development challenges all over the world.
Your opportunities
Learn how you can benefit from the lab of tomorrow programme.
Solve your development challenge
The lab of tomorrow programme activates the private sector to achieve SDG impact. Your advantages of initiating a programme include:
- Let the private sector solve your development challenge – we help you identify unmet needs with business potential.
- As an initiator, you steer the programme and bring in all the people necessary for success.
- Benefit from our network and gain access to business partners, development agencies, investors, mentors and policy makers.
- The impact created by the lab of tomorrow programme goes beyond development cooperation project lifespans.
Develop your business in emerging markets
Expand into emerging markets together with new business partners! Your benefits of participating in the programme include:
- Business case sourcing: We identify business opportunities in emerging markets for you to choose from.
- Participant sourcing & matching: We match you with relevant local and international companies in interdisciplinary teams.
- As a team, you co-create a new product or service and benefit from business development coaching.
- Partner network access: you gain access to business partners, investors, mentors and policy makers.
Invest in solutions and support innovations
Gain access to impact investment opportunities in various markets and sectors! Your benefits in supporting our ventures include:
- Be the first to know about investment opportunities in untapped markets.
- You become part of our strong network of innovators and entrepreneurs.
- Receive access to invest in our ventures at different stages. We invite you to pitch sessions, demo days and share our dealbook.
- Bring in companies from your portfolio and offer them interesting business development opportunities.
How it works
Find out how sustainable and profitable business models are created in a lab of tomorrow programme and what’s in it for you.
Challenge in spotlight
Take a glance at our most recent lab of tomorrow business opportunities.
Greening and advancing e-commerce in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda
Ready to create impact?
Currently running challenges
Take a look at our currently running challenges and the potential business opportunities they present for you.
Greening and advancing e-commerce in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda
This challenge is in phase: Incubate business
How might we offer reliable, affordable and sustainable delivery solutions for MSMEs and e-commerce platforms to enhance customer experience in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda?
The e-commerce sector has witnessed tremendous growth over the last years. Despite positive effects on the economic development of Africa, the uptake in e-commerce also bears the risk of negatively impacting the environment. This presents a challenge at the intersection of digital trade and the green economic transformation. Advancing this transformation requires tailor-made solutions which can be provided by the private sector.
01
Understand
Carbon emissions resulting from reverse logistics and last mile delivery are rising as popularity in e-commerce increases globally. The emergence of a more environmentally conscious consumer presents a unique opportunity that offers lucrative business solutions that not only mitigate environmental effects but also solve societal problems in an effective way.
E-commerce has been growing steadily in Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, and Nigeria over the past few years, driven by factors such as increasing internet penetration, mobile phone usage, and a growing middle class. Each country has its own unique e-commerce landscape, challenges, and opportunities. Kenya has been one of the leaders in East Africa's e-commerce market. The country's well-developed mobile money infrastructure has played a significant role in stimulating online transactions. In fact, high taxation of fossil fuels creates an opening for the adoption of greener and more affordable solutions for last mile delivery. Rwanda's e-commerce landscape is growing steadily, although it may be somewhat smaller compared to other African countries. The government has increasingly taken steps to promote digital innovation and entrepreneurship. However, as in many African countries, Rwanda grapples with challenges in building trust among consumers, improving logistics and delivery systems, and expanding internet. Ghana's e-commerce market has seen significant growth in recent years, with the emergence of various e-commerce platforms. The government has shown interest in supporting the digital economy, and efforts have been made to improve the country's digital infrastructure. Nigeria has one of the most developed e-commerce markets in Africa. The country has a large population and a growing middle class, both of which are driving e-commerce growth. The country however faces challenges such as logistics, payment infrastructure, and consumer trust, but the market is dynamic and evolving.
Business Opportunities
02
Ideate Solutions
03
Incubate business
4 ventures successfully entered the Incubation Phase.Tizaa
Tizaa is an e-commerce platform that uses offline mobile (USSD) and web technologies to get commerce closer to people in remote and hard to reach areas in Ghana. The solution also has a positive ecological and social impact, as it utilizes eco-friendly packaging and delivers with e-bikes
Go-Go App
This green ERP logistic solution consists of an innovative app that connects service providers (e-commerce companies, shops and logistics companies) with freelancers who are ready to deliver. The result is a streamlined solution for efficient order distribution across Rwanda.
Hive
Hive is a software platform that helps MSMEs optimize last-mile delivery costs, delays and tracking issues by using a smart logistics aggregation and routing system in Nigeria. This solution provides several USPs for logistic companies, like demand aggregation increased reached and digitalization, as well as to vendors and individual shoppers, like flexible pricing and product tracking.
Pweza
Pweza is a unified, cost-effective, secure and eco-friendly logistics platform for MSMEs in Kenya. This is accomplished by bringing together key logistics partners to help reduce the cost of logistics by leveraging on their network of fulfillment centers and e-mobility infrastructure.
Greening and advancing e-commerce in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda
This challenge is in phase: Incubate business
How might we offer reliable, affordable and sustainable delivery solutions for MSMEs and e-commerce platforms to enhance customer experience in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda?
The e-commerce sector has witnessed tremendous growth over the last years. Despite positive effects on the economic development of Africa, the uptake in e-commerce also bears the risk of negatively impacting the environment. This presents a challenge at the intersection of digital trade and the green economic transformation. Advancing this transformation requires tailor-made solutions which can be provided by the private sector.
01
Understand
Carbon emissions resulting from reverse logistics and last mile delivery are rising as popularity in e-commerce increases globally. The emergence of a more environmentally conscious consumer presents a unique opportunity that offers lucrative business solutions that not only mitigate environmental effects but also solve societal problems in an effective way.
E-commerce has been growing steadily in Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, and Nigeria over the past few years, driven by factors such as increasing internet penetration, mobile phone usage, and a growing middle class. Each country has its own unique e-commerce landscape, challenges, and opportunities. Kenya has been one of the leaders in East Africa's e-commerce market. The country's well-developed mobile money infrastructure has played a significant role in stimulating online transactions. In fact, high taxation of fossil fuels creates an opening for the adoption of greener and more affordable solutions for last mile delivery. Rwanda's e-commerce landscape is growing steadily, although it may be somewhat smaller compared to other African countries. The government has increasingly taken steps to promote digital innovation and entrepreneurship. However, as in many African countries, Rwanda grapples with challenges in building trust among consumers, improving logistics and delivery systems, and expanding internet. Ghana's e-commerce market has seen significant growth in recent years, with the emergence of various e-commerce platforms. The government has shown interest in supporting the digital economy, and efforts have been made to improve the country's digital infrastructure. Nigeria has one of the most developed e-commerce markets in Africa. The country has a large population and a growing middle class, both of which are driving e-commerce growth. The country however faces challenges such as logistics, payment infrastructure, and consumer trust, but the market is dynamic and evolving.
Business Opportunities
02
Ideate Solutions
03
Incubate business
4 ventures successfully entered the Incubation Phase.Tizaa
Tizaa is an e-commerce platform that uses offline mobile (USSD) and web technologies to get commerce closer to people in remote and hard to reach areas in Ghana. The solution also has a positive ecological and social impact, as it utilizes eco-friendly packaging and delivers with e-bikes
Go-Go App
This green ERP logistic solution consists of an innovative app that connects service providers (e-commerce companies, shops and logistics companies) with freelancers who are ready to deliver. The result is a streamlined solution for efficient order distribution across Rwanda.
Hive
Hive is a software platform that helps MSMEs optimize last-mile delivery costs, delays and tracking issues by using a smart logistics aggregation and routing system in Nigeria. This solution provides several USPs for logistic companies, like demand aggregation increased reached and digitalization, as well as to vendors and individual shoppers, like flexible pricing and product tracking.
Pweza
Pweza is a unified, cost-effective, secure and eco-friendly logistics platform for MSMEs in Kenya. This is accomplished by bringing together key logistics partners to help reduce the cost of logistics by leveraging on their network of fulfillment centers and e-mobility infrastructure.