Microsoft celebrates graduation of Insiders4Good East Africa Fellows

20 East African entrepreneurs have graduated from the Insiders4Good programme after completing a six-month training programme. The Fellowship, which was launched by Microsoft in partnership with a network of local experts, including the Kijiji – a hub for social business, aimed to identify high-potential entrepreneurs and help them turn their outstanding social business ideas into reality.

Bambo Sofola, Microsoft Director of Software Engineering at Microsoft, reflected that after an insightful and rewarding experience supporting entrepreneurs from Nigeria in 2016, it only made sense to open the programme up to East African entrepreneurs with promise. “It has been an absolute pleasure and an inspiring experience to work with the East African Insiders4Good Fellows. From the initial boot camp, right through to the completion of the programme, all have continued to display the same tenacity and problem-solving creativity that led us to choose them for this fellowship.”

Over the last few months, the Fellows have received support from Microsoft and the broader Windows Insider community including hardware, software, tailored mentorship, and access to Microsoft’s global network of people and organizations spanning nearly every industry and geography. As Insiders4Good Fellows, they have been immersed in a journey of strategic thinking, and Microsoft has been honored to watch them achieve new milestones and grow together.

“Just as the Fellows have learned from the programme, we at Microsoft have gained invaluable insights as well. From working with each entrepreneur, we’ve been able to deepen our understanding of how we can adapt and improve our product offerings to better support and provide optimum opportunities to future Fellows,” Sofola said.