Hollard Insurance Ghana Limited Collaborates with UGBS Innovation Hub to Empower Student Entrepreneurs

In 2023, Hollard Insurance Ghana Limited launched the maiden edition of its "Hollard Streetwise Finance Business Challenge" to support student-led businesses and foster entrepreneurship among university students. The initiative, which is part of the Hollard x Academia partnered with the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to provide a platform for young entrepreneurs to secure funding for their business ideas.

The Maiden edition took place on the campus of the University of Ghana, where seven selected businesses from UGBS and UCC had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a distinguished panel of judges. This edition also focused on building the capacity of student entrepreneurs through training and mentorship sessions.

After an intense competition, SteFarms, a student-led business from UGBS, emerged as the winner, securing the grand prize of GHS 15,000.

Following the success of the maiden edition, the second phase of the Hollard Streetwise Finance Entrepreneurship Business Challenge was held at the University of Cape Coast. This phase aimed to assist young entrepreneurs with funding to grow and scale up their businesses while building their confidence to venture into the entrepreneurial landscape after graduation.

Dr. Raphael Odoom and Dr. Priscilla Otuo, both from the Marketing and Entrepreneurship department at UGBS, led training sessions on how to pitch a business idea effectively.

The competition showcased ten lucrative student-led businesses, each presenting their innovative ideas to a panel of judges. The top three businesses were awarded funding to support their growth:

1. Jnelp Innovations- 1st Place, awarded GHS 40,000

2. Zenags Organics- 2nd Place, awarded GHS 20,000

3. Career Path (from UGBS)- 3rd Place, awarded GHS 10,000

Throughout the event, the UGBS Innovation and Incubation team and the Hollard executives engaged directly with students and faculty through panel discussions and mentoring sessions, offering valuable insights and guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs.

This ongoing collaboration between Hollard, UGBS, and UCC continues to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs, foster innovation, and drive economic growth through student-led ventures.