Incubation Model
Registered with the Registrar of Companies in May 2023 as a 100% Ghanaian owned incubation hub, Development Matters Incubation Hub (D-Hub) is a cutting-edge support center designed to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in climate-smart solutions. Our hub is focused on fostering the growth of social and environmentally responsible ventures that deliver measurable impacts in mitigating climate change while creating new market opportunities.
D-Hub brings together a diverse community of highly motivated founders, professionals, mentors, investors, and partners from academia and industry, all committed to achieving our shared objective of creating a sustainable future for the planet.
Our services and programs are designed to support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, from idea validation and business planning to startup scaling and market expansion. We provide access to specialized training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and capital investment to enable startup growth and success.
To achieve our mission, we are proud to partner with leading organizations and stakeholders (government agencies, businesses, investors, industry, etc.) in the field of environmental sustainability who share our passion and commitment to tackling climate change. Our partners bring expertise, knowledge, resources, and funding necessary to provide our entrepreneurs with exceptional support and create value for the overall ecosystem.
At D-Hub, we strive to be the catalyst for climate-smart innovation and entrepreneurship.
We champion entrepreneurial spirit, diversity, and inclusivity, offering a platform for impactful startups that will disrupt the status quo and usher in a new era of sustainable development. We mainstream information, technology and communication and artificial intelligence in all our incubator activities.
Incubation model
D-Hub uses the MSU Hub Hybrid Model, a unique, incubation model developed at the to suit the Ghanaian social and economic environment. The Model is a modified version of the Chandra and Chao Incubation Model. The Hub operates as a “Mixed Use” Incubator, using a “Hybrid” approach to serve technology and non-technology business ventures. The Hybrid Model conceptualizes the Hub as the moderator of the flow of resources such as funding, and knowledge between the Government, Cooperates, Clients, Community and the Innovation Ecosystem. The Model views the Incubation Hub as a moderator of resources and as the agent for monitoring and evaluation in the Incubation cycle.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be Africa’s preeminent source of bold new discoveries, and development of new products and services through innovation, commercialization, and sustainable entrepreneurship in the areas of climate smart agriculture and energy efficient technologies.
Our Mission
Our mission is to develop and support an exceptional set of transformational ventures and entrepreneurs who are pioneering adaptive and mitigating solutions for climate smart agriculture technology and energy efficiency issues in Ghana.
Objectives
The general purpose of D-Hub is to nurture entrepreneurial ideas in the youth and women in Ghana to live financially independent lives by assisting them to refine and develop their ideas, establish their companies, and overcome barriers to growth to exploit opportunities using climate smart technologies.
Specifically, D-Hub seeks to:
- provide full business and leadership training programs in climate smart agriculture, energy efficiency, solar power, water management, domestic waste management.
- assist our client with tailored portfolio management and support services, including financial grants.
- create opportunity and access to global industry and financial experts in the following focus areas: climate smart agriculture, energy efficiency, solar power, water management, domestic waste management;
- Influence the government policy sector to advance climate-smart policies and statutes.
- provide working spaces and startups support services for innovative business initiatives in our focus areas.
- develop monitoring and evaluation systems that will sustain and improve the quality of services and products.
Products and Services
Facility-Based Services
Facility-based services involve the provision of office space that may be included in the basic rental package in the form of flexible rent payment. Fee-for-service and extra administrative support is also envisioned. The Centre provides access to office space that includes telephone, local area network, high-speed internet access with wireless connectivity, desktop computer and basic office furniture. Centre clients would have access to shared conference rooms, guest restroom (reception), storeroom and washrooms. Security and parking space will also be provided.
Business Development Assistance
Business development assistance is the direct managerial and technical support provided to clients from the time of admission through to graduation. This includes the provision of client-specific technical assistance. This is provided at any of three levels. First, clients fall on the services of experienced business development officers with specialised knowledge in the various business functional areas such as marketing, human resource, accounting, procurement and operations. Second, clients have practicing senior members (practicing accountants, lawyers, managers, etc.) within the university as mentors and coaches whom they can consult. The need for proximity, cost-saving and swift response to situations makes this arrangement essential. Third, clients assigned to experienced industry mentors and coaches. Moreover, the incubator evaluates business plans of clients, identify areas of need, develop work plans to address those needs and assist clients to work towards the realisation of identified needs.
Professional Network and Relationship Support
Networking and mentoring ensure access to resources that the Centre’s clients might not otherwise have access to as small, emerging businesses. The incubator offers mentoring and business network with experienced business professionals and successful entrepreneurs. The incubator clients also benefit from partnerships with corporate organisations. This is to ensure that these small businesses get the needed support and advice for successful business growth. Feedback mechanisms are in place to ensure the mentorship is providing good value to the client.
Training and Education
Training courses, workshops, conferences, seminars, industrial excursions and internships with our business partners shall be offered to clients. The nature and forms of training and experience package for each entrepreneur will depend on his/her level of education/training and specific needs. Additionally, the entrepreneurs will be accorded the opportunity to visit our partner universities and incubators yet to be identified in any part of the world. Aside from the aforementioned packages, visitation are extended to students to furnish the incubator with their business proposals for feasibility review by competent supervisors engaged by the Centre.
Funding Access
The Centre provides startups and entrepreneurs with opportunities to secure funding through various channels. The Centre facilitates introductions to venture capitalists and angel investors and provide guidance on other funding options such as grants and crowdfunding.
Each of these services aligns with our mission to provide comprehensive support to startups and entrepreneurs in the agriculture, manufacturing, and other sectors. The Centre is confident that through these services, it can help nurture and accelerate the growth of startups and contribute to the broader tech ecosystem.
Target Groups
The main target groups are students, persons with feasible business plans/ideas and young start-ups that need coaching, training, and development to boost their chances of survival and success. In general, our clients are:
- Young graduates who have business plans and are ready to start their businesses.
- Students who intend to be entrepreneurs after graduation
- Students (at any level) who have business ideas and need reshaping.
- Young talented persons with little or no formal education
- Already established small businesses
